Isn’t it amazing that Destrehan High School started with a donation of land? In 1923 the Mexican Petroleum Company gifted three and a half acres for its construction. This public high school sits in Destrehan Louisiana. It is about twenty-five miles west of New Orleans. Destrehan High School is part of the St. Charles Parish Public School System. It serves students from grades 9 through 12 on the Mississippi River’s east bank.
Destrehan High School opened its doors on September 15 1924. The school welcomed 234 pupils in grades one through eleven. The first graduating class included Placide Hotard and Eldridge Gervais. The original location was on River Road. It was near St. Charles Borromeo Church.
Did you know Destrehan High School has a rich athletic history? Football became an eleven-man sport in 1946. Destrehan High Stadium broke ground in 1948. It provided a home field for the team. The stadium cost $18000. Pan-American Petroleum Company donated the land. In 1954 a new gymnasium was built.
In 1969 Mary M Bethune High School closed. Black high school students then integrated into Destrehan High School. This integration led to disruptions. In 1974 racially motivated fights broke out. A student named Gary Tyler was convicted of murder.
The original Destrehan High School closed in 1974. A new campus opened on Wildcat Lane in 1975. The old school building suffered fire damage in 1977. It was later demolished. An athletic field and field house were completed in 1981. The athletic field became Wildcat Stadium.
Since 2005 Destrehan and Hahnville High School students can attend the Satellite Center. This center focuses on expanding career paths. Courses include digital media and culinary arts. In 2017 Destrehan High School gained global recognition. It was named a “world-leading learner”.
Hurricane Ida caused significant damage in 2021. The main building’s roof collapsed. The school reopened in January 2022 after repairs. In 2022 the Wildcat Gymnasium expanded. It now holds 1000 seats.
Several building additions have accommodated growing student numbers. The Mathematics Building opened in 1993. The JROTC Building was completed in 1996. The Humanities Building opened in 2001. The newest building was completed in 2014.
The Destrehan Fighting Wildcats compete in the LHSAA. They have won multiple state championships in football. The baseball team has also won state championships. The girls’ basketball team won a championship in 2017. The school’s band “The Pride of Destrehan Fighting Wildcat Band” has also earned superior ratings.
Destrehan High School has produced notable alumni. These alumni include NFL players and actors. Ed Reed a Hall of Fame NFL safety is an alumnus. So is actress Shelley Hennig. Destrehan High School stands as a pillar of education. It fosters athletic and artistic talent in its students.