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'''Newellton High School''' was a [[rural]] public high school in Newellton in northern Tensas Parish in northeastern [[Louisiana]] located near the [[Mississippi River]]. NHS operated throughout most of the 20th century until its closure in 2006 because of declining parish population and student enrollment. Located at 400 Verona Street adjacent to Depot Street, the NHS campus is now the site of '''Newellton Elementary School,''' which houses pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade.

'''Newellton High School''' was a [[rural]] public high school in Newellton in northern Tensas Parish in northeastern [[Louisiana]] located near the [[Mississippi River]]. NHS operated throughout most of the 20th century until its closure in 2006 because of declining parish population and student enrollment. Located at 400 Verona Street adjacent to Depot Street, the NHS campus is now the site of '''Newellton Elementary School,''' which houses pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade.

==Background==

==Vignette of rural America]]

 

Newellton High School was twice renovated. A second structure was completed in 1957 under Superintendent A. E. Swanson.<ref>Plaque at Newellton High School, H. H. Land Architects, 1957.</ref> Another major renovation followed in 1976, as parts of the preceding facility were torn down and rebuilt, and the gymnasium/auditorium was refurbished. During its existence, NHS first served grades one through eleven. In 1948, the twelfth grade was added throughout Louisiana.

Newellton High School was twice renovated. A second structure was completed in 1957 under Superintendent A. E. Swanson.<ref>Plaque at Newellton High School, H. H. Land Architects, 1957.</ref> Another major renovation followed in 1976, as parts of the preceding facility were torn down and rebuilt, and the gymnasium/auditorium was refurbished. During its existence, NHS first served grades one through eleven. In 1948, the twelfth grade was added throughout Louisiana.

In August 1970, NHS was [[Segregation|desegregated]] by federal court order, following the ruling by the [[United States Supreme Court]] that public school segregation was unconstitutional. By the 1970s and 1980s, kindergarten and pre-kindergarten were added. The superintendent at the time was Waterproof native [[Charles E. Thompson]].

In August 1970, NHS was [[Segregation|desegregated]] by federal court order, following the ruling by the [[United States Supreme Court]] that public school segregation was unconstitutional. By the 1970s and 1980s, kindergarten and pre-kindergarten were added. The superintendent at the time was Waterproof native [[Charles E. Thompson]].

==Reasons for closing==

==Reasons for school closing==

At the close of the 2005-2006 academic year, there were only seventy-four pupils in the high school grades. On May 18, 2006, the Tensas Parish School Board voted by a four-to-three margin to keep Newellton High School open for at least one additional year. However,the then parish Superintendent Carol Shipp Johnson had proposed that Newellton grades 9-12 be reassigned to the parish seat of St. Joseph, where they would attend Joseph Moore Davidson High School, which served grades 7-12 and also had a low enrollment. Grades 7-8 attend Tensas High School except for the pupils in those grades in Newellton, who remain with the elementary campus there. The former Davidson High School was named for Joseph Moore Davidson (born 1894), who died in battle shortly before the armistice was signed in 1918 ending [[World War I]].

At the close of the 2005-2006 academic year, there were only seventy-four pupils in the high school grades. On May 18, 2006, the Tensas Parish School Board voted by a four-to-three margin to keep Newellton High School open for at least one additional year. However,the then parish Superintendent Carol Shipp Johnson had proposed that Newellton grades 9-12 be reassigned to the parish seat of St. Joseph, where they would attend Joseph Moore Davidson High School, which served grades 7-12 and also had a low enrollment. Grades 7-8 attend Tensas High School except for the pupils in those grades in Newellton, who remain with the elementary campus there. The former Davidson High School was named for Joseph Moore Davidson (born 1894), who died in battle shortly before the armistice was signed in 1918 ending [[World War I]].