AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL BUILDING REVIVAL
Northwestern High School
East Baton Rouge Parish
Zachary Colored Junior High School first opened for the 1951-1952 school year. However, the name was ultimately changed to Northwestern High School after consultation with students, faculty, and parents, which aligned with its location in town of Zachary, Louisiana. The school began educating students in grades 1-9, with one grade added each subsequent year. By the 1954-55 school year, Northwestern became a junior-senior high school, and had its first graduating class. After integration, Northwestern High School became Zachary Middle School, and the formerly all-White high school became the senior high school. A new building was built on the site in 2006, and most of old school was demolished in 2009. Some original buildings closer to the main road are still extant, including the original gymnasium, designed by A. Hays Town. The new Northwestern Middle School building now exists on the site.
Northwestern High School
OPENED: 1951
CLOSED: 1970
OTHER NAMES OF SCHOOL: Zachary Negro School, Zachary Colored Junior High School, Zachary Middle School
DATE OF DEMOLITION: 2009
CURRENT USE OF SITE: Middle school
5200 E. Central Avenue
Zachary, LA 70791
