AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL BUILDING REVIVAL
St. Mary Parish Training School
St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Parish Training School began in 1923 as an elementary school. The school started out as a five-room building to teach students grades 1-7 and there were less than 100 total students. In the 1920s, rooms were added and the school became Park Avenue High School’s first location. Park Avenue recognized 1,000 graduates in the 1940s with the help of James Hernandez, who educated students and ultimately became the principal. In 1953, the school's name changed to Franklin Negro School and then again to Willow Street High School in 1956. A new African American School was built in 1963 to represent the new Park Avenue High School, and Willow Street High School became J. A. Hernandez Elementary School, named in honor of Mr. Hernandez. The school closed in 2018 due to parish budget cuts but there are still generations that the school has served in the community that supports the school in hopes that it may revived
St Mary's Parish Training School
OPENED: 1924
CLOSED: 2018
OTHER NAMES OF SCHOOL: Willow Street High School, J. A. Hernandez Elementary School
OTHER USES/CURRENT USE: Vacant
SQUARE FOOTAGE: 90,000 sf
PROPERTY OWNER: St. Mary Parish School Board
