History

In 1907, H.K. Strickland opened the first black high school in Louisiana, called the East Baton Rouge Negro School. In 1914, the school moved into a new building and became known as Baton Rouge Colored High School. This became McKinley Senior High School, for President William H. McKinley, in 1926 with the erection of a new building located at present-day Thomas H. Delpit Drive. This building served the school until 1962, when the present McKinley High School doors opened at 800 East McKinley Street. The original building now serves as the school's Alumni Center and in 1981 was entered into the National Historic Register. Since 1982 McKinley High School has been home to one of two gifted and talented high school programs in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Information provided by the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Archives