Peabody Magnet High School

Peabody Magnet High School is a public magnet high school located in the South Alexandria subdivision of Alexandria, Louisiana in the United States. Alexandria is the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana. The school is named for one of its benefactors, George Foster Peabody (1852–1938), whose charitable foundation provided a grant to create the school. It was founded in 1895 as a segregated black of school and was formerly known as Peabody High School, Peabody Training School, Peabody Industrial School, and Peabody Normal School. History The Peabody Magnet High School and Peabody Montessori Elementary School were named for its benefactors, George Foster Peabody (1852–1938), a wealthy philanthropist and head of the Peabody Education Fund. The Peabody Montessori Elementary School campus at Third and Bogan Streets was once known as the Peabody Industrial School (or Peabody Colored Industrial School). Peabody Industrial School was the only public school for Black students in Alexandria from 1st through 7th grade for many years. John Baptist LaFargue founded Peabody Industrial School in 1895, with the assistance of his wife, Sarah C.B. Mayo LaFargue. In 1918, Mr. LaFargue added eighth and ninth grades to the school even though the US Department of Education did not approve the upper grades for Negro schools. Construction of a three-story building began on the location at Third and Bogan Streets in 1923 and was completed in 1925. In addition, a wooden building was constructed to serve as an auditorium. Two more grades were added to the school in 1930. In 1931, the State Department of Education (Negro Division) sent Beatrice Wallace Spottsville to the school to serve as a teacher trainer and Supervisor of Negro schools, making Peabody a training school. Peabody became a state-approved public high school in 1933. Mr. J.B. LaFargue served as principal of the school from 1900, until he retired in 1937.