McMain Secondary School
History
The school was named in honor of New Orleans social activist Eleanor McMain. It opened in 1932 originally as an all-girls school. It became a coeducational junior high school in 1952, and a coeducational secondary with a magnet program in 1974. It later became an all-magnet school.
Students and Alumni refer to the schools appearance as "The Birthday Cake" because of its square shape and candle-like pillars. The school is five blocks away from the former Alcee Fortier High School, now the Lusher Charter School secondary campus.
As Hurricane Katrina was about to hit, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) designated McMain as a place where people could receive transportation to the Louisiana Superdome, a shelter of last resort.
After Hurricane Katrina, McMain remained under the Orleans Parish School Board and later the Recovery School District.
In 2017, it was announced that McMain was going to become a charter school and retain the same name under the Inspire Charter Network starting with the 2018 school year.
Athletics
McMain Secondary School athletics competes in the LHSAA.
Notable alumni
- Hong Chau, Vietnamese American actress. Attended McMain in the 1990s
- Matthew Dorsett, NFL defensive back. Class of 1991
- Lil Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.), rapper, singer, songwriter. Attended McMain in the 1990s for two years before transferring to Marion Abramson High School
- Darrion Weems, NFL offensive tackle. Attended but did not graduate from McMain. (displaced by Hurricane Katrina)
References
- ^ "Eleanor McMain Secondary School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ From the desk of the Principal, McMain Secondary School. December 16, 2007. Retrieved on March 18, 2013.
- ^ Morris, Robert. "Open-admission Uptown high schools miss state averages in most subjects." Uptown Messenger. July 6, 2012. Retrieved on August 3, 2012.
- ^ "History". eleanormcmain.org. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Sisco, Annette. "McMain class of 1941 holds 70th reunion, celebrate the event in Metairie." The Times-Picayune. Wednesday June 8, 2011. Retrieved on March 18, 2013.
- ^ "History". Eleanor McMain Secondary School. 2002-03-20. Archived from the original on 2002-03-20. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
- ^ Nolan, Bruce. "KATRINA TAKES AIM." The Times-Picayune. Sunday August 28, 2005. Retrieved on March 18, 2013.
- ^ "McMain will become charter school run by InspireNOLA, OPSB decides". uptownmessenger.com. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
- ^ Walker, Dave (November 18, 2012). "Actress Hong Chau brings New Orleans background to role as 'Treme's' Linh". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on 2012-11-18. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Montoya, Maria C. and Keith Spera (music writer). "Lil Wayne goes back to school (story and video) Archived 2012-10-18 at the Wayback Machine." New Orleans Times Picayune. Saturday February 23, 2008. Retrieved on March 16, 2013.
- ^ "Life after Hurricane Katrina has continued to be blessing for Dallas Cowboys lineman Darrion Weems". nola.com. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
External links
- Media related to Eleanor McMain Secondary School at Wikimedia Commons
- Eleanor McMain Secondary School website
- Eleanor McMain Secondary School (nops.k12.la.us/SchoolWebs/McMain/index.html) at the Wayback Machine (archive index)
- U.S. News