Beauregard Parish Training School

The Beauregard Parish Training School, established in 1920 in DeRidder, Louisiana, served as a significant educational institution for black students and teachers until its closure in 1970. It was the first African-American school in southwestern Louisiana to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The school was part of a broader movement to enhance educational opportunities for African-American youth, providing a model for other schools and offering a curriculum that included both academic subjects and teacher training. Despite a fire in 1929 that destroyed the original buildings, the school was rebuilt and continued to play a vital role in the community, with an average attendance of around 420 students in the early 1920s. The architecture of the 1929 buildings featured a distinctive design with a low, overhanging roof and multiple classrooms, reflecting the educational aspirations of the time.