Crispus Attucks High School
| Crispus Attucks High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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1140 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Street Indianapolis, Indiana, Marion County 46226 United States |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| School district | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| Principal | Lauren Franklin |
| Faculty | 43 |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Enrollment | 441 (2013-2014) |
| Color(s) | |
| Athletics conference | Pioneer |
| Team name | Tigers |
| Website | Official Website |
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Crispus Attucks High School
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Front and southern side of the school
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| Location | 1140 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Coordinates | 39°46′58.39″N 86°10′11.78″W / 39.7828861°N 86.1699389°WCoordinates: 39°46′58.39″N 86°10′11.78″W / 39.7828861°N 86.1699389°W |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Harrison & Turnock; Brown & Mick |
| Architectural style | Collegiate Gothic/Tudor Revival |
| NRHP Reference # | 88003043 |
| Added to NRHP | January 04, 1989 |
Crispus Attucks High School of Indianapolis Public Schools in Indianapolis, in the U.S. state of Indiana is named for Crispus Attucks (c.1723–March 5, 1770), a black protestor killed at the Boston Massacre. He was perhaps the first American to fall during the American Revolutionary War, and as such, serves as an inspiration to all Americans. Built at a location northwest of downtown Indianapolis, Crispus Attucks was the only high school in Indianapolis designated specifically for African-Americans; after its construction blacks were not permitted to attend any other public high school in the city until integration of the schools became the law of the land.
Built northwest of downtown Indianapolis, Crispus Attucks was the only all-black high school in Indianapolis. White residents of the city, not wanting their children to attend an integrated high school, designated a new school be built, specifically for African-American students. Teenagers who were enrolled at other city high schools such as Arsenal Technical, Washington, and Shortridge were removed from those schools and forced to enroll at Crispus Attucks. It was thought, at the time, that students would receive a 'separate but equal' education; but the students at Attucks had excellent teachers. While most other high schools had teachers armed with an undergraduate bachelor's degree, all of the teachers at Attucks had at least a master's degree and some a Ph.D.
An all-black school had to have all black teachers, and the teachers hired for this new school were well-educated. While black students were allowed to attend colleges and universities, they were not yet allowed to teach there. Schools of higher learning did not admit blacks to their faculties. That left a large group of over-qualified teachers forced to teach at the high-school level.
Crispus Attucks had good success in basketball during the 1950s producing two Indiana Mr.Basketballs. In 1955, the school's basketball team, led by future professional star and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, gained fame by winning the Indiana state championship, becoming the first all-black school in the nation to win a state title. Robertson led Crispus Attucks to another championship in 1956, as it was the first Indiana high school team to complete a season undefeated.
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