The institution of Paul Breaux School dates back to 1896, following the Plessy vs. Ferguson Supreme Court Decision which called for “separate but equal” facilities for whites & blacks. Starting as an elementary school, the program began expanding in 1926 to offer a high school education for students by adding a higher grade level each year. In 1953, a walkout was held by 688 black students to protest the poor quality of the facilities & education they were receiving. After continued pressure on the school board, improvements & additions to Paul Breaux High School were made. From 1959 (when high school grades were formally added) to 1970) when the high school closed), Paul Breaux High School served as the only public high school option for Black students in Lafayette Parish. Today, the community has concerns that removal of programs at Paul Breaux could shift the tide toward consolidation & closure of the campus.