Facts About Shaw

• The Class of 2009 earned over $2 million in scholarships, including TOPS.
• More than 70% of the college scholarships earned by the Class of 2009 were for academic and/or leadership achievement.
• Eligible students can potentially earn college credit while attending Archbishop Shaw High School.
• Throughout Archbishop Shaw's history, the school has won district and/or state titles in baseball, basketball, bowling, football and track.
• The Archbishop Shaw Cheerleading Squad won the National Championship in 2003, 2001, and 2000.
• The Archbishop Shaw Band has won several state competitions receiving superior ratings.
• Junior and Senior students are chosen to attend Leadership Retreats in New York every year.
• Archbishop Shaw High School alumni are leaders in the fields of medicine, law, business, politics, education and religion, as well as many other professions.

Shaw's History

Archbishop Joseph F. Rummel of New Orleans dedicated Archbishop Shaw High School on August 19, 1962. The school was named in honor of Archbishop of New Orleans, John W. Shaw, because of his special interest in the development of the Catholic community of the West Bank. Archbishop Shaw was in charge of the Archdiocese of New Orleans from 1918-1934, during which time 29 schools and 33 churches were established in the area. Archbishop Shaw appointed the first pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Marrero in 1924. Six years later, he dedicated the buildings for Hope Haven Institute, an orphanage and foster home. The Salesians were assigned to run Hope Haven. On that same property, a school in Archbishop Shaw's name opened 32 years later.

The Rev. Paul P. Avallone, S.D.B. was the school's founding principal in 1962. Originally, only a small complex was built to meet the needs of the developing West Bank. In the fall of 1962, the first freshman class had 95 students, and the tuition was $15 a month. The staff consisted of six Salesian priests and brothers. In 1963, a sophomore class was added, and the school colors, crest, and uniforms were adopted. The main building was completed in February 1966. After the four year program was established, Archbishop Shaw boasted of a student enrollment of 436, with 74 seniors in its first graduating class. In 1967 the gymnasium was completed, and three years later Shaw competed in interscholastic athletics with an AAAA status.

From 1968 to the present, Archbishop Shaw has continued its growth. A baseball stadium, a track, a swimming pool and a soccer field were all added in the early 1970's. In 1975 the new St. Francis de Sales chapel in the main building was dedicated. The following year the student parking lot was enlarged to accommodate 300 cars. In 1978 a new faculty-meeting room was opened. On May 15, 1980 Shaw christened its new weight lifting room "The Eagle's Nest". An eighth grade was added during the 1984-85 school year. A new cafeteria with seating for over 500 was completed in 1984. That same year, the old cafeteria became a chapel and meeting complex known as Don Bosco Hall. In 1986 all the classrooms were finally air-conditioned.

Since the new millennium, Archbishop Shaw High School has completed several renovation projects. New parking lots and perimeter fencing surround the school, and a renovated entranceway off the West Bank Expressway has additional visitor parking. A remodeled and updated Administrative Office serves the students, parents and visitors. Additionally, the Director / President and Principal's offices were moved to offer privacy for consultation with students, faculty, staff and volunteers. The Computer Education Lab has been networked, and all machines have Internet access which will enhance the Computer Science and Computer Applications classes. The 2004-2005 school year began with the opening of the newly constructed 20-classroom building with state-of-the-art fire protection systems, an elevator and a second floor access walkway to the administrative building and science/math/fine arts wing. Additionally, the entire science wing was renovated in October of 2004 with state-of-the-art science equipment and three new science laboratories.