Home / Education / Resilient Roneagles: How a New Orleans High School Soared After Katrina
Resilient Roneagles: How a New Orleans High School Soared After Katrina
11 Sep
Summary
- McDonogh 35, New Orleans' first public high school for Black students, has a proud legacy
- The school was the first to certify Black educators, with its 1923 graduating class all invited to train as teachers
- After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the school has worked to rebuild and inspire the next generation of Black educators
In 2025, McDonogh 35, New Orleans' first public high school for Black students, continues to be a beacon of excellence and civic engagement. Established in 1917, the school has a proud legacy, having been the first in the city to certify Black educators. In 1923, every student in the school's graduating class was invited to train as a teacher, as there had been little demand for Black secondary teachers before the school opened.
The school's alumni association remains deeply devoted, celebrating in March each year. The school's mascot, the Roneagle, is a symbol of honor and an obligation to uphold the school's tradition of excellence. This commitment has endured even in the face of adversity, as the school weathered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The storm's devastation forced the retirement of Shauntrell DeMesme's grandmother, a longtime teacher at the school. But DeMesme, a proud Roneagle herself, has returned to her alma mater to inspire the next generation of Black educators. As part of a broader push to train more Black teachers in New Orleans, DeMesme now leads a career-preparation program at McDonogh 35, helping high school students consider a future in teaching.
