| Canton High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
634 Finney Road | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| Established | 1874 |
| School district | Canton Public School District |
| NCES District ID | 2800900 |
| Superintendent | Gary P. Hannah |
| NCES School ID | 280090000101 |
| Principal | Kari Johnson |
| Grades | 10-12 |
| Enrollment | 643 (2023-2024)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 20.94[1] |
| Colors | Royal blue and gold [2] |
| Mascot | Tigers[2] |
| Website | https://www.cantonschools.net/Domain/11 |
Canton High School is a public high school inCanton, Mississippi. It is part of theCanton Public School District. All of the student body is categorized as economically disadvantaged and almost 100 percent are African American.[3]
In addition to Canton it serves a part ofGluckstadt.[4]
Canton High School was preceded byCanton Female Academy.[5] The school has also been documented asCanton Young Ladies' Academy. Canton High School started its first 10 month session in 1874.[6]
The school's historic building was designed by Jackson architectN. W. Overstreet and built in 1923. It closed in 1969, but has since been used as a furniture store and church.[7][8] In 2015, the building and its additions were renovated for use as apartments.[9]
Madison County Training School served the area.[10] A. M. Rogers High School was dedicated in 1958 in the wake ofBrown v Board of Education and served the area's African American students.[11] Students protested poor conditions and supplies.[12] The school was described by some to bear a "striking resemblance of an auction barn" and to be "inadequate to provide for each child the maximum educational opportunity that this day and age demand".[13]
Canton School Superintendent D. M. Allen touted investments in segregated schools and criticized the pulling of students in protests during 1964.[14] In 1964, parents attempted to register their children at Belmont High School decrying the poor conditions and limited offerings available to them at the city's segregated schools.[15] In 1969, the school was renamed to Canton High School after the historic building closed.[16][7][8]
Tigers are the school mascot, and the school colors are blue and gold.[17] The school's football team dates to 1910 and has an 0-10 playoff record.[18] Calvin Bolton is the team's coach.[19]
Ernest Alley coached at the school for several years in the 1930s.[20]