The first Buckeye High School was held within the Buckeye Elementary School building in Deville, LA. Classes were first held in 1913, but the first graduation was not held until 1921 - with only two graduates. The high school remained a part of the elementary school until a new school building was constructed in 1928. The new building opened its doors in September 1928. Buckeye High School was one of the last schools to become integrated in Rapides Parish. In 1981, the school became the source of local controversy after desegregation efforts by Federal District JudgeNauman Scott. LouisianaNinth Judicial District Court Judge Richard Earl "Dick" Lee opposed Scott's plans, particularly his use of desegregation busing to racially integrate the school district. Scott had ordered the majority of the seventh and eighth-grade students to enroll at the primarily-black Jones Street School, with black students from Jones Street to be bused to Buckeye to compensate. Lee centered his opposition around three Caucasian girls, soon referred to as the "Buckeye Three". He first convinced their parents to transfer custody of them to friends residing in the Buckeye catchment area in an attempt to maintain their enrollment in Buckeye High School. When that failed, he made the girls wards of the state then ordered that they remain at Buckeye. After months of legal duelling over the issue, the girls were compelled to register at Jones Street, but no penalties were levied against their families or Judge Lee. The campus and surrounding community continue to be predominately Caucasian.
Campus and education
The school is locally known for its college-styled campus. Buckeye consists of ten buildings: high school building, junior high building, sixth grade building, cafeteria, auditorium, music building, field house, boys' gym, girls' gym, and agriculture building. Buckeye has both the core curriculum and electives, including courses in agricultural science, Human Geography, and shop classes such as welding.
Extracurricular activities
Clubs
Sports
Buckeye High School offers a number of extracurricular sports, including: baseball, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' & girls' cross country, American football, boys' and girls' golf, boys' & girls' powerlifting, boys' and girls' soccer, softball, boys' & girls' track and field, and a co-ed fishing team. The Buckeye sports team name is the Panthers, and the school colors are royal blue and gold. Since 1999, the Buckeye football team has won five district championships. The Panthers won their first district title in school history in 1999 and would win their second in 2008. The Panthers won their third district title in 2012, fourth in 2013, and fifth in 2014.
