By Lena W. Claybon
Recently, Grambling State was honored at the State Capitol for its 125-year legacy of education. Grambling High School / Alma J. Brown and Lincoln Preparatory Schools are part of that 125 year legacy.
The Beginning: Charles P. Adams and the Founding School (1901)
The story begins in 1901 when educator and farmer Charles P. Adams established what was then called the “Colored Industrial and Agricultural School”.
The school was created to educate Black children in rural North Louisiana during the Jim Crow era. At the time, there was no Grambling State University. The elementary school and teacher-training program were essentially one institution.
The school’s mission was two-fold:
* Educate local Black children
* Train Black teachers who would serve throughout Louisiana
For decades, the elementary and secondary schools operated as part of the institution that would eventually become Grambling State University.
The Birth of Grambling High School (1948)
Although secondary education existed before then, 1948 is generally considered the formal birth of “Grambling High School”.
When the state authorized Grambling College to prepare high school teachers, educator “A.D. Smith” was appointed as the first principal of Grambling High School.
This was a major milestone because it elevated the school into a fully recognized secondary institution.
During this period:
* Grambling High operated directly under Grambling College
* The school’s registrar often doubled as a college administrator
* High school students were educated on the college campus
* Many faculty members were connected to the college
Grambling High was literally part of the college community.
The 1954 Campus
The original high school operated in university facilities before moving into a dedicated building.
According to court records, the school:
* Moved into temporary facilities in 1952
* Occupied a permanent building completed in 1954
* Added a new senior high wing in 1965
* Earned accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1958
For generations of students, this became the iconic Grambling High campus.
The Laboratory School Years
As Grambling College became Grambling State University, the schools evolved into what became known as the “Laboratory Schools”.
The system eventually consisted of:
* Alma J. Brown Elementary School
* Grambling Middle School
* Grambling High School
These schools served several purposes:
1. Educating local children
2. Providing training sites for future teachers
3. Serving as demonstration schools for educational research
Many residents still refer to them collectively as the “Lab Schools.”
Alma J. Brown
One of the most significant changes occurred during the 1980s.
The elementary division was renamed “Alma J. Brown Laboratory School” in honor of longtime educator and administrator Alma J. Brown.
By the mid-1980s:
* Elementary and secondary programs were reorganized
* Magnet-school concepts were introduced
* Grambling Middle Magnet School was created
* The schools became known as the Grambling Laboratory Schools
The Desegregation Battle
One of the least-known chapters in the school’s history began in 1966.
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Lincoln Parish over segregated schools. Eventually, the Grambling Laboratory Schools and Louisiana Tech’s A.E. Phillips Laboratory School became part of the case.
Federal officials argued that:
* Grambling’s laboratory schools were historically identifiable as Black schools.
* A.E. Phillips was historically identifiable as a White school.
The courts spent decades attempting to eliminate the vestiges of segregation. Numerous plans were implemented to recruit a more racially diverse student body. ([Department of Justice
This litigation would eventually shape the future of Grambling High School.
Crisis and Closure Threat (2010–2016)
By the early 2010s:
* Enrollment had declined
* Facilities had aged significantly
* State higher-education budget cuts reduced university resources
* Grambling State University questioned whether it could continue operating the schools
Court records show that Grambling State sought permission either to close the schools or transfer them to another operator.
Many alumni feared the historic schools would disappear forever.
The Creation of Lincoln Preparatory School (2016)
Instead of closing, the schools were reorganized.
In 2016:
* Alma J. Brown Elementary
* Grambling Middle School
* Grambling High School
were merged into a single K-12 charter system operated by the Grambling High Foundation.
The new school became:
Lincoln Preparatory School
The charter conversion allowed the schools to continue operating while addressing requirements imposed by the federal desegregation case.
For many alumni, this marked the end of an era.
For others, it represented the only way to preserve public education in Grambling.
A New Campus for a New Era
After years of operating in aging facilities on the university campus, Lincoln Prep pursued construction of a new school.
In May 2023, Lincoln Prep opened a new campus featuring:
* 85,000-square-foot academic building
* Science labs
* Computer labs
* Robotics labs
* Library
* School health clinic
* 930-seat gymnasium
* Athletic facilities
* FEMA-certified storm shelter
The project represented an investment of roughly $30-$45 million depending on the phase and funding source referenced.