History of Tunica Junior High School, in Tunica, Mississippi explained and explored.

Tunica Junior High School was a junior high school which educated students in grades 7 and 8. Tunica Junior High School was originally the Old Tunica High School prior to desegregation in 1968. Some residents still call the junior high school “the old high school” for white students only. Blacks were not allowed to attend school with whites prior to 1968. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/767248653/)

Tunica Junior High School was abandoned by whites in 1968 during racial integration. The roof of one building on the grounds of Tunica Junior High School collapsed years ago prior to November 1988. The school district did not have money for repairing Tunica Junior High School. The wooden desks and textbooks remain split and were rotting. Nails were coming through the bottom of the seats. There was no playground equipment. (Ref: http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,968904-3,00.html)

Tunica Junior High School was 98% percent black by 1986. “blacks go to the 98 percent black public schools Blacks go to elementary and high school at Rosa Fort School and to junior high at Tunica Junior High School.” (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/773070640/)


In 1996, test scores increased for two consecutive years at Tunica Junior High School after being on probation for 7 of the past 8 years, when placed in conservatorship for failing to make 'significant' improvement in test scores. (Ref: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED405331.pdf)

However the conditions of the psychical structure serving as Tunica Junior High School had been showing signs of aging in 1996. The aging floor tiles and water fountain up by a metal strap attached to the wall were a giveaway. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/774535423/)

[A walk through Tunica Junior High School where the district’s seventh and eighth graders spend their school shows a water fountain up by a metal strap attached to the wall and holes showing worn into the aging floor tiles. But on foe walls and doors hang computer-generated signs that shout the school motto “Onward to Excellence Increase Student Motivation”.]

The Clarksdale Press Register from Clarksdale, Mississippi called Tunica Junior High School dilapidated on May 16, 1996. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/276299954/)

“Dissenting board members and other residents arc organizing a petition drive to stop the new plan that they say will not address the needs at the dilapidated Tunica Junior High school and the Rosa Fort campus. The opponents need at least 1,500 signatures from registered voters by May 28 to force a new vote or the school board can go ahead with the plan.”

“Tunica County parents accused the school board of using much-needed money to build a new school while ignoring rundown conditions in existing district schools. Parents and two school board members took issue Tuesday with the board's 3-2 vote to build a new elementary school in the expected growth area of northern Tunica County. School.”

Tunica Junior High School is located at 690 School Street, Tunica, Mississippi, US 38676.