1807: St. Charles Parish is officially established as one of the original 19 civil parishes of the Territory of Orleans.
1811: The Education Act of 1811 is passed, authorizing the establishment of schools, but they are not free for all students.
1840: The first documented evidence of public schools in St. Charles Parish appears in records.
1842: The U.S. Census reports two primary and common schools serving 23 pupils in the parish. Nineteen of these were "scholars at public charge".
1850: At the time, there were only two public schools established in St. Charles Parish, serving 55 students each. J.M. Dieudonne was superintendent from 1850 to 1852.
1854: The number of public school students increased slightly, rising to 70 out of the 277 children in the parish.
1857: Two private schools were reported in the parish. One closed due to a lack of money to support it.
1862: During the Civil War, Union General Nathaniel Banks worked to create education for freed slaves, though many of these projects faced challenges.
1864: In parts of Louisiana controlled by the Union, the Louisiana Constitution of 1864 abolished slavery, which allowed freed men, women, and children to be educated. The Constitution also decrees that instruction in common schools be in English.
1865: Records show that 633 out of 865 African American children attended schools established by the Freedmen's Bureau on several plantations.
1868: The Louisiana Constitution of 1868 established a new requirement for public schools, mandating at least one free public school in each parish. The Louisiana Reconstruction Convention also mandates that all children be admitted to public schools "without distinction of race, color, or previous condition".
1869: Thomas W. Conway, the State Superintendent of Education, reported that most school funds were lost during the Civil War, creating problems with finding support.
1870: Six police jury wards are organized with four schools and four teachers.
1871: The Bonnet Carré Crevasse floods part of the parish, disrupting school operations.
1879: The St. Charles Parish Public School System was officially established. The police jury gained the authority to appoint the superintendent, and T.T. Baudouin was appointed to the position.
1880: Ten public schools were open in St. Charles Parish, serving 111 white students and 438 Black students.
1888: Owen McLeran was appointed as the school superintendent, serving from 1888 to 1890.
1890: In this decade, the parish had four different superintendents: Emile Rose (1890-1891), Hiddleston (1891-1893), H. Kenner (1893-1896), and T.B. Sellers (1896-1912). At this time, schools were required to provide funds for materials.
1901: At the beginning of the century, only 34% of the 2,314 school-aged children in the parish were enrolled in school.
1905: A yellow fever epidemic in Louisiana caused schools to close from September 2 to October 23.
1909: A new Boutte school is built in a more central location. The board also approves the consolidation of the Norton and Keller schools.
1910: St. Charles Parish still did not have a high school, and student transportation was not provided.
1912: A major levee break, the Hymelia Crevasse, floods a large portion of the parish. J.B. Martin was appointed superintendent, a position he would hold until 1944.
1914: The school board began requiring the superintendent to make a monthly report of each school to maintain quality.
1915: A Category 4 hurricane caused extensive damage, shortening the school year.
1916: A compulsory attendance law was passed for children between seven and fifteen years old to attend school. This was not required for children who lived too far or who worked to support their families.
1917: A school inspection highlighted the need to raise funds to replace old school houses and to dedicate more time to reading and outdoor activities.
1918: Petroleum industry operations in St. Charles Parish began with the establishment of the first refineries.
1924: Destrehan High School and Hahnville High School opened, providing the first high school education for white students.
1929: Norco Elementary School and St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School (the first private, parochial school) opened in the parish.
1930: Superintendent J.B. Martin led the way for a bond to fund the building and expansion of schools.
1932: During the Great Depression, funds were low, and schools used their buildings for events to raise money. The school year was shortened from seven months to three and a half months.
1940: Due to a system of racial segregation in the South, students and teachers were separated. The parish also focused on improving teacher quality and managing with limited funds.
1944: A.A. Songy began his term as superintendent, serving until 1945.
1945: R.J. Vial, Jr. became the new superintendent, a position he would hold until 1973.
1949: St. Charles Waterworks District I was created by the police jury.
1951: The Hahnville Colored School was designated as a high school, and its first class graduated in June.
1952: Bethune High School and Carver High School opened, providing segregated high school education for African American students.
1954: The U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling declared public schools’ segregation unconstitutional. The school board first discussed desegregation after a representative from the NAACP addressed the board.
1955: Shell Chemical Company opened in Norco, and the first parish library opened in Hahnville.
1958: The Bayou Gauche School closed due to decreasing enrollment, with students transferring to Paradis and Hahnville High Schools. The old Luling Elementary School was converted into the school board office.
1959: The school board appropriated funds to purchase science equipment for high schools, marking the first use of federal funds for instructional purposes, following the National Defense Education Act of 1958.
1961: Mimosa Park Elementary opened, and Norco Elementary School moved to its current site.
1965: The St. Charles Parish Public Schools began desegregating, with 43 Black students integrating into formerly all-white schools. Most of these students faced discrimination. Hurricane Betsy also caused widespread damage in the parish, including to schools.
1968: The school board approved a policy requiring students to have certain immunizations, including for tetanus, measles, smallpox, and whooping cough.
1969: Federal court orders mandated the end of segregation, and the school system began full integration.
1970: St. Rose Elementary School opened. An explosion at the Bunge Grain Elevator damaged Pecan Grove Elementary School, leading to calls for changes to zoning laws regarding schools and industries.
1972: Act 368 of the Louisiana Legislature mandated instruction for students with disabilities, expanding the number of classes and services.
1973: Bruce Meeks served as superintendent for a brief time before Robert C. Rice began his term, which lasted until 1984.
1975: A new campus for Hahnville & Destrehan High School opened. R.J. Vial Elementary opens.
1976: The George Prince Ferry Disaster, a tragic accident on the Mississippi River, occurred in the parish.
1983: The Hale Boggs Bridge was completed, connecting the east and west banks of the Mississippi River.
1984: Stanley P. Berard was appointed superintendent in 1984, serving until 1989.
1989: Dr. Thomas S. Tocco began his term as superintendent, which lasted until 1994.
1990: New Sarpy Elementary School was established in the building it occupies today.
1994: Irvon “Cookie” Gomez served as interim superintendent from 1994 to 1995.
1995: Dr. Rodney Lafon became superintendent, serving until 2013.
2001: A $28 million bond issue for school improvements led to the creation of the Satellite Center, which prepares students for future careers.
2005: R.K. Smith Middle School opens. The school system faced significant challenges from Hurricane Katrina, which impacted student enrollment and school operations.
2008: The Professional Learning Center opened to provide enrichment to students' education and offer flexible multi-use spaces, offices, workshops, and lecture rooms.
2013: Felecia Gomez-Walker became the new superintendent, serving until 2019.
2016: St. Charles Parish introduced the Free Lunch Program, which provides a free meal to students every day.
2018: The Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center opens as a hub for the St. Charles Parish Public Schools and the community, offering arts education and performances.
2019: Dr. Ken Oertling became superintendent, a position he has held to the present.
2020: The COVID-19 pandemic caused schools to close and shift to remote learning, disrupting social and emotional development. Positive lasting impacts included 1:1 technology distribution and staggered start of school years.
2021-2022: Hurricane Ida caused significant damage to schools. Students from Destrehan High School had to attend classes at Hahnville High School while their building was repaired.
2025: Renovations and expansion are completed at the School Board Office site, including an expanded Board Meeting Room.
2026: Board approves expansion to allow for universal Pre-K for four-year-olds and additional classes for three-year-olds.
