09-04-2025
Do you think a Caddo Parish district school is necessary in south Shreveport?
Caddo Parish School District is proposing the sale of the only property it has in south Shreveport.
The Caddo Parish School Board held a Building, Grounds and Security Committee meeting April 1 to discuss proposals that could impact the district.
Chief Operations Officer Patrick Greer lead the presentation and announced the proposed closure of three schools and the selling of the Norris Ferry Road property.
"There's no intention on the part of the district to erect any new facilities out in the southeastern part of town," he said.
According to the estimated population in 2023 for south Shreveport was more than 33,000, making it one-fifth of the population for Shreveport.
South Shreveport has three neighborhood schools: University Elementary School (9900 Smitherman Dr.), Youree Drive Middle School (6008 Youree Dr.) and Captain Shreve High School (6115 East Kings Hwy.).
It takes approximately 19 minutes by car to get to University Elementary School from south Shreveport, 21 minutes to get to Youree Drive Middle School and 23 minutes to get to Captain Shreve High School.
There are two private schools within south Shreveport.
"Two other schools have been placed out there and so when we think about the choices that parents have," Greer said.
Caddo Parish School Board member Christine Tharpe responded: "They are private schools, no public schools, and they've been asking for that for a long time."
The school district purchased the Norris Ferry Road property in 2002 for $300,000. In 2023, the property appraised for more than $3 million.
"We're proposing that we sell this property and take those proceeds and dedicate them to an account that was going to be dedicated strictly or solely for the use for building new, future instructional facilities throughout the district," Greer said.
"We do not feel that there is a significant request in that community to have a school built," Caddo Parish Schools Superintendent Keith Burton said.
Burton continued by stating he lives in that community and has friends and family that do not feel it is prudent at this time.
How do you feel? Cast your vote.
More: Caddo Parish Schools millages renewed for another 10 years. Here's what they will support
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Vote here: Should there be a new school in south Shreveport?
