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John Marshall High School

John Marshall High School

City/Town:
Location Class:
Built: 1950 | Abandoned: 2007
Status: Demolished
Photojournalist: AbandonedOK TeamMichael Schwarz

 

John Marshall High SchoolMost people when they think of the old John Marshall High School, they think of violence, gang activity and overall just a relatively bad part of town. However, back in the school’s booming days John Marshall was well known and the absolute best high school around Oklahoma City. Many awards were given to many talented and prideful students. Sporting teams were undefeated, or the best in their class. Many pleasant and treasured memories stir in the minds of the early graduates. Lurking in the empty halls kids are laughing, learning, and cherishing their future ahead of them.

John Marshall opened in early 1950 to serve the need for a high school in the ever-growing suburbs in far north Oklahoma City. In comparison to other high schools built by the OKCPS at this time it was considered the best. It features 2 gyms, tennis courts, football fields, and an auditorium. It thrived well into the 1970′s until the surrounding area began to declined. Once a feeder for students from Nichols Hills, Quail Creek, Val Verde, and the Greens, it saw its enrollment fade as these students began flocking to the private schools that dot the north side of the city. Crime began to rise in the 80′s and Marshall gained a horrible reputation for gang activity and violence. As part of Maps For Kids, a campaign began by the citizens to improve the area schools, John Marshall was tapped for re-location to Portland and Lake Hefner Parkway. The citizens of John Marshall High SchoolQuail Creek, The Greens, The Meadows and Arbors, and Val Verde fought desperately to not have this bad reputation right on their front doorstep. But to no avail. They lost the fight and the new John Marshall opened in 2005. Splitting students between the new location and the old for a year, they finally closed the original John Marshall in 2006. The OKCPS attempted to open the school as “Centennial High School” as an alternative school for the closed Gateway Academy, but this did not pan out. After a semester those students were transferred to the new school. The rambling old high school shows its age with weeds coming through the tennis courts, boarded windows, and a sign barely visible charting the achievements of its better days.

Officials think a fire that damaged four classrooms in the old John Marshall High School building was intentionally set. Arson investigators are looking into the cause of a Saturday fire at the empty school, Fire Battalion Chief Brian Stanaland said. The utilities to the building had been turned off. There was no damage estimate because the building is scheduled for demolition. Oklahoma City Public Schools is in the process of selling the old school, district spokeswoman Kathleen Kennedy said Monday. The old John Marshall High School was built in 1945. The property includes the 240,000-square-foot facility and 20 acres of land. The school board agreed in August to sell the building to Premier Assets Inc. for $400,000. The building will be torn down, Kennedy said. The sale is on hold until the city council considers whether to rezone the property as residential, Kennedy said. The issue is expected to come before the council soon, she said. Two previous offers to buy the property and old school building haven’t worked out.

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Michael Schwarz

Starting from a young age, I’ve always loved exploring. I can remember venturing off and scoping out the houses being built in the developing neighborhood right behind my house. As I got older, I found myself appreciating the work and love that went into architecture and just being excited to pass by the beautifully designed places in downtown.

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S. Moore
S. Moore
10 years ago

Class of '94 here… what great memories these pictures bring back. I certainly never felt the reputation of the school was accurate, and will never forget meeting someone who actually took 2 steps back when I said what HS I went to. There was certainly a mix of students who cared and the students who were there because they didn't have any place to be.
I also agree with other comments..can't believe the final state of the building and the amount of 'left over' stuff. Not surprised by the OKC Public Schools however.
S. Moore

B. Moore
B. Moore
Reply to  S. Moore
10 years ago

Class of '92 here.. And you are not wrong about people taking a step back, I was really surprised when some one asked if I carried a weapon to school daily.. It was never that bad.

B. Moore

Lois
Lois
11 years ago

Very fond memories. The best thing about my time there? The mix of ethnicities. We all got along. The FFA was awesome. It was a great school.

Dee
Dee
13 years ago

Horrible reputation? Really? I graduated from JM in 1991 and there was no more gang violence there than anywhere else! Compared to Heritage Hall or Cassidy, uh, yeah…exaggerate much?

Debi
Debi
13 years ago

Great video, guys!!!

We do still plan on getting as much as possible out of the old building. Have to go through "channels" though. Thought we had it all, but things get put away and then moved 3 or 4 times.

Very sad how it looks… kind of like losing an old friend. We will miss our Alma Mater for sure, but at least we still have John Marshall's name on the new school!

Ricky Grant
Ricky Grant
13 years ago

Don't know what you had till it's gone. Very mixed feelings about this.

Laura ivers
Laura ivers
6 months ago

Hi I wanted to see if I can explore take pics of inside maybe a little ghost investigating on a Christian level

fts apk
6 years ago

Good post.

Alexandra
Alexandra
6 years ago

Sadly, This school has been torn down and apartments are being built on the property. 🙁

Hailey
Hailey
7 years ago

This makes me sad because it's almost like the walking dead , because it seems like there should be zombies there

Hailey
Hailey
7 years ago

I know someone who goes to John Marshall she's a junior her names Shelby

Becca
Becca
7 years ago

hi my name is becca and I was wondering if any one could tell me where this abandon school was, if someone could give me the directions or location of the school please text me at 4055030971

Becca
Becca
7 years ago

hi my name is becca and im looking for the location of this abandon school, I'd anyone knows it please text me at 405-503-0971

Cvecare Beograd
7 years ago

Great day! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this write-up to him. Fairly certain he will have a excellent read. Thanks for sharing!

Paul Brown
Paul Brown
8 years ago

How long will it take to destroy the new school like the original JM??????????????????? Paul & Connie

Karla Davis
Karla Davis
8 years ago

Class of 1980! Loved this school. Attended from 1976 to 1980 and loved every minute of it. Made life long friends and relationships that still strive today! So sad that this school will be gone soon, but thank God great memories will last for ever. RIP JMHS, the heart of those walls will live on in the heart of the many students who were blessed to wonder.

guest
guest
8 years ago

I did not attend JMHS, but I did make some great friends at the track meets. I am a 1989 graduate of Booker T Washington (Tulsa) and I was really sad to see JM in that condition.

Cindy
Cindy
9 years ago

Just curious but who would a person contact to see about getting building donated for charity work?

suzi maystrom
suzi maystrom
9 years ago

where s the auction details.

シャネル 財布 定価
9 years ago
PAUL 7 CONNIE
PAUL 7 CONNIE
9 years ago

THIS SCHOOL SHOULD STILL BE IN THE SAME CONDITION AS IT WAS WHEN CONNIE CAMPBELL BROWN AND I, PAUL E BROWN WERE HERE AS THE CLASS OF 1957. WE SHED A TEAR EVERY TIME WE GO BY AND THINK OF HOW THIS WONDERFUL SCHOOL WAS RIPPED ABOUT BY STUDENTS. I GUESS THE NEW SCHOOL WE ALSO BE TORN APART IN A FEW MORE YEARS. PAUL & CONNIE

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