Bolton High School (Louisiana) - Renovations Throughout The Decades

Renovations Throughout The Decades

In 1953, the board approved a new football stadium that would seat some six thousand fans. A gymnasium and a new industrial arts building were completed. The auditorium was renovated, with band and choral rooms added. In 1964, the board authorized the enlargement of the cafeteria and the construction of a gymnasium for girls. Air conditioning was installed in the auditorium, the cafeteria, the home economics department, and in the rear section of the first floor of the main building. In 1967, a second parking lot was completed for the use of faculty and staff, and the choral room was modernized. In 1968, the U.S. Air Force ROTC program was added to the Bolton curriculum.

In 1990, Bolton High School underwent major remodeling, with the addition of a central heating and cooling system and fire doors. Ceilings were lowered, and new lighting was installed. In 1992, the football stadium was completely rebuilt because the presence of lead in the original paint made it impractical to have the old structure repainted.

In 1995, Bolton was wired for the Internet. In 2001, construction began on a new building for ROTC and journalism classes. The school has also modernized technologically, with computerized attendance, grading system, library service, and digital video equipment. Laptops have become nearly as common as textbooks.

Also in 1995, Bolton added a Scholar’s Program and Gifted Curriculum giving students from all over Rapides Parish the chance to attend Bolton. Bolton was also made a magnet school. Bolton currently follows a seven period day. With seven credits available per year, a student can complete up to twenty-eight units over four years.

As the result of several private and state grants, Bolton High School has issued Apple Mac OS X laptops to all of their students and teachers. In addition to the school issuing laptop computers to students, Bolton High School now has wireless internet connection everywhere on campus. The school also renovated an unused classroom into the "Bolton Internet Cafe." Though renovations are still in progress, the cyber cafe is open, and accessible before and after school, as well as at lunch, providing students without internet access at home with a place to use their laptops.