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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 horiblle 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 Quail Creek, The Greens, The Meadows and Arbors, and Val Verde fought desperately to not have this bad reputaion 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 Avademy, but this did not pan out. After a semester those students were transfered 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.
Thanks to Amado Rodriguez of Oklahoma City Public Schools for the tour.
To Unlock the map, Click Here.
So sad…I was a member of the girls track team l976, the first year we won STATE and they had a long run, l4 years I believe which set a national record at the time. JM was THE place to be in early to mid 70’s. I wish nothing but the best to the students and staff of new JM and always root for them!!
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?
Would like to have seen one of the wide staircases, the library, corner display case that used to have the bear, the Latin classroom with double doors upstairs.
And where was there an elevator???
The elevator was right across from the stairway to the north of the double doored class I believe you’re talking about…it was a Calc class in 1999.
It is so sad looking. I graduated there in 1980. I loved that school. I met some good friends there and am still friends with some of them. I had teachers that cared about me. Which made me feel great. Ya where was the elevator I don’t remember one,lol
My parents went to JMHS, so did I as well as my sister, cousins etc. Had a lot of good times back in the 70’s. Too Bad!
I’m also class of 99 and must say JM’s bad reputation was only among upper class people that enjoy wearing wool over their eyes. That being said I was never stabbed, raped, or held at gunpoint, am able to complete a sentence and have plenty of fond memories of high school. If anything the JM experience taught me to persevere and work harder to overcome adversity.
However, it’s sad that instead of taking care and improving upon the things that we did have and really fostering a life skill learning environment that too many years of poor leadership ran this place into the ground.
After viewing the video and all pictures, I am trying to see the difference of what it probably looked like on a weekend up there when it was open. I remember trash, grass and things grown over or written all over.
I love my school, wouldn’t trade it for anything. I am so glad my parent’s didn’t sell out and move North 4 miles to Edmond so I could be ignorant.
I am so much stronger as a person living in that neighborhood and going to JMHS. It gives me motivation to always find something that needs a hand up, and lend my hand. Not just something that is given to me so can cruise by. My mom was on PTA growing up and my brother and I are successful because we learned to work for things and always try hard at doing the right thing.
Hopefully the school will be used for something; abandoned Wal–Mart’s always refill with a storage facility or a church or something.
You’re so right, Bubba! We are stronger, better and more understanding people for not running to Edmond or the other outlying school districts. Not only that, I think those of us who stayed in the OKC school system in the 70s, graduated with a better understanding of how to get along with people. We were better prepared for the real world than our counterparts who ran to other districts to avoid reality.. just sayin’
I lived in OKC in the late 90s and early 2000’s and LOVED that city! Great people. Still, I’ve never seen a place with so many abandoned and under-utilized school facilities. Call it “old,” call it “rambling,” but to me JMHS still looks impressive, versatile, and functional despite some wear and tear. I agree that its abandonement is kinda’ sad and wasteful.
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So very sad to see all the waste of a school that was so great. Nothing was taken care of, it looks like. How much pride we had in our school when I was there from 64-70. How come we did’nt get those old trophies moved to the new school? Very sad to see our great school so depleted and unused and in the state it is in.
JMHS Calss of 1968
Bears Still Rule…………..Attend You Calass Reunions and Support the All Call Reunion This Summer
GO BEARS
Tried to find the old journalism room (129). Was there from 1967 to 1979, and they were great years – - loved all my journalism “kids.”