Horace Mann School History

                                                                     

Located at Twenty-fourth and McAlmont Street in Little Rock, AR and built in 1955, this school was named for Horace Mann (1796-1859), the U.S. Congressman and education reformer widely known as the "Father of American Education."

This beautiful school was first occupied on April 9, 1956. It had 37 classrooms, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria. The capacity is 1000 students. The total construction and equipment cost was $926,551.00. The American Institute of Architects awarded first honors for distinguished accomplishment in Architecture, to the architects for their design.

It was built as the new high school for African-American students, moving them out of Dunbar Junior/Senior High School, which then became solely a junior high school.
Horace Mann Senior High had 37 classrooms, a gymnasium and a cafeteria, and the cost of construction was about $926,000. Mann was recognized for its design by the American Institute of Architects. Additions to the original building were made in 1963 and 1965.
 
In 1971 Horace Mann Senior High was converted to a middle school (grades 8 and 9); it became a junior high in 1978 with the addition of the 7th grade. Horace Mann Junior High became a science magnet school in 1983 (the arts magnet strand was added in 1987) and now offers magnet programs in the sciences, visual and performing arts specialty areas.
 
In 2001 a major portion of the orginal school was demolished due to structural instability, and a modern new replacement building opened in January 2004. The school address changed too 1000 Roosevelt Road, Little Rock, AR due to the placement of the front of the school from McAlmont Street to Roosevelt Road.