Louisiana high school closing doors after 60 years, leaving uncertain future for athletics

A Louisiana high school is closing down its doors after 60 years and massively impacted by this move is athletics, which coaches and players will be displaced and forced to head to new institutions for the 2026 season.

According to a report by the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, the Lafayette Parish School Board decided earlier this month on closing down the over 60-year old Comeaux High School and are planning to turn it into a career and technical education center. This 2025-26 school year will be the last for the Spartans as students will likely be divided amongst Southside, Acadiana or Lafayette High Schools for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.

“It’s kind of like they don’t care or worry about our tradition that we have here,” Comeaux football head coach Marquis Newsome, who is an alum of the school, said to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.

“I’m not saying we are a powerhouses, but Comeaux has always been different and diverse. The coaching and programs that we built here were something special. Now I have no home school, no alma mater. Our 25th reunion was coming up this year, so it was extra special for me and I thought we would have a big party, but I guess it wasn’t in the books.”

The Class of 2001 alumnus will see all of his players from the past 2025 season go their separate ways as student-athletes from the football also gave reaction to receiving the news that the school was closing down.

“My initial reaction, it was actually hard to believe, it almost wasn’t real,” Comeaux running back Jaden Celestine said via the report. “It’s a hard pill to swallow, and it took me about a day to process it. Now I have to make an adult decision at a young age and do what’s best for me for what’s next.”

Celestine was the workhorse out of the backfield for the Spartans as the running back rushed for more than 1,600 yards and scored 24 total touchdowns in 2026. Now the junior has a decision to make when it comes to where he will play his Louisiana high school football.

The Spartans finished with a 5-5 record and ranked as the No. 165, according to the final Louisiana 2025 High School Football Massey Rankings.

More about Comeaux High School

Comeaux High School, established in 1965, is a public school in Lafayette, LA, serving grades 9-12. The school emphasizes academic growth and social development, aiming to create independent thinkers and productive citizens. It offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including a robust athletics program with sports such as football, basketball, soccer, and wrestling. Known for its spirit and pride, the school’s mascot is the Spartan, and its colors are red, navy, sky blue, and light gray​.

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