On Friday, May 23, the Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy community came together one last time to say goodbye to a campus that has served generations of Dallas ISD students and families.
“One of the most important things about us moving from the old building to the new building has been making sure that we don’t find that it disconnects, that we just forget the past,” said M. Scott Tatum, principal. “This school’s legacy is so important to the community and to Dallas ISD. It’s just a very connected school.”
As the school year came to a close, current students participated in a final clap-out marking not just the end of the semester, but the closing of a beloved chapter in the district’s history.
Throughout the afternoon, students, alumni, current and former Dallas ISD team members, families, and neighbors visited the campus to walk its familiar halls, reflect on cherished memories, and take part in the farewell celebration.
Some students marked the moment by writing messages and memories on the walls, leaving behind a living tribute to their time at Longfellow.
“I feel like I got a quality education. I certainly made some lifetime friends and was surrounded by some wonderful people and wonderful teachers, and had nothing but fun memories from them,” said Buford Cates, who was a Longfellow student in 1950.
Longfellow has been honored three times as a National Blue Ribbon School—in 2007, 2014, and 2020– highlighting its legacy of academic excellence and impact on generations of students.
“We had great times here, with the most wonderful teachers,” said Gary Brower, class of 1948. “Some of my best teachers were at Longfellow School, and we made such great friendships. It was just a grand place to come to; it was a brand-new school that had just been opened, so it was a very unique time to be here.”
As part of the 2020 Bond Program, a new Longfellow campus is set to open in August 2025, ushering in a new era of exploration and achievement while honoring the school’s enduring legacy.
