[3][4] At the time of opening the name was changed to "Jonas Henderson High School" to honor local teacher, Jonas Henderson Sr. (1890–1933) who taught at Howe Institute (c. 1893 to 1933), a former private African American Baptist school.
[3] Jonas Henderson High School remained on Anderson Street until the educational program expanded and became too large for its present facilities.
[6] In 1967 the new Jonas Henderson High School campus was opened on Jefferson Island Road.
The last graduating class was in c. June 1969, and in July 1969 the school district announced its closure.
[7] After the school closure in August 1969, a group of Black students protested and marched back to the former campus; they were met by police with tear gas, an event which made national news.