Mr. Iles ended his tenure at Peabody as principal in 1972 when he accepted a position at the Rapides Parish School Board.

Mr. Iles transformed Peabody from an Industrial Training School offering training in home economics and industrial shop to a comprehensive high school offering courses in algebra, geometry, social studies, science, physics, chemistry, art, music, band, Spanish, French, business, auto mechanics, mechanical drawing, woodwork, sheet metal, distributive education, cooperative office education, and speech with an array of extracurricular activities.

In August 1972, Mr. Iles retired as principal of Peabody and accepted a position at the Rapides Parish School Board's Central Office.

[citation needed] Mr. Samuel McKay, a distinguished chemistry teacher and community leader, succeeded Mr. Iles as the principal of Peabody from 1972 until 1981.

[citation needed] In November 1981, Dr. James Cleveland became the second principal of the newly formed Peabody Magnet High School.

[citation needed] Prior to desegregation, separate local schools were maintained for black and white students in Rapides Parish.

This marked the start of the massive demolishing of parts of the old 1952 structure and construction of the new state of the art Peabody Magnet High School.

[citation needed] In October 2001, Mr. Lee A. Dotson, Jr. became the new principal of Peabody Magnet High School.

The Magnet classes offered are: The high schools sports teams, the Peabody Warhorses, are members of the LHSAA.

The Warhorses participate in basketball, football, track and field, baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, powerlifting, Dance, Band, and cheerleading.