In 1914 the president of the Dallas Board of Education, J. M. McCormick, recommended two new high schools, east and west of the Trinity River, be built in order to serve the expanding needs of Dallas students. Two years later Oak Cliff High School and Forest Avenue High School were ready for classes. Located at 3000 Forest Avenue, the new school opened for classes September 21, 1916. The new Oak Cliff High School also opened that Fall. The first graduating class of Forest Avenue, the "Class of 1917" numbered sixty; Oak Cliff numbered thirty-two.
Dallas, like most American cities, had a segregated school system until 1965. In 1956 the population in Dallas shifted and Forest Avenue area became increasingly black. The need for another "black" school and the decreasing enrollment at Forest High gave rise to the decision to change the school from a "white" school to a "negro" school. The change was relatively smooth considering the era. A formal request by Forest High Alumni was reported June 22, 1956 by the Dallas Times Herald, which asked that the name, colors, and emblems be changed and reserved for a "white" school. The name was officially changed to James Madison High School in 1956. This is representative of the segregation issues of the 1950's and 1960's.
The street name was changed from Forest Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. January 1981. The building is still used as a high school retaining the name James Madison High School, with current address 3000 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
From the guide to the Forest Avenue High School Collection MA83-13., (Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library)
