Manassas High School is in Memphis, Tennessee. It was established in 1900. As of 2022, the school had about 420 students 96 percent of whom were black.[3] The high school produced several prominent jazz musicians.[4][5] In the 1920s, it was one of two high schools in Memphis for African Americans.[6]
It received Rosenwald School funding. Cora Taylor was its principal.[7] In 1940, it was listed as a "Negro" school that taught Service Occupations.[8] In 1954, it was listed as instructing auto mechanics.[9] In 1946 the Tennessee Negro Athletic Association met in Nashville with the school's J. A. Hayes leading it.[10] Boxer Joe Louis attended the school's 1948 football game against Booker T. Washington High School.[11]
In 1952, a study of the intelligence of the school's students was published.[12] In 1953, a report on the reasons for drop-outs given by students, teachers and parents from the school was published.[13] In 1971, a study of female students attitude towards physical education at the school was published.[14] Louis B. Hobson was principal in 1972 when plans to make it a middle school in the wake of desegregation were proposed.[15]
Robert Samuel White Sr. wes the school's principal for 14 years during the 1980s and 1990s.[16]
The 2011 documentary film Undefeated is about the school's football team and its former coach, Bill Courtney.[17][18][19] Its football team has made 12 championship appearances and won twice.[20]