Students from as far away as Talisheek were dropping out of school because it was a hardship in time and resources to attend Slidell High. Craddock was elected, and within his first six-year term a one wing Pearl River High School was erected on Taylor Drive. The street was so named because in April 1966, Mr. Albert Taylor (1908 - 1982) and his wife, Mildred (1909 - 1989) sold of land to the School Board for $60,120.00 as a site for the new school. Craddock was helped by Sixth Ward Board Member "Siggy" Halverson, and in 1968 the school was completed. The school began with tenth grade, and added a grade each year until the first class graduated in 1971. There were about 42 graduates. In addition to building a high school Craddock wanted more music in the schools. He was successful in getting band funded in the parish junior high schools, and the program grew to include elementary and high school bands. Another contribution he made was getting the School Board sponsored bus transportation to Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. Many students were able to continue their education after high school because of this service. The high school begun the two-year renovation process in March 2016 by adding three new tennis courts. Renovation continued until December 2017. At completion, the school boasts a new mall-like hallway spanning the front of the school, renovations to the 1st and 2nd halls for the first time in nearly 30 years, as well as renovations to the gymnasium lobby and cafetorium. The school also added signage to the outside of the new building welcoming students. The school also went a renumbering of the halls. From 1968 to 1982, Ewell L. Rowley was principal. A former agriculture teacher, he was charged with the difficult task of opening the school and guiding it during its formative years. In summer 1982, Lawrence F. "Moose" Matulich, a former mathematics teacher and head football coach, was named the second principal. Matulich's daughter, Mary Lou Jordan, served as the Principal of Riverside Elementary School in Pearl River from 1992 to her retirement in June 2018. Louis Austin was appointed the third principal in 1987 and, like Rowley, he was a former agriculture teacher. Ronald "Ron" Styron became Pearl River's principal in 1992, having been assistant principal under Austin. He began a program incorporating principles of site-based management which included greater decision-making on the part of the faculty and staff.