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Dunbar Magnet Middle School facts for kids

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Dunbar Gifted/Talented Education International Studies Magnet Middle School
DunbarMagnetMiddleLittleRock.JPG
Dunbar Magnet Middle School
Address
1100 Wright Ave.

,
United States
Coordinates 34°43′57″N 92°17′11″W / 34.7324°N 92.2863°W / 34.7324; -92.2863
Information
Type Public
Established 1929
School district Little Rock School District
Principal Eunice Thrasher
Teaching staff 41.94 (FTE)
Grades 6-8
Enrollment 561 (2018-19)
Student to teacher ratio 13.38
Color(s)          
Mascot Bobcats
Website Dunbar Magnet Middle School
[1]
Dunbar Junior and Senior High School and Junior College
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
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Area less than one acre
Built August 17, 1929 (1929-08-17)
Architect George H. Wittenberg, Lawson L. Delony
Architectural style Art Deco
Part of Paul Laurence Dunbar School Neighborhood Historic District (ID13000789)
NRHP reference No. 80000782
Significant dates
Added to NRHP 1980
Designated CP September 27, 2013

Dunbar Gifted & Talented Education International Studies Magnet Middle School is a special kind of public school called a magnet school. It's for students in grades 6 through 8. The school is located in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the United States. The Little Rock School District manages Dunbar Magnet Middle School. It is named after Paul Laurence Dunbar, a famous African-American poet.

The school building was constructed in 1929. It received support from the Rosenwald Fund. For almost 30 years, it offered a full education for black students in Little Rock. This was during a time when schools were separated by race. Dunbar taught junior high, senior high, and even some junior college classes. After 1955, the junior college part stopped. A new high school was built, and this building became only a junior high school. Later, it changed again to become the magnet middle school it is today.

Discovering Dunbar's History

LittleRockDunbarHSsign
Sign showing the school's past

Dunbar Junior and Senior High School and Junior College is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. It sits at the corner of Wright Avenue and Ringo Street. The school is named after Paul Laurence Dunbar, a very important African American poet. He was the first to become famous across the country for his poetry.

This school is important for several reasons. It plays a big part in African-American history and the history of education. It also has a place in legal history and is a great example of architecture. From 1929 to 1955, Dunbar provided a complete education for black students in Little Rock. This was when schools were separated by race in the state. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's recognized as a historically important place. Dunbar is also close to the famous Little Rock Central High School. Many students from Dunbar go on to attend Central High. Central High is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

The construction of Dunbar in 1929 was partly supported by the Rosenwald School program. This program helped build schools for African-American children in the South. Dunbar was known as the city's "black school" during segregation. It was different from Little Rock Central, which was for white students. Dunbar's design is like a smaller version of Central High.

Between 1929 and 1955, Dunbar served as a junior and senior high school. It also had some junior college classes. In May 1955, the public school system suddenly ended the junior college program. This happened after the U.S. Supreme Court decided that separate schools for different races were against the law. This ruling was called Brown v. Board of Education. In the fall of 1955, Dunbar became only a junior high school. High school students then went to the newly opened Horace Mann High School.

What Students Learn at Dunbar

Today, most students at Dunbar take a foreign language class. All 6th graders must take nine weeks of Spanish, German, or French. They also learn Latin. Many students continue to take these languages in their second year and beyond. The high school that many Dunbar students attend, Central High, has a strong foreign language program. It offers advanced classes like Spanish VI, German VI, French VI, and Latin IV. Dunbar is also a key school for a large Gifted and Talented program.

Where Dunbar Students Come From and Go To

Elementary Schools

Students who attend Dunbar Magnet Middle School often come from these elementary schools:

  • King Elementary
  • Stephens Elementary
  • Washington Elementary
  • Other students from the Little Rock School District can also attend. This is true even if they don't live in the school's specific attendance area.

High Schools

Dunbar Magnet Middle School helps prepare students for these high schools:

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