George Washington Carver High School (Columbus, Georgia) facts for kids

George Washington Carver High School is a public high school located in Columbus, Georgia. For many years, it was the main high school for black students in the area. In 2009, money was set aside to rebuild the school. The new building opened its doors in 2012. Today, it serves all students in its community.

School History and Changes

The Path to Integration

In 1963, the Muscogee County School District started looking at how to end segregation. Segregation meant that black and white students went to separate schools. In September 1963, the school board decided to slowly integrate schools. This meant one grade would become mixed each year.

However, in January 1964, a group called the NAACP filed a lawsuit. They argued that the schools for black students were not as good. The school superintendent at the time said that keeping schools separate was a "long-standing custom." He also claimed that changing it would upset children.

Despite this, in September 1968, a court ruled that all grades should be integrated. This was done through a "freedom of choice" plan. Students could choose which school to attend. Later, another court case said that teachers also needed to be integrated. This meant that every school had to have at least two teachers from a different racial background.

During this time, both teachers and students faced many challenges. Their main goal was often just to get through the day. By 1970, even with the "freedom of choice" plan, many schools were still mostly segregated. Most white schools had only the required two black teachers. But many black schools had more white teachers.

To avoid losing federal money, the school district fully integrated its schools in 1971. After this, about 70% of the students at Carver High School were white. To help white students feel more comfortable, pictures of George Washington Carver were removed. By 1997, the federal court no longer needed to oversee the school district. This meant the district had successfully integrated its schools.

Famous People from Carver High

Many talented individuals have attended George Washington Carver High School. Here are some notable alumni:

• Brentson Buckner, a professional football player and coach.
• Isaiah Crowell, a professional football player.
• Wallace Davis, a professional football player who also coached at Carver.
• Roderick Hood, a professional football player.
• Chris Hubbard, a professional football player.
• Jarvis Jones, a professional football player.
• Dell McGee, a professional football player who also coached at Carver.
• Ruby Sales, a well-known civil rights activist.
• Jasper Sanks, a football player.
• Gabe Wright, a professional football player.