Harriet Tubman School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harriet Tubman School |
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| Address | |
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8045 Harriet Tubman Lane
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| Coordinates | 39°11′N 76°52′W / 39.19°N 76.87°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public, segregated |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Closed | 1965 |
| School district | Howard County Public School System |
| Last updated: 31 December 2017 | |
Harriet Tubman School was a public school in Columbia, Maryland. It operated from 1949 to 1965. This school was part of the Howard County Public School System.
During this time, many schools in the United States were segregated. This meant that Black students and white students went to separate schools. Harriet Tubman School was specifically for African American students.
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History of Harriet Tubman School
Harriet Tubman School was the last segregated school in the Howard County Public School System. Today, the historic building is used by the school system for maintenance offices.
Early Education for African Americans
Before Harriet Tubman School, African American children in Howard County had limited options for high school. In 1937, the first classes for Black students beyond 7th grade were held in Cooksville. By 1939, this small school offered classes up to the 11th grade. It was the only school in the county offering high school education for African American students.
Building a New High School
The Harriet Tubman School was built in Simpsonville. It opened in 1948 as the first dedicated high school for African Americans in the area. The first students graduated in 1952.
In 1953, the school got bigger with a new addition. Another building for shop classes was approved in 1956.
School Closure and Integration
The United States Supreme Court made a ruling that schools should not be segregated. This ruling meant that schools should allow students of all races to learn together.
Harriet Tubman School operated as a segregated school for 16 years. Instead of becoming integrated (meaning open to all students), the school closed in 1965. Local residents wanted a brand new school built nearby. This new school, Atholton High, was built on land next to the Harriet Tubman School.
Future of the Building
Since the early 2000s, people have been working to turn the old Harriet Tubman School building into a Cultural Center. This would be a place to celebrate history and culture.
