Jefferson School (Charlottesville, Virginia) facts for kids
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Jefferson School, Carver Recreation Center, and School Site
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 233 Fourth St., NW, Charlottesville, Virginia |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1926, 1938-39, 1958, 1959 |
| Architect | Calrow, Browne, and Fitz-Gibbons |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000050 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 15, 2006 |
The Jefferson School is a special building in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was first built to be a high school for African-American students. At that time, schools were segregated, meaning Black students and white students went to separate schools.
The school is a large brick building. It was built in different parts starting in 1926. More sections were added in 1938–39, 1958, and 1959. The 1938–1939 addition even got some money from a government program called the Public Works Administration (PWA).
From 1926 to 1951, Jefferson School was Charlottesville's first high school for Black students. After 1951, it became an elementary school for Black children. In 1958, some students from Jefferson School wanted to go to schools that were only for white students. This led the city to join a statewide effort called massive resistance against mixing schools.
After many years and different uses, the building reopened in 2013. It is now called the Jefferson School City Center. It's a place where many groups meet. It includes the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, the Carver Recreation Center, and other community groups.
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Jefferson High School (1926-1951)
The Jefferson School opened in 1926. Local families had asked the Charlottesville City Council to create a high school for Black students. Before this, Black students went to Jefferson Colored/Graded Elementary School. This school only went up to the eighth grade.
Jefferson High School was one of only six high schools in Virginia that were officially recognized for Black students. In the 1937–1938 school year, 68 students started as freshmen. By their senior year in 1940–1941, 40 of those students returned to finish school. In 1943, the school had 14 teachers and a principal named Owen J. Duncan, Jr. That year, 54 students graduated.
Clubs and Activities
Before the high school closed in 1951, students had many fun activities. There were boys' and girls' basketball teams. There was also a boys' football team.
Students could join clubs like the French Club, Dramatics Club, School Band, Science Club, and Glee Club. In the 1944–45 school year, the Dramatics Club was very popular. It had 114 student members.
The school also had its own newspaper called The Jeffersonian. By 1941, it had writers for news, sports, and special stories. It also had people who handled ads and newspaper sales. In 1945, all the senior class officers were women for the first time ever. A famous person who went to Jefferson High School was football player Rosey Brown.
In 1941, the Music Department at Jefferson High School was very active. It had a school band and three singing groups. These included the Girls' Glee Club, an all-male chorus called The Singing Privateers, and a Mixed Chorus. The school band played at many churches, schools, and clubs. In May 1941, they even performed at the Paramount Theater. By 1945, the band traveled with the football team to play at games in Richmond.
In 1951, a new school called Burley High School opened nearby. It was built to serve Black students from Jefferson and other high schools in the area.
Yearbooks and Annuals
The yearbook for Jefferson High School was called the Crimson and Black. By the 1944–1945 school year, 18 students worked on the yearbook staff.
The 1944 yearbook was dedicated to the students who joined the armed forces. It honored "The boys of the Jefferson High School who have willingly answered the call of our country." It thanked them for serving to bring "a lasting peace."
School Library
In 1934, a library opened at the Jefferson School. It was for both students and the public. The Charlottesville City Council started this project. They wanted the Black community to have access to a library.
Jefferson Elementary School (1951-1965)
After 1951, the Jefferson School became an elementary school. It served Black students up to the eighth grade. In 1958, the NAACP (a civil rights group) helped students from Jefferson School. They filed a lawsuit so these students could try to transfer to nearby schools that were only for white students.
Integrated Middle School (1965-1967)
From 1965 to 1967, the Jefferson School played a key role in integrating Charlottesville's schools. In 1965-1966, it housed students from grades 7, 8, and 9. Two new junior high schools were supposed to open, but they were delayed. So, students for the new Walker Junior High went to Jefferson in the morning. Students for the new Buford Junior High went to Jefferson in the afternoon.
The next school year, 1966-1967, Walker and Buford opened. Jefferson School then housed all sixth-grade students in Charlottesville. This was an effort by the NAACP and local groups to fully integrate the city's schools.
Historic Status
In 2005, people suggested adding the Jefferson School building to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. It officially received this honor in 2006.
Two historical markers in Charlottesville remember a brave event. It's called "The Triumph of the Charlottesville Twelve." On September 8, 1958, three students from Jefferson School integrated Lane High School. Nine other Jefferson School students integrated Venable Elementary School. Their actions led to those schools closing for a few days.
