John Philip Sousa Junior High School facts for kids
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John Philip Sousa Junior High School
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
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| Location | 3650 Ely Place, SE, Washington, D.C. |
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| Area | 5.78 acres (2.34 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001045 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 7, 2001 |
| Designated NHL | August 7, 2001 |
The John Philip Sousa Middle School is a public school in Washington, D.C.. It is located at 3650 Ely Place in the city's Fort Dupont neighborhood. This school serves students in grades 6 through 8.
The school building was built in 1950. Soon after, it became important in the Civil Rights Movement. Twelve Black students were not allowed to attend this school. At that time, it was only for White students. This unfair rule was later changed by a very important court case.
In 1954, the Supreme Court made a big decision. This decision was called Bolling v. Sharpe. It made it illegal for public schools in Washington, D.C. to separate students by race. This ruling helped end the idea of "separate but equal" schools. It was an early victory for civil rights in the United States.
Because of its role in this important event, the school was named a National Historic Landmark in 2001. In 2022, it also became part of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
About the School Building
The John Philip Sousa Middle School is in Southeast Washington. It is across from Fort Dupont Park. The building has a brick outside and a modern design. It ranges from one to five stories tall.
One part of the building is three stories high. It holds the school's offices and classrooms. The main entrance faces the street in this section. Another part of the building runs along the road. This section contains the school's larger areas, like the gym and the auditorium.
School's Role in History
The school was built in 1950. At that time, schools in Washington, D.C. were separated by race. Schools for Black students often had too many students and not enough money. Schools for White students did not have these problems.
Black families in the area wanted better schools. They also wanted schools to be open to all students. In 1949, some parents from another school, Browne Junior High, started to take action. They planned protests and legal challenges.
When the new John Philip Sousa Junior High School opened in September 1950, a group of students tried to get in. There were twelve students, along with their parents and lawyers. A police escort was also with them. However, the school principal did not let them enter.
This event led to a major court case. In 1954, the Supreme Court made its decision in Bolling v. Sharpe. The Court said that separating students by race in D.C. schools was against the law. This was because it violated "due process" (fair legal treatment). This case was similar to, but different from, the more famous Brown v. Board of Education case. Brown v. Board of Education ended state-level school segregation.
