Stafford Training School facts for kids
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Stafford Training School
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford, Virginia |
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| Area | 8.16 acres (3.30 ha) |
| Built | c. 1939, 1943, 1954, 1958, 1960 |
| Built by | Public Works Administration |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 12001272 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 5, 2013 |
The Stafford Training School was a very important school in Stafford, Stafford County, Virginia. It was built for African American students during a time when schools were separated by race. The school was also known by other names, like H.H. Poole Junior High School.
The first part of the school was built in 1939. Over the years, it grew bigger with additions in 1943, 1954, 1958, and 1960. By 1954, the school had many rooms. These included eight classrooms, a principal's office, a clinic, and a teacher's lounge. It also had a library, a home economics area, a cafeteria kitchen, and a room that was both an auditorium and a gym. The school even had modern restrooms for its time. In the 1955-1956 school year, 228 students attended the school.
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Building the School
The school's design is in the Colonial Revival style. It has a main section with one story and three bays. On each side, there are one-story brick wings. The building is made of cinderblock covered with brick. It has a metal roof.
The school was built by the Public Works Administration. This was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression. The school was the only high school for African American students in Stafford County during the Civil Rights Movement. Before the school expanded in the 1950s, older students (11th and 12th graders) had to travel. They went to The Walker-Grant High School in Fredericksburg. This was because the other high school in Stafford County was only for white students. The Stafford County School Board paid for their tuition and transportation.
School Expansions
The 1954 expansion cost a lot of money. It was paid for by a state grant and money from the County Board of Supervisors. The 1960 expansion added a two-story cafeteria and a home economics department. School bus drivers from Stafford helped build this part of the school.
A Step Towards Equality
The Stafford Training School played a key role in ending school segregation. On September 5, 1961, two students from the school, Doretha and Cynthia Montague, made history. They enrolled in Stafford Elementary School, which had only been for white students. This event marked the beginning of desegregation in schools around the Fredericksburg area. It was a big step towards equal education for all students.
Honoring Its History
The former school building was recognized for its importance in 2013. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes buildings that are important to the history of the United States.
On June 18, 2013, a special historical plaque was revealed inside the building. It tells a short story about the school's past. In 2014, another sign was put up in front of the building. This state historic marker was placed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. It helps everyone remember the school's important history.
Images for kids
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The Rowser Building, formerly Stafford Training School
