Filed Under African American
Washington Graded School
Washington School was founded after the Civil War to educate newly freed African Americans at the corner of McDowell and South Streets. As Raleigh grew, a new school building was constructed in 1923–1924 to serve the rising number of students. For many years, Washington Graded and High School was the only secondary school available to Black students in the city, a role it held until John W. Ligon Junior–Senior High School opened in 1953. The school later integrated in 1971.
In 1982, Washington became part of Raleigh’s magnet program, offering a Gifted & Talented curriculum for elementary students. Its long legacy in public education was recognized in 2005, when the school was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
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