Starr Hill in Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Jefferson School

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

1. Jefferson School Marker

Inscription.
The name Jefferson School has a long association with African American education in Charlottesville. It was first used in the 1860s in a Freedmen's Bureau school and then for a public grade school by 1894. Jefferson High School opened here in 1926 as the city’s first high school for blacks, an early accredited black high school in Virginia. The facility became Jefferson Elementary School in 1951. In 1958, some current and former Jefferson students requested transfers to two white schools. The state closed the two white schools. Their reopening in 1959 began the process of desegregation in Charlottesville. Jefferson School housed many different educational programs after integrating in 1965.

Erected 2003 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q-30.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 38° 1.892′ N, 78° 29.178′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in Starr Hill. Marker is at the intersection of 4th Street NW and Commerce Street, on the left on 4th Street NW. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charlottesville VA 22903, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sacajawea (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dedicated to You, A Free Citizen in a Free Land (about 800 feet away); First Baptist Church, West Main Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Triumph of “The Charlottesville Twelve” (approx. 0.2 miles away); Together We Grow (approx. 0.2 miles away); Greater Downtown (approx. ¼ mile away); Benjamin E. Tonsler Residence (approx. 0.3 miles away); Swanson v. University of Virginia (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.

Also see . . . Jefferson School (Charlottesville, Virginia). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on September 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

2. Jefferson School Marker

Jefferson School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

3. Jefferson School

Main entrance is on Commerce Street. Marker is downhill to the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,367 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 10, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.