Desegregation: The Schools
Where were the African-American schools in Fairfax County?
Two questions commonly asked by people researching the desegregation of Fairfax County Public Schools are: “What schools did FCPS close during desegregation?” And, “Where were the all-African-American schools located?” We have gathered maps and addresses showing the locations of these schools, as well as information about the construction of the school buildings and what became of them after desegregation.
Drew-Smith Elementary School opened during the 1952-53 school year and was closed in June 1965. The majority of Drew-Smith students were integrated into Bucknell, Gunston, Hollin Hall, Hollin Meadows, Hybla Valley, and Mount Vernon Woods elementary schools. Drew-Smith was converted into a special education center and became a pilot site for the “Culturally Disadvantaged Program” (the forerunner of the Head Start program). The building currently houses the Gum Springs Community Center and the Gum Springs Museum.
Learn more about Drew-Smith Elementary School.
Eleven Oaks Elementary School opened on September 8, 1953, and was closed in June 1966. Most Eleven Oaks students were integrated into Burke, Centreville, Clifton, Fairview, Lorton, and Westmore elementary schools. Like Drew-Smith, Eleven Oaks served as a site for the Head Start program. The building was later used by FCPS for administrative offices.
Eleven Oaks Elementary School was demolished in 2008, and George Mason Boulevard runs through the former school property. Learn more about Eleven Oaks Elementary School and its predecessor the Fairfax Rosenwald School in this Fare Facs Gazette article (pdf).
Learn more about the history of Eleven Oaks Elementary School.
James Lee Elementary School opened on February 6, 1948, and was closed in June 1966. Most James Lee students were integrated into Fairhill, Pine Spring, Stenwood, and Woodburn elementary schools.
The building later housed overflow classes from Devonshire Elementary School and was later used by FCPS for administrative offices. The building currently houses the James Lee Community Center.
Learn more about James Lee Elementary School.
Lillian Carey Elementary School opened on September 4, 1956, and was closed in June 1965. Most Lillian Carey students were integrated into Bailey’s, Glen Forest, Lincolnia, and Parklawn elementary schools. The building was converted into a special education center and is currently in use as the Bailey’s Community Center.
Learn more about Lillian Carey Elementary School.
Louise Archer Elementary School opened in the fall of 1939. Louise Archer is unique because it was the only all-African-American elementary school to remain open as an elementary school after desegregation. When Louise Archer Elementary School was integrated in 1965-66, nearly all of the school’s faculty had been reassigned to other schools in Fairfax County. The one exception was B. Oswald Robinson, who continued serving as the school’s principal. Louise Archer students who lived outside of Vienna were assigned to Churchill Road, Dunn Loring, Franklin Sherman, Herndon, Great Falls, and Spring Hill elementary schools.
An extensive history of Louise Archer Elementary School can be found on the school’s website.
Learn more about the location and records of Louise Archer Elementary School.
Luther Jackson High School opened on September 1, 1954, and was closed in June 1965. The building was converted into an intermediate school and remains in use today. Taylor M. Williams was the only principal of Luther Jackson High School and later served as Area I Superintendent.
The school has been renovated and modernized several times during its history. Since February 1981, the Fairfax County School Board has called Luther Jackson "home". Members of the community recognize the school as "the place where the School Board meets."
An extensive history of Luther Jackson High School can be found on the Luther Jackson Middle School website.
Oak Grove Elementary School opened in 1953 and was closed in June 1964. It was the first school to close during integration. In 1954, the boundary line between Fairfax and Loudoun counties was re-surveyed, and a portion of the school property ended up on the Loudoun County side of the line.
Most Oak Grove students were integrated into Floris, Herndon, and Navy elementary schools. During the construction of Lake Anne Elementary School, the building housed Lake Anne’s students from September 1966 to January 1967. The building later served as a Head Start Program site, recreation center, and senior center and nutrition site.
Oak Grove was purchased by the Town of Herndon in the early 1980s. The building was used by the Herndon Police Department until 2004 and currently houses the Town of Herndon’s Zoning Enforcement Office.
