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I. M. Terrell High School Building

The I. M. Terrell High School building that served as the experimental site for the Secondary School Study was opened in 1938. As described in Secondary School Study documents, “Terrell is a city high school serving 900 pupils in grades 9, 10 and 11. The school plant, consisting of 26 modern rooms and a spacious campus, is outstanding in every regard. Curriculum advisors, provided by the city board of education, serve the 26 members of the school’s faculty. The unusual facilities at Terrell enable it to offer its pupils a wide range of general education as well as vocational activities.”
from W. H. Brown & W. A. Robinson, Serving Negro Schools: A Report on the Secondary School Study (1946)


In 1882, public education for black students was organized in Fort Worth with Isaiah Milligan Terrell (1859-1931) serving as one of the first teachers. Terrell was subsequently appointed principal and superintendent for black schools in Fort Worth, serving in this role until 1915 when he left to accept the presidency of what is now Prairie View A&M University. In 1921, Fort Worth’s secondary school was named the I. M. Terrell High School, receiving regional accreditment in 1934. Beginning in 1936, a structure on East 18th Street was converted to the high school with a 1937 addition expanding the building. Construction was funded by the Works Progress Administration with the full school facility opening in 1938. The I. M. Terrell High School was closed in 1973 and, in 1998, the building, through the efforts of Norma Johnson, was reopened as an elementary school.

           





link to photograph of
the I. M. Terrell High School marker


Since 1998, the Terrell School building
has served as an elementary school.
               

I. M. Terrell Alumni Center
is housed in the Terrell Elementary School Building

   


Beverly J. Washington standing in front of the plaque of Norma Johnson who was instrumental in the reopening of the Terrell building as an elementary school.

     
     


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