Education

Montgomery School Photo (Courtesy of John Kline)

Montgomery County School History

We have launched into gathering information, recollections, memories, memorabilia, images, and maps about the schools within Montgomery County through time. This is a joint project between the Montgomery Museum of Art and History and the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation. If you have information, please feel free to contact us.

The Montgomery Museum of Art and History provides a condensed history about education in the county. Dates to remember:

  • 1810 – Virginia General Assembly passed bill to create the Virginia Literary Fund which set aside the money the Commonwealth collected from fines, penalties and forfeitures. The funds were to go to the education of the poor. Eventually the fund was used to improve school facilities. Mullins, Foney G.. A History of the Literary Fund as a Funding Source for Free Public Education in the Commonwealth of Virginia, PhD Dissertation, 2001
  • In 1831 Virginia passed a law that bans any gatherings of blacks for education. “…That all meetings of free negroes or mulattoes, at any school-house, church, meeting-house or other place for teaching them reading or writing, either in the day or night, under whatsoever pretext, shall be deemed and considered as an unlawful assembly…”
  • Prior to the 1870’s only the wealthy students could afford private tutors or subscription schools. Some church’s provided schools, but parents paid for a teacher and in some instances, a patronage system developed. During the mid-1800’s academies for both men and women operated in Montgomery County. Many of these schools were affiliated with local churches. (Establishment of the Public School System in Virginia)
  • 1865 – The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was established by US Congress. The Freedmen’s Bureau conducted a census of freedmen in Montgomery County in 1865 and by 1867 four schools were educating black students (Thorp, D. B.. Facing Freedom, An African American Community in Virginia from Reconstruction to Jim Crow. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2017. Print.)
  • In July 1869, the ratification of the new Virginia Constitution created a free public education system across Virginia. But, at this time the separation of black and white pupils was codified into Virginia law (“Separate but Equal” ruling). Because of the massive post war debt, the state politicians reduced the funding which put a damper on school building projects. However, by late 1880 to 1900 rural community schools for both blacks and whites were built and staffed with local tax dollars. “The constitution authorized the assembly to tax property to pay for the schools, devoted proceeds from the state’s old literary fund to the schools, and permitted counties to lay additional taxes to supplement state appropriations.” (Establishment of the Public School System in Virginia)
  • Public secondary schools were not mandated by the state until 14 March 1906, when the Mann High School bill was passed. Building and outfitting schools as well as supplying teachers was slow. Progress was hindered by the restriction of state and local finances and the supply of high school teachers for rural areas. Qualified teachers were pulled towards teaching in private schools.
  • 1954 – Brown vs Board of Education and the National Archive’s Timeline
  • 1959 – School Desegregation in Virginia.
  • 1963 – Blacksburg Graded Elementary School (between Bennett St, Wilson Avenue and Harding Avenue) for African Americans closed and those students attended Margaret Beeks Elementary.
  • 1966 – Christiansburg Institute closed when the county schools integrated.

Evolution of Public Schools in Montgomery County

The county public school system has significantly changed over time. The history of the development of schools can be loosely grouped into these common eras.

  • Reconstruction & Growth (1866 to 1916)
    • In Virginia free public schooling was created in 1869, but not realized in this county until the next decade. This is the era of small public community based One-room School Houses. Children between the ages 6 and 14 attended one-room buildings with one teacher. The funding and school quality depended on the community they served, be it African American or white. Not every African American community had a school so these children either walked long distances or did not attend. As some communities grew, such as Riner, Christiansburg, Mt Tabor, Blacksburg, and Shawsville, the schools were expanded to accommodate the growing population. Dedicated public secondary schools were not built in the county until mandated in 1906, though instruction was being offered by then.
  • WWI to WWII (1917-1945)
    • Graded schools (later known as “grade schools”) grouped students by age or instructional level. Sometimes more than one teacher was employed, depending on the number of students. These schools were also referred to as primary or grammar schools. Some graded schools usually had divided rooms. Children attended 1st to either 7th or 8th grade. White students wishing to attend secondary school went to high school in either Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Elliston/Shawsville or Riner. Sometimes these children boarded with family or friends who lived close to the high school because travel was difficult. During this time we are not sure if all primary public schools for African American students were graded. Perhaps you know? The county did not provide public secondary school for Black pupils.
  • The New Dominion (1945 to the present)
    • Because many of the rural roads were improved during this time and a few buses were purchased, small rural community schools were closed in favor of coalescing white students into larger and centralized graded schools. As the modern school organization evolved it became more uniform within the county.
    • Primary or grammar schools included grades 1-7 (sometimes 8).
    • Secondary school included grades 9-12 (sometimes 8) in dedicated high schools.
    • Some new primary schools were built for African American students during this period in the Auburn, Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Shawsville districts.
    • Christiansburg Industrial Institute (CII) was deeded to the county in the 1940’s. This previously private school now functioned as a public high school for Black students who lived in the counties of Giles and Montgomery, and Radford City.
    • In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the racially integrated public school system evolved into the current organization of schools and their associated grades. It was during this period that the county population doubled, fueling a push to expand and build new schools.
      • Elementary or primary schools include kindergarten to 5th grade. In some places two school buildings were built, a primary and elementary. Kindergarten programs were added in the 1970s.
      • Middle schools included grades 6-8.
      • High schools were organized into grades 9-12.
    • In the late 1990’s to 2020’s the county population expanded once again. Chronic underfunding of school maintenance of the aging schools and the need to accommodate this growth resulted in renovating and/or building new schools across the county.

Montgomery County Public Schools Over Time

When the public school system was first created, the county was divided into school districts: Auburn, Alleghany (Eastern Montgomery), Blacksburg, & Christiansburg. Children were assigned to a community primary school which was usually close to their home so they could walk. As roads improved rudimentary buses were put into service. Remnants of this county organizational system persists today; however, schools assignments are now based on both proximity and population.

Secondary public schools (high schools) were established across the county after the turn of the 20th century, which was typical for state rural areas. Early on the majority of students across the county did not attend high school, but with time, attendance increased.

The Public Schools of Today

Currently, Montgomery County is divided into 7 school districts, A to G. Descriptions of each are found on the Montgomery County School Board site. Note that elementary school students in different areas cross the original district lines. Many these schools date from the 1960’s or later.

School listings available on the MCSB site

  • A, E, F, G = Northeastern, Northwestern, Northcentral & Central Montgomery County
    • Belview Elementary
  • B = Central Montgomery County, including Christiansburg schools
    • Christiansburg Primary
    • Christiansburg Elementary
    • Christiansburg Middle
    • Christiansburg High
  • C = Southeastern Montgomery County, including Shawsville and Eastern Montgomery
    • Eastern Montgomery Elementary
    • Falling Branch Elementary
    • Eastern Montgomery Middle
    • Eastern Montgomery High
  • D = Southwestern Montgomery County, including Auburn and Bethel
    • Auburn Elementary
    • Auburn Middle
    • Auburn High

Public Schools of the Past & Present

As mentioned, when the public school system was created in the 1870’s the county was divided into school districts: Allegheny, Auburn, Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Prior to WWII each community had its own school house. Generally, schools were located close by a church, mine works, mill, or market. With the improvement of roads and purchase of busses, the county started to consolidate schools after the war.

We will explore the public schools that were built within each school district. The list below reflects all the public schools that we have found. Evidence of these schools has been drawn from school board minutes, maps (road, census, soil survey), directories, and other primary source documents. Some of the older schools that we have found may be private, but we are including them in this list until we learn more. If you have information about any of these schools please contact us.

  • Allegheny
    • Alleghany Springs (2 rooms)
    • Den Hill (2 rooms)
    • Elliston(2 rooms)
    • Elliston (4 rooms)
    • Friendship (1 room)
    • Funk (1 room)
    • Ironto (3 rooms)
    • Lafayette
    • Otey (1 room)
    • Reesdale (1 room)
    • Shawsville (Col.)
    • Shawsville (2 rooms)
    • Shawsville High School
    • Texas (1 room, Fishers View Road)
    • Womack (1 room)
  • Auburn
    • Chestnut Ridge (1 room)
    • Childress (2 rooms)
    • Dry Valley (2 rooms)
    • Fair View
    • Graysontown
    • Old Poff School
    • Pilot (3 rooms)
    • Pine Woods (Piney Woods, 1 room)
    • Riner
    • Rock Road (1 room)
    • Simpkins (2 rooms)
    • Stony Point (1 room)
    • Walton (1 room)
    • Walton #2 (2 rooms)
    • Wolf Spring (1 room)
  • Blacksburg District
    • Barger School (? to 1919, on Barger Road, Tom’s Creek basin)
    • Blacksburg Primary & Elementary, Draper Street (1934-1964)
    • Blacksburg Graded School, grades 1-12, Draper & Jackson Street (1908)
    • Blacksburg High, no. 2, Roanoke and Otey Streets (1916)
    • Blacksburg High, no. 3, South Main Street (1952)
    • Blacksburg High, no. 4, Patrick Henry Street (1974-2010)
    • Blacksburg High, no. 5, Bruin Land (2013)
    • Blacksburg Middle, no 1, South Main Street (1952)
    • Blacksburg Middle, no 2, Prices Fork (2003)
    • Blacksburg Clay Street School for African Americans (? – ca. 1954; 1 room, divided)
    • Blacksburg Graded Elementary for African Americans, Wilson Street (1953; 2 room, divided)
    • Centennial Dawson (before 1890, Roanoke Street)
    • Dowdy Town (1 room)
    • Dry Run (1 room)
    • Gilbert Linkous Elementary (1964)
    • Glade (1 room)
    • Grisso (1 room)
    • Harding Avenue Elementary (1972)
    • Kipps Elementary
    • Long’s Shop (3 rooms)
    • Luster’s Gate (2 rooms)
    • Margaret Beeks Elementary (1963)
    • McCoy (3 rooms)
    • McDonalds Mill
    • Merrimac (3 rooms)
    • Mt Tabor (3 rooms, Old Sch. Ho. noted)
    • North Fork
    • Norris Run (1 room)
    • Perfater
    • Poverty Hollow
    • Prices Fork School no. 1 (1 room)
    • Prices Fork Elementary no. 2 (north side of Prices Fork Road; 4 rooms)
    • Prices Fork Elementary no. 3 (south side of Prices Fork Road; 1950-2012)
    • Prices Fork Elementary no. 4 (south side of Prices Fork, before the village, 2012)
    • Sunnyside (1 room)
    • Tom’s Creek (1 room)
    • Vicker (2 rooms)
    • Wake Forest School for African Americans (2 rooms)
    • Glade (1 room)
    • Grisso (1 room)
    • Harding Avenue Elementary (1972)
    • Kipps Elementary
    • Long’s Shop (3 rooms)
    • Luster’s Gate (2 rooms)
    • Margaret Beeks Elementary (1963)
    • McCoy (3 rooms)
    • McDonalds Mill
    • Merrimac (3 rooms)
    • Mt Tabor (3 rooms, Old Sch. Ho. noted)
    • North Fork
    • Norris Run (1 room)
    • Perfater
    • Poverty Hollow
    • Prices Fork School no. 1 (1 room)
    • Prices Fork Elementary no. 2 (north side of Prices Fork Road; 4 rooms)
    • Prices Fork Elementary no. 3 (south side of Prices Fork Road; 1950-2012)
    • Prices Fork Elementary no. 4 (south side of Prices Fork, before the village, 2012)
    • Sunnyside (1 room)
    • Tom’s Creek (1 room)
    • Vicker (2 rooms)
    • Wake Forest Primary (2 rooms)
  • Christiansburg
    • Belmont (1 room)
    • Christiansburg Primary
    • Christiansburg High
    • Christiansburg Institute
    • Ellett (4 rooms)
    • Friends Elementary
    • Hill School
    • Mosby (1 room)
    • Sugar Grove (1 room)
    • Weller Baker (Cambria, 1935-1969)

1940’s School Districts

Montgomery County, Virginia, 1940 School Census

The map was compiled in 1942 by Childress Hall, Surveyor and available courtesy of Montgomery Museum of Art & History.

For a closer look at this map by school districts.

Resources that Address the History of Education in Blacksburg

  • Montgomery County Reconnaissance Survey, 1986. This report that was written by Gibson Worsham, Dan Pezzoni, Charlotte Worsham, David Rotenizer, and others. It addresses the following: “1) Overview of the County’s History, 2) A Comprehensive Inventory of significant structures and sites in the county … and 3) Maps delineating the location of said structures and sites.
  • Industrial Survey Montgomery County and City of Radford, Virginia, 1929. Humbert, R.L., R.B.H. Begg, T.W. Knote, R.J. Holden, M.L. Jeffries. Engineering Extension Division, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va. Located in Virginia Tech Special Collections & University Archives, LD5655.A6552 1929a. This is not digitized, but contact us if you wish for more information.
  • Garnett, William Edward, 1885-1970. A Social Study of the Blacksburg Community. Blacksburg, Va.: Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, 1935.