Central High School - The First African American High School in Texas, Established in 1885

​With funds made available from the Freedmen’s Bureau, white missionary Sarah Barnes established the Barnes Institute in 1869, the first school for African Americans in Galveston. The school was located on Avenue M between 28th and 29th Street. John Ogilvie Stevenson, a native of Scotland, served with the American Missionary Association and was the school’s first principal. By 1876, the campus had four teachers and an enrollment of more than 300 students. Frank Webb became principal in 1881, serving until 1894. During his time, the school grew significantly and was renamed the West District Colored School. Located on Winnie Street, between 27th and 28th Street, the school served as an elementary campus for African American children who lived west of 20th Street. By 1890, the school had relocated to the south side of Avenue M, between 28th and 29th Streets.

Central High, Now Central Jr. High, B in 1954

Central High School, between 1886 and 1893, at 15th and NOrganized in 1885, Galveston’s Central High School was the first high school for African Americas in Texas. The school’s first classrooms were housed in a rented building located at 16th Street and Avenue L. From 1886 to 1893, the high school operated from its second location, another rented building located at Avenue N and 15th Street.

Central High School in 1885 at 16th and Avenue LIn 1893, land was purchased between 26th and 27th on Avenue M for a new school designed by the notable Galveston architect, Nicholas Clayton. The handsome brick structure was the third campus for Central High School. Through a collaboration between the all-white Rosenberg Library Association, the Galveston School Board, and the City of Galveston, an addition to house a public library at Central High School was authorized on May 18, 1904. On January 11, 1905, The Colored Branch of the Rosenberg Library at Central High became the first African American Public Library in Texas.

Nicholas Clayton’s Central High School, Built in 1893, on Avenue M Between 26th and 27thIn 1924, a new wing was added to the west side of the 1893 school building. The addition increased the number of classrooms needed for the growing student body, many of whom lived off the island. Out of town students carpooled or rode commercial buses to the island each day to attend classes while others with the financial means to do so rented rooms near the school where they lived during the weekdays and commuted home on weekends.

1924 Addition to CentralThe final Central High School was built in 1954 and spanned from 31st to 33rd Streets between Avenue H and Avenue I. A page from a 1960s Central High School yearbook honors the past principals of Central High School including the first principal, Mr. J.R. Gibson, who fulfilled the obligation for fifty years. He was succeeded by W. J. Mason, who acted as principal from 1936 until 1941. Dr. Leon A. Morgan met the need from 1941 until 1967, who wrote the school’s beloved Alma Mater still recalled fondly by the school’s alumni.

Sr. Class Officers, Class of 1967-1968Mr. James Sweatt, Jr. served as the last principal of Central High School for the school year, 1967-1968. At the close of the 1968 academic year, Central High School merged with Ball High School. The Central High School campus was converted into Central Middle School and Ball High School became the only public high school in Galveston. Although the doors of Central High School closed in 1968, the school’s many academic successes and accomplishments in the field of sports are still celebrated today.
Shared from
Galveston Historical Foundation
​www.galvestonhistory.org