Phenix High School

Phenix High School was a segregated public school for African Americans, active from 1931 to 1968. It was created by the Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, as a normal school near the town of Hampton and Fort Monroe in Elizabeth City County, Virginia in 1931.

Phenix High School
Location
Coordinates37°1′19.8″N 76°20′7.4″W
Information
Former nameGeorge P. Phenix Training School (1931 to 1953)
TypePublic, segregated
Founded1931
Closed1968
Last updated: 29 December 2017

History
George Perley Phenix
George Perley Phenix

Phenix High School was first established as the George P. Phenix Training School in 1931. It succeeded the earlier Whittier School and Butler School.[1] The school was named for George Perley Phenix (1864–1930), a native of Maine, who was Hampton Institute's fourth principal, and subsequently the first to hold the title of president.[2][3] It was Phenix who lobbied the Virginia State Board of Education to build a modern facility for the youth of color in the community. A popular administrator, Dr. Phenix died suddenly in a drowning accident a few months before the new school he had championed opened.[4][5]

The school was built by Hampton Institute to serve as a normal school, a training ground for the university students who were learning to become teachers. The single, three story building originally included both a seven-year grammar school and a four-year high school. Anyone seeking a degree in education had to serve as a student teacher at Phenix - either at the high school or at the grammar school located at another end of the building. Parents of color paid a small fee so their children could attend the school.[6]

In 1940, the Phenix building was leased to the Elizabeth City County school system. to serve as a public high school for students of color living in the area. In 1953, the Phenix Training School became a senior high school, serving students in grades 10 through 12, and became George P. Phenix High School.[7]

The original building survives as Phenix Hall on the University's campus, and houses several research offices including the Department of Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences,[8] which hosts the data center for NASA's Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere mission, the only space mission managed by a historically black university.

In 1962, Phenix High School relocated to a new building off campus which was in the Hampton City Public School system. This was Hampton's only high school for students of color, at the time. The class of 1965 was the largest class to graduate from Phenix High School. They were the first class to start as freshmen and graduate as seniors. In 1968, three years later due to reorganization to accomplish desegregation of the Hampton public high schools, the second Phenix High School was renamed Pembroke High School.[9] That building closed in 1980, and the building now houses the Hampton Family YMCA and social services offices of the Hampton city government.[10]

Hampton opened a new George P. Phenix School for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade in September 2010. Citizens of Hampton, led by members of the Phenix Alumni Association, had run a vigorous public campaign to make sure the heritage of the George P. Phenix name would not die in their city of Hampton, Virginia.[4]

Notable graduates

References
  1. "Hampton University at 150: Mission evolves, but its core remains". Daily Press. March 25, 2018. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  2. "Alumni want new school to be named 'Phenix'". Daily Press. February 10, 2008.
  3. "School Background". The George P. Phenix High School Story. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  4. Shalash, Samieh (May 6, 2010). "Alumni group tours new Phenix school". Daily Press. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  5. "George Perley Phenix". Phenix Alumni Association. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  6. Tan, Sandra (February 7, 1999). "Phenix Remains A Special Place". Daily Press. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  7. "The History". Phenix Alumni Association. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  8. "Hampton University Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Department". Hampton University.
  9. "Memories of Phenix High School Explored at Hampton History Museum Lunchtime Program January 21". Downtown Hampton. Downtown Hampton Development Partnership. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  10. Colvin, Leonard E. (February 25, 2016). "Part V: Local Hallowed Grounds – Hampton and Newport News". New Journal and Guide. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  11. Allen, Bob (February 8, 2012). "Through a Filter to a Mark on Society". Langley Research Center. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  12. "Mary Winston-Jackson". A&E Television Networks, LLC. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
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