Meeting Street Market at Elon Park Elementary School

History of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools The Early Years 1882-1935 Today, the public school district known as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools began in Charlotte in 1882 when T.J. Mitchell was chosen as the first superintendent of the segregated city school district. The system's first school, known as the South School, was located on the corner of East Morehead Street and South Boulevard in the barracks of the Carolina Military Institute. The first school for African-American children was organized in 1882 and was known as Myers Street School. From 1886 to 1888, Professor J.T. Corlew, a former school principal in Charlotte, served as the second superintendent of the city school system. From 1888 until 1913, Dr. Alexander Graham served as superintendent of what had become known as the "largest public school system south of Baltimore." Often called the father of graded schools in North Carolina, Graham developed a co-ed school, dropped Latin and Greek, and added drawing and music to the curriculum. He opened the district's second school for white students in 1900, the North School, which served students to the 10th grade. The school's layout, which was described as the finest school building in North Carolina, was developed from plans for a hospital in Texas. Today, First Ward Accelerated Learning Academy stands on the site of the North School. The district expanded in 1907, pulling several county schools into the city district. Some of the schools included Dilworth School, Seversville School, Elizabeth Mill School, Belmont School, and Biddleville School. Dr. Harry Harding was named superintendent in 1913, and school construction continued during the next decade. In 1920, Alexander Graham High School was built, and three years later, Central High School was established. The Alexander Graham School became the state's first junior high school. In 1925, a 12th grade was added to the graded school system. During the Depression, the school district experienced great difficulty with a budget cut of 61 percent and elimination of the 12th grade in 1934 and the elimination of teaching and other positions. Many positions were also cut during this time. In 1935, 12th grade was reinstituted. Consolidation 1935 -1953 The county school system, which had previously been led primarily by committees that gave schools a lot of autonomy, began to change. In the mid-1800s, more than 80 schools in the county enrolled more than 3,500 students. After the turn of the century,  one-room and two-room schools were consolidated. From 1944 to 1960, J.W. Wilson served as superintendent of the county school system. He consolidated many of the schools in the county system. Under his supervision, East, West, North and South high schools were established. In 1949, Dr. Elmer Garinger was chosen as superintendent of the city schools. In that same year, the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recommended consolidating the Charlotte City Schools and Mecklenburg County. The institute said that consolidation would result in several advantages, most notably equal educational opportunities for all children. The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce recommended a study committee examine extending the city limits and consolidating the two school systems. Under the leadership of Richard Thigpen, the study committee and the Chamber of Commerce concluded that the best solution for local school problems would be to consolidate. A well-known civic leader, Oliver Rowe, was instrumental in getting the public to vote for the consolidation, making numerous presentations and speeches throughout the county. On January 13, 1958, the Chamber committee's final report requested that the city and county boards of education pursue enactment of appropriate legislation by the 1959 General Assembly that would make consolidation possible. On June 30, 1959, residents of Charlotte and Mecklenburg Counties voted by a 2-1 margin to consolidate the two sc