Alamance-Burlington School System history

1849-Alamance County formed from Orange Co.

1868-State Constitution establishes school board for each county township

1877-First local school board minutes available from State Archives

1897-Board of Education established for each county

Cooper School-circa 1900 one-room school for black students in the Mebane vicinity; one of two such schools remaining in Alamance County

McCray School-circa 1915 one-room school for black students located on Hwy 62 in northern Alamance County

Philanthropist Julius Rosenwald once helped to fund several schools for black children in Alamance County during the 1920s.

1923-Rural schools in Alamance County consolidate

History of Western Alamance High School The Beginning The first step toward the construction of Western Alamance High occurred on September 27, 1958 when a bond issue for school construction was passed.

A site for construction was chosen at the C.E. Kernodle property on Highway 87 at the intersection of Gerringer Mill Road in 1959.

Construction on a high school to consolidate Elon, Altamahaw- Ossipee, and Pleasant Grove High Schools began in 1960.

All areas of instruction were correlated and excellent leadership was demonstrated by the principal.” A steady stream of more than 5000 visitors attended the first annual open house on Sunday afternoon September 30, 1962 and were duly impressed with the new school.

The Chorus made three appearances at the New York World’s fair in 1965, went to Pascask, New Jersey; Rising Suns, Md., New Orleans, Atlanta, Florida and performed in many state and national contests.

In 1966, the first black faculty member, Mrs.

Larry Rayfield was an outstanding assistant principal at Western since 1967.

1970-1st black head football coach named to mostly white high school

In 1972 he produced an 8-2-football team when pressed into being the head football coach.

By 1982 sale totaled $30,000 for the year.

In 1983, following a tragic car accident on slippery ice in which two students drowned, Mr.

In 1985, he started the Gold Card and Academic Letter program at Western.

In 1986, Hollis Cook was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in Alamance County for his work with athletics at Western.

The PIE group ably assisted with a writing program, developed a campus beautification program and offered a 1990 after prom party that was a huge success.

1996-Burlington City Schools and Alamance County schools merge