Clarkston Schools history

Nelson Clark built the original school, calling it “Clark Academy”, in 1850. It was a private school that was sold to the public as a grade school in 1862.

Originally referred to as “New Siding” (named after Jake New, a Section Foreman that worked for the Georgia Railroad), the City of Clarkston was officially named as such by Governor Alexander H. Stevens on December 12th, 1882.

It is the third oldest Woman’s Club building in the state of Georgia! The land was given to the Club by the Clarkston School Board; the land had been given to them by the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company all the way back in 1894.

The beginning of the Clarkston Woman’s Club stemmed from the Progressive Arts Circle, a study club formed in 1902.

The third Clarkston School was built in 1910 on Main Street (M-15).

The Circle changed its name in 1912, to Clarkston Civic Circle, in order to establish a library.

The Clarkston Woman’s Club was built in 1913.

P.R.G. Clark made it possible for the city to have his land, legally, and just a few months later in August of 1927, Clark Park opened as DeKalb County’s first public park and playground!

By the time the fourth Clarkston School was completed in 1930 in Independence Township, the area's population had started to decline.

In 1952, Clarkston Community Schools was formed and Clarkston and Andersonville Elementary Schools were completed, leaving the 6th-to-12th graders as sole occupants at the newly renamed Clarkston High School.