Pomonkey Junior-Senior High School was an all-black high school located in Indian Head, Maryland.

Pomonkey Junior-Senior High School
Address
Map
3535 Livingston Road (currently Matthew Henson Middle School)

,
20640
Coordinates38°36′49.5″N 77°4′34″W / 38.613750°N 77.07611°W / 38.613750; -77.07611
Information
School typePublic, All Black secondary school
Opened1958
Closed1969 (as a high school)
School districtCharles County Public Schools
PrincipalCharles J. Coates
Grades9–12
EnrollmentNo longer open
LanguageEnglish
CampusRural
Color(s)Blue and White
MascotRoaring Tiger

History

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The property of the school was donated by the black inhabitants of Pomonkey in 1922, following World War I.[1] At the time, the poor and isolated community only had a one-room school for African Americans.[1] The school opened in 1958, where it became the first all-African American high school in Charles County.[1] From 1966 to 1969, it began to be integrated with the all white schools, Henry E. Lackey High School and La Plata High School.[citation needed] The old Pomonkey High School building was then re-opened as a public middle school in 1970, it was rededicated in 1970 as Matthew Henson Middle School.[citation needed]

In 1996, 30 residents of Pomonkey entered in a legal battle to have the school and its land returned to their ownership, as stated by the deed.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Shields, Todd (1996-03-24). "A Fight Over A Rural School". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-02-01.