The History and Culture of Page County’s Black Communities and Education

The Andrew Jackson School opened in 1924 for African American students in Luray. It was named after a local Black entrepreneur, Andrew Jackson. It provided education for grades first through seventh, then eventually through eleventh.

The Black community of Luray raised half of the funds for the three-room school building. The other half came from Page County and Rosenwald Fund, a school-building campaign pioneered by Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald.

The Andrew Jackson School offered education through eleventh grade. For students to receive a high school diploma, their families would send them across the state or even out of state to stay with family or friends of the family.

Some went to Bordentown School in New Jersey or Manassas Regional High School in Manassas, VA. The Andrew Jackson School closed in 1959 when the West Luray School (Site 5) opened.

The Historic Andrew Jackson School Museum was started in 2020 to ensure the legacy of the students and teachers who attended the Andrew Jackson School will survive for future generations.

On August 13, 2022, a historical marker was erected and unveiled to the public for the Andrew Jackson School at the former West Luray Recreation Center.

Here are just a few of the photos showing the condition of the building with Rev. Audre King, founder of Living Legacy first looked at the building.