There is no Excuse
for Less Than Best
Education in the two-story 33rd Avenue building began in 1921. The name 33rd Avenue High School was begun at this time (or shortly thereafter) and ended with the graduating class of 1969. The building on 33rd Avenue did not comprise all of the schools within the “colored” school system. We use the name “colored” because that is how the schools are differentiated in the School Board’s minutes.
We know of graduates as early as 1925. Some of these graduates supplied the information relating to their school experiences and their graduation. It is logical to assume that upon graduation, one would have completed grades one through twelve. (It is further logical to assume that there was some form of formal education for Gulfport’s Negro children prior to 1921.) Mrs. Rosa Lee Holmes taught, in some instances, two generations of children in grade school. Mrs. Holmes, as a teacher in the school system, is verified in Gulfport’s Board of School Trustees minutes located in the Gulfport Public Schools’ Administrative Building. Minutes were reviewed for the years beginning June 7, 1923. Teachers mentioned in the June 7, 1923 minutes included Mrs. Lenoir, Mrs. J L Falls, Mrs. R L Holmes, Mrs. J T Hall and J W Lee. A principal was not mentioned at this time though Mr Lenoir’s name is shown in these minutes. It was stated that Mr. Brown, superintendent of Gulfport schools, would elect a principal at a later date.
Additional teachers were appointed for the “colored” schools as recorded in the August 28, 1923 minutes. They are J B Stokes, Anne Walker, Melissa Clark and Mary Wilson. These teachers’ salaries were to be $57.50. There was a reduction in salary in 1924. The new salary was $50 per month for teachers and $100.00 for the principal. Enrollment was shown to be –
As of 9/08/25 462
As of 10/22/25 516
As of 11/11/25 532
Children from the neighboring communities began paying tuition in order to be educated in the Gulfport School System for colored. By August 9, 1926, enrollment increased to 1,063.
Several public schools were established to administer the educational needs of the "colored" children in the city and surrounding areas. The exact dates of the inception of these schools are not known. The "schools" included East Side Elementary, Central Elementary (corner of 19th Street and 33rd Avenue), Gaston Point Elementary, North Gulfport Elementary, Turkey Creek Elementary, and the Central High School (known by the students to be 33rd Avenue High School, located on the corner of 21st Street and 33rd Avenue). Now if you take a look at a 1934 diploma (see documents) of one of the 1934 graduates you will see the school’s name to be “Gulfport High School.” Either the name was Gulfport High School or diplomas were not printed to show the name “Thirty-Third Avenue High School.” Thirty-Third Avenue High School appeared on diplomas for the graduating class of 1947 and may have appeared earlier.
A report to the School Board Chairman as a result of an undated school survey indicated the condition of three elementary schools. This report was entered, in the bond books of minutes, following minutes dated in April 1927. Results of this survey showed the Gaston Point School to be okay but needed minor repairs. The Soria City School needed a new location. The Central Elementary School was deplorable with three or more children at one desk. One class was taught in the school’s auditorium. One teacher had as many as 109 students with practically no desks or any other seating arrangements. This building was located on two lots not owned by the city but W T Stewart Interests. The “Stewart Interests’ property” was later deeded to the city.
Survey Recommendations for Central Elementary: that four new rooms be built to accommodate 50 children in each; that sanitary features be completely renewed; the building ceiled, painted and other as necessary. It was further recommended that there be a home for teachers, as well as, rooms for Home Science and Industrial work.
A letter was written to the mayor requesting the purchase of the entire block where central (elementary) was currently located. That a "home sciences" building be constructed on the current grounds of the high school. Sufficient funds were in the Slater Fund to equip the home sciences building.
The Soria City students would be taught in churches until a desirable location was found and a new building constructed. The board approved the recommendations in November 1927.
In 1928, satisfactory completion of two years of college was required of teachers desiring to teach in the Gulfport colored schools.
All buildings were frame except the newly constructed Central Elementary that opened in the fall of 1934. Central Elementary was a six-room brick building with teachers for each room. This brick school was built per recommendations in the survey. The sixth room in Central Elementary was used for High School Shop. The remaining satellite schools were two rooms, one-story buildings that usually had two teachers for grades one through three.
The two-story high school (with an annex in the back of the school for home economics per the 1927 recommendations) housed the 7th through 12th grades. On the first floor were the principal’s office, a library and classrooms. An auditorium was on the second floor. The 12/10/31 minutes stated that the superintendent reported -- “the Negro School raised $200 for the school library. The superintendent also read a letter from Mr. Eason regarding the possibility of an additional $200 from the Rosenwald Fund.”
Upon completion of studies in the satellite schools (3rd grade), students walked to and from the centrally located schools daily for class, rain or shine. The distance was not less than three miles to and from the outlying communities.
The minutes of January 14, 1932, stated that a report had been received from Mr. Eason, State Agent for Negro Schools. The report included Mr. Eason’s opinion of the work done in the Negro schools. It said the work was found to be good and the discipline and sanitary conditions of the school were found most excellent. Mr. Eason would give $200 appropriation to the board for the Negro school library. He would also send an additional $200 check facilitating the Negro teachers’ salary schedule.
The school had a choir, band, basketball teams, and a football team. Mrs. R L Holmes trained the choir. Mr. Silas Virgil trained the band. Mr. Harris coached the basketball teams (late forties and early fifties). Mr. Tartt coached the football team 1934-1937.
Special events were held in the auditorium that included Friday morning assembly, celebration of national holidays, and Negro History Week. Sometimes special events were presented by the students (they were encouraged to be creative) to raise money for different functions. At the end of the school year, each class in high school and the satellite schools presented a play for the general public for a small fee. During the graduating class’s ceremonies, tokens (from the local department stores) were presented to all outstanding students of the school year. Outstanding graduates received small scholarships to Negro colleges, which included, Rust College, Campbell College, Tougaloo College, Dillard University, etc.
The frame high school was destroyed by fire in 1946. Following its destruction, the students were taught in the 19th Street Community Center and Central Gulfport’s (Quarters) Community Churches for the remainder of the year. In 1947, high school classes were permitted in a building on the U S Naval Base, in Gulfport, until the new high school was built and completed on the corner of 20th Street and 34th Avenue in 1954 (opposite corner of Central Elementary – 20th Street and 33rd Avenue).
One principal served these schools. The principals were Benjamin F Baker, 1921-1928; Washington Irving, 1928; J T Willys, 1929-1934; J B Green, 1934-1951; and Wayne F Calbert, Jr, 1951-1969. During the schools existence, many lessons were learned; many plaques, awards and trophies earned and awarded for achievements; and numerous accomplishments of the students as well as educators. Our hats are off to these wonderful people and we thank them, and the faculties, for a job well done. We hope that we have made and will continue to make you proud.
