Charleston County · Marker 10-122

W. Gresham Meggett School

1929 Grimball Rd., James Island vicinity

Front inscription

W. Gresham Meggett School opened in 1952-53 to serve grades 1-8. It was quickly expanded to house James Island’s first black high school, opened in 1953. The school was funded by the S.C. equalization program, an effort to preserve segregation by complying with the legal doctrine of “separate but equal.” Several older black schools were eventually consolidated into Meggett School.

Reverse inscription

Meggett School was an important educational and community resource for African Americans on James Island. The first principal of the combined elementary and high school was Leroy F. Anderson (1916-1989). The school’s mascot was the Eagles. W.G. Meggett Elementary School closed in 1963. W.G. Meggett High School closed in 1969 during integration and became a vocational campus.

County
Charleston
Region
Lowcountry
City or vicinity
James Island vicinity
Year approved
2021
Erected by
Heritage Community Development Corporation (HCDC) and W.G. Meggett Classes of 1957-1969
Coordinates
32.7067, -79.9762

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