Greenwood County · Marker 24-24
Edgewood School
200 Edgewood St., Ninety Six
Front inscription
This brick campus opened in 1956 as Edgewood School. Part of Ninety Six School District, Edgewood served local African American students in grades 1-12. It replaced the wood frame Ninety Six Colored School on Main Street. Around 380 students attended Edgewood upon its opening. The school cost around $400,000 and was built on a 17-acre site. It was funded by the S.C. equalization program, a state effort to preserve segregation by upgrading Black schools.
Reverse inscription
Edgewood School included 16 classrooms, a gymnasium-auditorium, cafeteria, shop, library, and rooms for home economics, music, and science. It was built by Gilbert Construction Co. of Augusta, Ga. and designed by John M. Lambert Jr. of Anderson, S.C. Educator and Greenwood County-native Dr. Benjamin E. Mays spoke at its dedication. The last senior class graduated in 1970. This facility then became a middle school as part of the integration of Ninety Six School District.