Sampson High School
Est. 1924

The historical development of the Sampson County Training School is difficult to trace. It has been next to impossible to establish and authenticate specific dates to show when and how changes which resulted in the growth of Sampson High School, as we knew it, from the simple six-teacher structure we found to have existed during the early 1900’s.

However, information did support that there were no separate city and county school systems and that in 1914 there were 46 Negro schools in Sampson County. Forty three of these were one-teacher, two were two-teacher, and one was a four-teacher school. The four-teacher school, called the Clinton Graded School, is the one which commands our attention. It was the nucleus from which the area’s first high school emerged, the one which was to later become Sampson County Training School.

By 1919 – 1920, the four-teacher school located in the vicinity of the 400 block of Stetson Street had grown to a six-teacher institution with 417 pupils. These students came from Garland, Roseboro, Newton Grove, Faison, Harrells and Turkey. The school housed the only library located in a Black school, which contained a total of 14 books. The seventh grade was the highest level taught at that time; although, some schools extended only to the fourth and fifth grades. The length of the school term ranged from two to six months and the teachers held first and second grade certificate. Many of these certificates were issued based upon completion of the seventh grade. The school was ill-equipped – no central heat or sufficient lighting, and basic textbooks were the only source of information. During this time, a private grade school named Union Academy was established and located in the vicinity of the 400 block on McKoy Street.

In 1924, a parcel of land on McKoy and Williams Streets in the town of Clinton was obtained and immediately the Sampson County Training School was erected there. For a period of time, it was the only high school in Sampson County. Two years later, it was accredited by the State of North Carolina. The State, at that time, approved schools to verify eligibility for state funds. The approval only consisted of a physical check of the building and the number of students, teachers, books, classrooms, etc. In 1926, Sampson County Training School graduated its first class which consisted of two students: Estelle Sampson and Agnus Crumpler. The Union Academy was phased out with the advent of the public-supported, state-approved Sampson County Training School. At some point during this time (1922-1926), the Clinton City Administrative Unit was established and Sampson County Training School was no longer a part of the County system.

From its beginning through the 1930’s, the Sampson County Training school experienced normal growth and expansion and kept pace with other Black schools across the state of North Carolina.

Under the administration of the first principal, Mr. Coley, the number of students, teachers, classes and programs increased.

The second principal, Mr. D.A. Thomas, administered the school until the late 40’s. During that time, the addition of the twelfth grade and the acquisition of public school buses to transport students were the most phenomenal occurrences.

After World War II, during the administration of the school’s third principal, Dr. W. H. Watson, the Veteran’s program and night school were introduced at Sampson County Training School and veterans were taught carpentry, brick masonry, electricity and recordkeeping. The veterans constructed the first cafeteria, vocational agriculture shop and assisted with the construction of the annex. Dr. Watson’s tenure lasted through 1951 during which time the school was departmentalized and the staff developed curriculum guides for the improvement of instruction. Dr. Watson successfully executed a campaign to change the name of Sampson County Training School to Sampson High School (SHS).

Sampson High School was organized and prospered under the supervision of five Black supervisors: Mr. John I. Kornegay, Mrs. Battle, Mrs. Mannie R. Lawrence, Mrs. W. H. Watson and Mrs. Estelle Sampson.

The school’s Alma Mater was also written during the Watson administration in 1949 by the music teacher Dr. Roland Allison.

The fourth principal, Mr. O. A. Dupree, came to Sampson High School in 1951. Shortly thereafter, a new gymnasium and band room were added to the existing structures. The school grew in many areas: notably, the high school band, the athletic program and the federal school lunch program.

Mr. Robert (Bob) Earl was the fifth and final principal of Sampson High School from 1966 to 1969 when it was merged with Clinton High School and renamed Sampson Middle School. Hence, the Class of 1969 was the last class to graduate from Sampson High School.

The Clinton City Schools were organized by grade levels; sixth, seventh and eigth grades were assigned to Sampson Middle School. In 1972, the first white principal, Mr. Hales came to the Sampson site. Principal Hales served only one and a half years due to suffering a fatal heart attack. His term was completed under interim administrator Mr. James (Buck) Faison. The Middle School pattern continued under Mr. Morgan, a Clinton native and the school’s second white principal, until the physical plant closed in 1976 despite the resistance and efforts in a Public Forum of 500 Black citizens to keep old Sampson alive. After the protestors were defeated by the Clinton City Board of education, the students were moved to former Clinton High on Fayetteville Street.

The school building on the old McKoy Street site owned by the City Board of Education was then used by the Sampson Alumni, the Head Start program, Sampson Technical Institute Program for the Handicapped, the City School Food Services Department and the Recreation Department. Part of the site is currently owned by Sampson High School Alumni Association, Incorporated.

The years immediately following the dissolution of Sampson High School were of great importance to those preparing young black students to assume their roles in life. At SHS, the members of the community felt strongly that if our children were to become contributing participants in a complex society, then new concepts must be examined and new directions taken. The role of the school was one of helping our people to recognize both their weaknesses and their abilities and to assist in overcoming the former and strengthening the latter- so that they may become productive citizens of tomorrow for whom life is rich and meaningful. Society places a great responsibility on its members. The different administrations at DEAR OLD SAMPSON HIGH SCHOOL prepared its graduates to meet such challenges.