Russell School, Historic school building in Durham County, United States

Russell School is a one-story, front-gabled weatherboarded Rosenwald school near Durham. A center projecting wing holds the original industrial room, with flanking recessed entrances and two large classrooms.

The building was constructed in 1926 as part of the Rosenwald Schools initiative and served the education of Black children until 1945. It was built during the era when segregation divided schools by race.

The school represents a space where the African American community could access education during a time of strict segregation. Visitors can see how the building served as a center for learning and advancement for families in the area.

Russell School stands near Durham in Durham County, not in Hillsborough. The one-story weatherboarded building is owned by Cain's Chapel Baptist Church and used as a community center, so it is best seen from the exterior; visitors should arrange any interior access with the church.

The building is the last surviving Rosenwald School in Durham County, representing a nationwide movement that built hundreds of schools for Black communities across the South. The church that now maintains it connects this historical past to the community's present life.