Summerton High School, high school in Summerton, Clarendon County, South Carolina
Summerton High School is a brick structure built in 1936 in Summerton, South Carolina, now used as a district office. The building features a simple rectangular design with a hip roof and a central pavilion topped with a pediment supported by four column-like stone elements.
Built in 1936 as a whites-only high school during the era of legal segregation, this building witnessed the early challenges to Jim Crow education policies. The Briggs v. Elliott court case, rooted in local events involving landowner Levi Pearson's 1947 request for equal bus transportation and school facilities, became a pivotal precedent in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision.
The school carries the name of the town where it stands. Today it functions as a district office while serving as a visible reminder of segregation era education policies.
The building is located on South Church Street in downtown Summerton and can be viewed from the street, though visitors cannot enter as it serves as a district office. The exterior and surrounding grounds are accessible for observation and to appreciate the architectural details from the 1930s period.
This building is the sole survivor of five schools connected to the landmark Briggs v. Elliott case. In 2022, it was designated as part of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park alongside Scott's Branch High School.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
