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"Colored Schools": Wheatley

Official Name: Wheatley Elementary School

Year Opened: 1911

The former California Colored School was renamed in honor of poet Phillis Wheatley in 1911. It was located between Sixteenth and Seventeenth Streets. In 1914 the school moved to 1624 W. St. Catherine Street. The city's other California School closed in 1961 and its student population was merged with Wheatley. A new school building was occupied at 1107 South 17th Street in 1962. In 1980 Wheatley became the first elementary school in Jefferson County to use microcomputers. In 1996 the Board of Education corrected a spelling error in references to the school, changing to the correct Phillis Wheatley from the incorrect Phyllis Wheatley.

Wheatley Images

Wheatley Elementary School, c. 1914

Wheatley Elementary School, no date

Wheatley Elementary School, 1953

Wheatley Elementary School, 1959

Wheatley Elementary School Flag Raising, 1961

Wheatley Elementary School, no date

William Daniel, Jr., Wheatley Elementary School Principal (1960-1974)

Wheatley Elementary School Front Office, c. 1962

Wheatley Elementary School Lunchroom Staff, c. 1962

Wheatley Elementary School Faculty, c.1962

Calvert Hydes, Wheatley Elementary School Principal (1976-1995)

Wheatley Yearbooks

The Archives has the following yearbooks for Wheatley Elementary School:

  • 2001
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