Black History In The Making — Orlando Black School
The first public school for blacks in Orlando was formed in 1895.
The Orlando Black School, as it was called, was on the corner of Garland Avenue and Church Street.
Students from around Orlando flocked to the school because it was the only one of its kind.
The school outgrew the building and moved to the corner of Jefferson Street and Chatham Avenue, and was renamed Johnson Academy in honor of Lymus Johnson, the principal.
In 1912, L.C. Jones became principal of Johnson Academy. Under his leadership, a new school was built in 1921 on the corner of Washington Street and Parramore Avenue.
Because his family donated the land for the school, the school was renamed Jones High School.
The students outgrew Jones High School in 1952 and a new facility was built on Rio Grand Avenue, where it still stands today.
Jones has seen its fair share of alumni go on to make history. among them is Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, the first African-American elected City Commissioner of Orlando Arthur Kennedy and actor, Wesley Snipes.
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Black History In The making — Orlando Black School