Lincoln High School's decades-long legacy of Black education in Chapel Hill

Lincoln High School grew from Rosenwald-era roots into a community hub known for strong academics, arts and athletics and student-led civil rights activism; the building now houses the Chapel Hill-Carrboro district office and alumni groups preserve its memory.

Lincoln High School in Chapel Hill served as the town's central segregated Black school and community hub for much of the 20th century, and its building now functions as the district's Lincoln Center. Its institutional roots extend back to the Orange County Training School and a Rosenwald-funded building completed in 1924 after an earlier school burned. Parents and local leaders pushed for better resources and in 1949 successfully petitioned to rename the school Lincoln High School; the school moved to a new Merritt Mill Road building in 1951. Students and alumni recall a school with active arts, athletics and civic engagement that played a visible role in local civil rights actions. Notable details: - The school traces its origins to the Orange County Training School, which was rebuilt as a Rosenwald school in 1924 after a 1922 fire. - Parents voted in 1930 to join the Chapel Hill school district and later petitioned to change the school's name to Lincoln High School in 1949; the school relocated to a new building in 1951. - Lincoln students organized sit-ins and marches in the early 1960s and helped establish a local committee for racial equity. - The school was known for strong extracurricular programs; its football team won state championships in 1957, 1961, 1962 and 1964, and the 1962 team season was notable for allowing no opponent to score. - When Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools desegregated in 1966, Lincoln students were moved to Chapel Hill High, many school artifacts were discarded and roles for Black staff changed; the former Lincoln building later became the district central office. Summary: Lincoln High School's story highlights sustained local investment in Black education, community fundraising and civic action that supported extended schooling and rich extracurricular life despite limited resources. Its legacy continues through alumni groups and the building's use as the school district office, and the history remains a reference point in conversations about educational equity. Undetermined at this time.