Fairmont Heights
High School
History

Fairmont Heights High School opened in September 1950 as Fairmont Heights Junior-Senior High School. It was one of two high schools for Black students in Prince George's County and replaced the Lakeland High School. It's purpose was to serve the Black students in western Prince George's County and the school drew students from widely scattered areas from Laurel to Accokeek, and Bowie to Takoma Park, as well as the local urban communities. Enrollment on opening day was 738 students in grades 7 through 12 and a faculty of 31. The school was built for a capacity enrollment of 900 pupils, with 40 classrooms and four shops. Later a gymnasium and several more classrooms were added.


Fairmont Heights was built on a 15-acre plot of land at an initial cost of $1,500,000. Its opening was the fulfillment of a dream for Black citizens who had campaigned actively for many years for a modern high school in the county. Because of the great hardships that had been endured, a deep sense of pride in the building and what it represented was early affirmed by residents of the school's community as evidenced by the support it received.


The school became noted for the development and implementation of outstanding instructional programs. The long-range goal became that of creating a continuously evolving democratic school with a sound educational program based on the worth and dignity of the individual, the method of intelligence in problem solving and the cooperative process in solving common problems. In-service education became a continuous thread in the professional life of the staff. Through its efforts to develop wholesome citizenship, the school received three major awards from Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge. As evidence of its effectiveness, the school has made many contributions to local and distant communities, including a State Senator, three Fulbright scholars, FBI agents, lawyers, doctors, dentists, a host of educational leaders, professional athletes, inventors and businessmen. Pupils have excelled in fine arts and industry. The school has held an enviable record of State Championships in basketball and track. By early 1960, the enrollment had increased to more than 1,900 students, with portable classrooms accommodating the overflow. In 1961Mary McLeod Bethune Junior High School was built two blocks away and the 7th and 8th grades were transferred to this school. The following year, the 9th grade moved to Bethune and Fairmont became a senior high school.


As a result of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the school board abandoned its dual school system and adopted a unitary educational system based on fixed geographical attendance zones. The boundary of Fairmont Heights then was reduced to an area of three square miles, the smallest in the county. Thus, the school remained all Black and continued to do so until 1969. The reduction in attendance zones forced a reduction in staff and student enrollment. Under pressure from HEW, the school board adopted a desegregation plan for Fairmont Heights. This plan resulted in the hiring of a team of planners from the Graduate School of Harvard University at a cost of $100,000 to "upgrade" the school with the goal of attracting white students from outside the neighborhood.


In 1969, Mr. G. James Gholson, the school's first principal, was appointed to the position of Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Schools at the central office. One of the planners, Mr. Alvin V. Fortune, was named director to replace Mr. Gholson. School morale began to decline as teachers were transferred to other schools in the county to achieve racial balance. At the end of his second year, Mr. Fortune was transferred to a junior high school. Dr. Donald A. Kiah became Fairmont Heights' third principal in 1971.


As a result of the 1972 Desegregation Order, many of the faculty and students were transferred to other schools and the curriculum was changed drastically to comply with Board requirements. During Dr. Kiah's term as principal, there were five separate attempts to close Fairmont Heights and send its students to neighboring schools. Each time the School Board proposed a plan to close the school, the community rallied together, and with the aid of local political leaders, including alumni Tommie Broadwater, Nathaniel Exum, and Decatur Trotter, was able to convince the Board that the school was considered a landmark by the Black community and must be allowed to survive. The first elected Black member of the School Board, Jesse Warr, was also instrumental in ensuring the survival of Fairmont Heights. While the school was not closed, it suffered a period of neglect where needed upkeep and renovations were postponed. Despite the uncertainty and numerous court suits, Fairmont continued to produce outstanding athletic teams, held various championship titles, enable students to win many scholarships, and provided the first elected student member of the Board of Education.


In 1978. Dr. Kiah was transferred and Mr. Clarence McDonald became principal, a position he held for I 7 years. A fire at Fairmont Heights High School on January 4, 1980 caused $500,000 in damage and forced a decision on the fate of the school. For a year the school had to use makeshift library and physical education facilities. In January 1981, Fairmont Heights moved into the unused Kent Junior High building while the school's interior was completely renovated at a cost of $8,400,000.


Fairmont Heights reopened in its original location in August 1983, a modernized, air conditioned plant with many windows, a new library media center, exercise and weight training rooms, data processing centers, music facilities, refurbished classrooms and bright hallways. Almost all the furniture and equipment were new also. The only disappointment was the lack of an auditorium, which was included in the original renovation plan, but dropped for lack of funds. During the renovation period, Mary McLeod Bethune Junior High closed and Fairmont Heights became once again a four-year high school.


Continuing a trend in the 1970's the population at Fairmont became increasingly Black and finally fell outside the Desegregation Guideline. Therefore, the school was chosen to become a Biotechnology Magnet to entice students from outside its school boundaries. The Biotechnology program was designed to prepare students for careers in biotechnology in the workplace or to give students a strong background for further study in higher science education. The first students entered in the Fall of 1988 and graduated in 1992.


The faculty subscribes to a countywide push for School Improvement through the Effective Schools Process and has a "team" in the building to propose and implement ways to improve the quality of education. Mentoring and tutoring programs and implement ways to improve the extracurricular activities provided for the students including clubs which provide service to the community and a new program this year-Black Male Enhancement-which is co-sponsored by the Hemingway AME Church.


In 1995, Dr. Carolyn D. Blue was appointed Chief Education Administrator (CEA), a title for Principal used by former Superintendent Jerome Clark and his Cluster Concept In 1999, the title returned to "Principal" under the newly appointed Superintendent, Dr. Iris T. Metts, who replaced Dr. Clark.


During Dr. Blue's administration, the school has become multi-cultural with about 93 percent African- Americans. Recently, Fairmont Heights was cited by Dr. Metts as one of two high schools in the county that made significant increase in the SAT scores (a 24-point increase in math). The school received a visit from superstar Michael Jordan and $4 million from Dr. Metts for school funding. Fairmont Heights now offers, in addition to the magnet program, a Talented and Gifted Program, Law and Public Policy, Academy of Finances, CRESPAR with Howard University, a Health and Wellness Center, Career Connections, Comprehensive Instruction Program, and partnerships with COMCAST Cable Company, Cheverly Women's Club, ORACLE Internet Academy and many more. The school has a student population of about 1500 students.


The Fairmont Height High School Alumni Association is very active and has a close relationship with the students and staff. Since organizing in October 1989, it continues to make scholarship and financial aid its primary goal. Last Year it launched the G. James Gholson Endowment Fund, a newly incorporated 501 (c)3 tax-exempt organization. You will be hearing more about this support group of which your assistance is needed to ensure that our students are armed with every opportunity to become outstanding leaders in our community, our universities, and our Alumni Association.