{{Short description|School in Clarkesville, Tennessee (1923–1970)}} thumb|Burt High School (1923–1952) in Clarksville, Tennessee '''Burt High School''' was a public school for black students in Clarksville, Tennessee. Named for Robert Burt, a physician who helped fund it.<ref name="is">{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/customshousemuseum/docs/sc-vol2issue2-final-issuu-all/s/17866300|title=L.M. Ellis & the Burt High Trifecta|website=Issuu}}</ref><ref name="Howze"/> The school was built in 1922, and opened in 1923, by 1952 the campus was moved and it remained active until its closure in 1970.

== History == It was the only high school open to blacks in Montgomery County, Tennessee.<ref name="Howze" /> Tigers were the school's mascot and black and gold the school colors.<ref name="is" /> The school namesake, Robert Burt was an African American physician who had established a hospital in Clarkesville.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2023 |title=100 Years of Burt School |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DwMkx1LPjM |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Robert Burt |url=https://www.visitclarksvilletn.com/plan/clarksville-connections/medicine-and-science/dr-robert-burt/ |website=www.visitclarksvilletn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Burgess |first=Joe Ann |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RdcBEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Robert+Tecumseh+Burt%22&pg=PA281 |title=The Odyssey of Burt High School: The Evolution of Education of a Small Black High School in a Small Southern Town |date=2020-07-06 |publisher=Dorrance Publishing |isbn=978-1-4809-2530-4 |pages=281–282 |language=en}}</ref>

The school received national attention in 1937, after it won first place at the fifth annual Tennessee State University High School Symposium.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1937-04-11 |title=Burt High, Clarksville, Wins A and I. Plaque |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-burt-high-clarksville-w/181513684/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |work=The Tennessean |pages=29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1937-04-23 |title=Burt High School Awarded Tenn. State Symposium Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-burt-high-school-awarded-tenn/181513521/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |work=The Call |pages=9}}</ref> The school moved next to Austin Peay State University in 1952.<ref name="Howze">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/local/2016/02/05/burt-high-historical-marker-long-time-making/79750504/|title=Burt High historical marker long time in the making|first=Ray|last=Howze|website=The Leaf-Chronicle}}</ref> It is located at 110 Bailey Street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Burt Elementary School |url=https://www.visitclarksvilletn.com/listing/burt-elementary-school/471/ |website=www.visitclarksvilletn.com}}</ref> Burt High School had a band and held an annual pageant.

Three time Olympic gold medalist runner, Wilma Rudolph, who overcame polio as a child, played basketball while enrolled.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1960-11-04 |title=Champion Built Life on Challenges |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-glasgow-daily-times-champion-built-l/181512874/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |work=The Glasgow Daily Times |pages=6}}</ref> One of the school basketball coaches was murdered by his landlord in 1955.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1955-05-28 |title=Tenn. Coach Is Murdered |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-pittsburgh-courier-tenn-coach-is-mu/181514289/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |work=New Pittsburgh Courier |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1955-05-28 |title=Landlord Slays Tenn. Coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chicago-defender-landlord-slays-tenn/181514525/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |work=The Chicago Defender |pages=1}}</ref> The school's basketball team won the 1961 National Negro High School Basketball championship.<ref name="Howze" />

Burt High School closed in 1970. A historical marker in front of what became the Burt School, an elementary school, commemorates its history.<ref name="Howze" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=146025|title=Burt High School Historical Marker|website=www.hmdb.org}}</ref> In 2024 the Burt School building was being repurposed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clarksvillenow.com/local/st-bethlehem-and-burt-schools-to-be-repurposed-for-next-school-year-as-part-of-rezoning-plan/|title=St. Bethlehem and Burt schools to be repurposed for next school year as part of rezoning plan - ClarksvilleNow.com|first=Jordan|last=Renfro|date=June 6, 2024}}</ref>

==Alumni== *Wilma Rudolph,three-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter<ref name="Howze"/> *L. M. Ellis, State and National Negro High School All-Tournament Team member and Austin Peay Hall of Fame basketball player<ref name=is/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Coord missing|Tennessee}}

{{Authority control}} Category:1923 establishments in Tennessee Category:1970 disestablishments in the United States Category:Buildings and structures in Clarksville, Tennessee Category:Defunct high schools Category:Defunct black public schools in the United States that closed when schools were integrated {{Tennessee-school-stub}} Category:Historically segregated African-American schools in Tennessee Category:Schools in Montgomery County, Tennessee