# Spingarn High School

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Spingarn_High_School
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Spingarn_High_School.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spingarn_High_School
> Source revision: 1355688122
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox school
| name        = Joel Elias Spingarn Senior High School
| image       = YOUNG, BROWN, PHELPS, SPRINGARN EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS H.D, WASHINGTON NE.jpg
| image_size  = 275px
| caption     = Spingarn Senior High School located in the [Carver Langston](/source/Carver_Langston) neighborhood of [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)
| motto       =
| address     = 2500 Benning Road Northeast<ref name="GNIS">{{cite web |title= GNIS entry for Spingarn Senior High School |url= https://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:530742 |publisher= [USGS](/source/USGS) |date= January 16, 2008}}</ref>
| city        = [Washington](/source/Washington%2C_DC)
| state       = [DC](/source/District_of_Columbia)
| zipcode     = 20002
| country     = USA
| established = 1952
| closed      = 2013
| schooltype  = [Public high school](/source/Public_high_school)
| district    = [District of Columbia Public Schools](/source/District_of_Columbia_Public_Schools)
| grades      = [9](/source/ninth_grade) to [12](/source/twelfth_grade)
| principal   = 
| campus_type = [Urban](/source/Urban_area)
| campus_size = 
| enrollment  = 
| faculty     = 
| ratio       = 
| mascot      = Mighty Green Wave
| colors      = {{color box|green}} [Green](/source/Green)<br/>{{color box|gold}} [Vegas gold](/source/Vegas_gold)
| website     = https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/14000198.htm 
}}
'''Joel Elias Spingarn High School''' was a public high school located in the [District of Columbia](/source/District_of_Columbia), United States. Founded in 1952, the school was the last [segregated](/source/School_segregation_in_the_United_States) high school built in Washington, D.C. The school closed in 2013, and in 2023 the site began redevelopment to become a [vocational school](/source/vocational_school).

== History ==
Spingarn High School opened in 1952, as a new and modern segregated high school for [African American](/source/African_American) students. It was the last segregated high school built in Washington, D.C., just two years before the [U.S. Supreme Court](/source/U.S._Supreme_Court) ruled school segregation unconstitutional in ''[Brown v. Board of Education](/source/Brown_v._Board_of_Education)''.<ref name=wamu-2013>{{cite news|last=Fenston|first=Jacob|url=https://wamu.org/story/13/02/01/spingarn_high_students_alums_brace_for_schools_closure/|title=Spingarn High Students, Alums Brace For School's Closure|work=WAMU|date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>

The school is named after [Joel Elias Spingarn](/source/Joel_Elias_Spingarn) (1875–1939) an American educator and literary critic who established the [Spingarn Medal](/source/Spingarn_Medal) in 1913, awarded annually for outstanding achievement by an African American. The school's formal dedication ceremonies in December 1953 were attended by Spingarn's widow, Amy Spingarn, and by Spingarn Medal winners [Paul Robeson](/source/Paul_Robeson) and [W. E. B. Du Bois](/source/W._E._B._Du_Bois). The principal speaker at the dedication was [Howard University](/source/Howard_University) professor [John Hope Franklin](/source/John_Hope_Franklin).<ref>{{cite news |title=Segregation Rapped at Spingarn Dedication |work=Washington Evening Star |date=December 12, 1953 |page=35}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Robeson Plans To Be School's 'Silent' Guest |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 11, 1953 |page=39}}</ref>

Purvis J. Wiliams was the first principal, serving until 1971. Under his leadership, Spingarn gained a reputation as one of the top black schools in the district. Spingarn's enrollment was around 1500 students, who were almost entirely black even after [desegregation](/source/School_integration_in_the_United_States).<ref name=wamu-2013/><ref>{{Cite news|title=Dr. Purvis J. Williams honored at Spingarn High School|date=January 24, 2004|work=The Washington Afro-American}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Jeanne |title=Spingarn, Newest High School, Mirrors Changing Community |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 19, 1957 |page=A15}}</ref> Woodson Junior High School students were housed in Spingarn High School from 1962 to 1963.<ref>DC Public Schools "Public School Buildings-Past and Present" MS, revised June 1972. Retrieved from Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives</ref>

Spingarn High School had one of D.C.'s most impressive basketball histories, producing well-known players such as [Elgin Baylor](/source/Elgin_Baylor), [Dave Bing](/source/Dave_Bing) and [Sherman Douglas](/source/Sherman_Douglas). Spingarn won the City Title in 1961, 1980, 1985 and 2000. The school also played in nine [District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association](/source/District_of_Columbia_Interscholastic_Athletic_Association) (DCIAA) title games, winning for three consecutive years from 2000–2003.<ref name="mckenna-1999">{{cite news |last1=McKenna |first1=Dave |date=March 5, 1999 |title=The Next Wave |url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/theater/article/13017246/the-next-wave |work=Washington City Paper}}</ref><ref name="evans-2004">{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Judith |date=January 23, 2004 |title=Spingarn High's Title Wave Running Dry |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2004/01/23/spingarn-highs-title-wave-running-dry/3c1285d8-d81e-45e0-976b-12895dc45d22/ |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref name="stubbs-2013">{{cite news |last1=Stubbs |first1=Roman |date=February 13, 2013 |title=As D.C.'s Spingarn High prepares to close, a rich basketball tradition is left behind |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/as-dcs-spingarn-high-prepares-to-close-a-rich-basketball-tradition-is-left-behind/2013/02/13/bed6b11e-75d7-11e2-95e4-6148e45d7adb_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

===Closure and redevelopment===
Spingarn High School closed at the end of the 2012–13 school year due to low enrollment; that year, there were about 374 students.<ref name=wamu-2013/><ref>{{cite news |title=Book Closes on Spingarn High School |url=https://afro.com/book-closes-on-spingarn-high-school/ |work=AFRO |date=June 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publicschoolreview.com/spingarn-senior-high-school-profile|title = Spingarn Senior High School (Closed 2014) (2022 Ranking) &#124; Washington, DC| date=13 October 2023 }}</ref> In May 2014, the school was added to the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places).<ref>{{cite web |title=Spingarn High School |url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/14000198.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526065427/https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/14000198.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2017 |website=National Register of Historic Places |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref>

In November 2023, Mayor [Muriel Bowser](/source/Muriel_Bowser) announced that the city would renovate the Spingarn campus to house the D.C. Infrastructure Academy (DCIA), a [vocational school](/source/vocational_school) founded in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-kicks-transformation-spingarn-high-school-new-dc-infrastructure-academy|title =Mayor Bowser Kicks Off Transformation of Spingarn High School Into New DC Infrastructure Academy| date=November 15, 2023}}</ref>  The DC Infrastructure Academy (DCIA) is under the Department of Employment Services (DOES). The site is undergoing extensive repairs and construction, with a plan to reopen in 2026.

== Notable alumni ==
* [Elgin Baylor](/source/Elgin_Baylor), NBA Hall of Fame basketball player and general manager<ref name="mckenna-1999"/><ref name="evans-2004"/><ref name="stubbs-2013"/><ref name=SpingarnAlum/>
* [Dave Bing](/source/Dave_Bing), NBA Hall of Fame basketball player, Mayor of Detroit, business owner<ref name="mckenna-1999"/><ref name="evans-2004"/><ref name="stubbs-2013"/><ref name=SpingarnAlum/>
* [Warren Buck III](/source/Warren_Buck), physics professor, first chancellor of University of Washington Bothell<ref>{{Cite web |last=Physics |first=American Institute of |date=2022-03-10 |title=Warren W. Buck |url=https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/47040 |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=www.aip.org |language=en}}</ref>
* [John B. Catoe Jr.](/source/John_B._Catoe_Jr.), former general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority<ref name=SpingarnAlum/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sun |first1=Lena H. |title=D.C. Area Transit Chief Facing 'the Test of His Life' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092304780.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 24, 2009 |page=A1}}</ref>
* [Hope Clarke](/source/Hope_Clarke), actress, dancer, choreographer, and director<ref name=SpingarnAlum>Bobo, Marian Kenely. [https://spingarnalumni.org/notable-alumni  Spingarn SHS Notable Trail Blazers: Alumni Achievements.] Spingarn Alumni Association.</ref>
* [Robert Contee](/source/Robert_Contee), retired D.C. police chief<ref name=SpingarnAlum/><ref name=wapo>{{cite news | title = Mayor chooses veteran officer Robert J. Contee as District's next police chief | newspaper = Washington Post | date = December 22, 2020 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/washington-police-chief-newsham-bowser-contee/2020/12/22/34739df8-30ef-11eb-bae0-50bb17126614_story.html | accessdate = January 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bowser Picks Longtime D.C. Police Official To Lead MPD|url=https://dcist.com/story/20/12/22/robert-j-contee-washington-dc-police-replace-chief-peter-newsham/|access-date=2021-07-26|website=DCist|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726203735/https://dcist.com/story/20/12/22/robert-j-contee-washington-dc-police-replace-chief-peter-newsham/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [Sherman Douglas](/source/Sherman_Douglas), professional basketball player<ref name="mckenna-1999"/><ref name="evans-2004"/><ref name="stubbs-2013"/>
* [Michael Graham](/source/Michael_Graham_(basketball)), professional basketball player<ref name="mckenna-1999"/><ref name="stubbs-2013"/>
* [Mike Hinnant](/source/Mike_Hinnant), professional football player<ref>{{cite news |title=For the Record |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/12/02/for-the-record/e5df28e3-a809-4c80-8b2d-224ced90148c/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 2, 1987 |page=D2 |quote=Temple -- Announced that senior TE Mike Hinnant, former standout at Spingarn High School, was named to Associated Press All-East football team.}}</ref>
* [Ollie Johnson](/source/Ollie_Johnson_(USF_basketball)), basketball player<ref name="mckenna-1999"/><ref name="stubbs-2013"/>
* [Earl Jones](/source/Earl_Jones_(basketball)), professional basketball player<ref name="mckenna-1999"/><ref name="stubbs-2013"/>
* [John Kinard](/source/John_Kinard), founding director of the Anacostia Museum, a Smithsonian Institution museum<ref name=SpingarnAlum/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=J.Y. |title=John R. Kinard, Director of Anacostia Museum, Dies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/08/06/john-r-kinard-director-of-anacostia-museum-dies/c5ca16c1-c9b6-4b35-93d0-9823a1f4bbe7/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 6, 1989}}</ref>
* [Jamorko Pickett](/source/Jamorko_Pickett), professional basketball player<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Nathan |title="I am DC": Jamorko's Journey |url=https://georgetownvoice.com/2021/05/24/i-am-dc-jamorkos-journey/ |website=[The Georgetown Voice](/source/The_Georgetown_Voice) |access-date=August 3, 2021 |date=May 24, 2021}}</ref>
* [Willie Royster](/source/Willie_Royster), professional baseball player<ref>{{cite news |last1=Huff |first1=Donald |title=The Wait, the Wondering: Former Area Picks Play On |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1981/06/09/the-wait-the-wondering-former-area-picks-play-on/723f6816-86ec-428d-b898-b41df0fb83f1/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 9, 1981}}</ref>
* [Stan Washington](/source/Stan_Washington), professional basketball player<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dinsdale |first1=Nathan |title=Basketball Great Takes His Place Among Torero Legends |url=https://sites.sandiego.edu/usd-magazine/2010/01/mr-washington-goes-hall |work=USD Magazine |issue=Spring 2010 |publisher=University of San Diego}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|38|53|58.3|N|76|58|15.3|W|display=title}}

Category:Educational institutions established in 1952
Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2013
Category:Defunct schools in Washington, D.C.
Category:District of Columbia Public Schools
Category:African-American history of Washington, D.C.
Category:School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.
Category:1952 establishments in Washington, D.C.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Spingarn High School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spingarn_High_School) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spingarn_High_School?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.