W. Gresham Meggett School

Front: W. Gresham Meggett School opened in 1952-53 to serve grades 1-8. It was quickly expanded to house James Island’s first black high school, opened in 1953. The school was funded by the S.C. equalization program, an effort to preserve segregation by complying with the legal doctrine of “separate but equal.” Several older black schools were eventually consolidated into Meggett School. Reverse: Meggett School was an important educational and community resource for African Americans on James Island. The first principal of the combined elementary and high school was Leroy F. Anderson (1916-1989). The school’s mascot was the Eagles. W.G. Meggett Elementary School closed in 1963. W.G. Meggett High School closed in 1969 during integration and became a vocational campus.