"Forward Ever, Backward Never"

September 1949

George Washington Carver High School began in September of 1948 as a vocational school for African-Americans. Dr. Clarence M. Dannelly, then superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools, held a ground breaking ceremony on Fairview Avenue on April 13, 1948. It was an informal ceremony attended by representatives of the Board of Education and the contractors from Hodgson Contracting Co. The land was secured from the federal government and the funds were provided by the state.

Initially, Carver students attended Loveless Junior High School. However, population surges created overcrowding. Two classes were taught in unsuitable basement rooms and four were taught in the auditorium with only a screen for separation. This and other issues necessitated the truncation of the school day. Therefore, school for these students consisted of two, five hour shifts; 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Carver High School was built to provide classroom space for junior and senior high pupils, relieve the overcrowding at Loveless, and create a school day commensurate with that of other schools.

With 40 acres for agriculture and recreation, the school offered vocational courses in home economics and agriculture as well as joint training in trade and industries and commercial study. When built, it was the only high school to service African-American children in northwestern Montgomery.

The doors of the school were first opened on January 4, 1949. There were 24 classrooms, an office suite, and a lunchroom which also served as an auditorium. There were 875 students and 23 faculty members including principal, Prof. M. H. Griffin, a graduate of the University of Michigan. This connection is why Carver High School adopted the wolverine as its mascot. The curriculum consisted of the basic subjects and physical education.

A dedication ceremony was held on Sunday, April 10, 1949. The address and presentation of the building were conducted by Dr. Dannelly. The acceptance of the building was conducted by Mr. Theodore Smiley, principal of Booker T. Washington High School. An address of appreciation was conducted by Dr. H. Council Trenholm, president of Alabama State University. The first commencement exercises were held on Monday, May 30, 1949. There were 79 graduates including John Belser, valedictorian.

In subsequent years, Carver was expanded both physically and academically. Eight classrooms were added from 1951-1952. An elementary unit, consisting of 20 rooms and a gymnasium were added from 1952-1953. By 1959, the enrollment had increased to nearly 1700 students; therefore, an 18 room extension was added. This extension consisted of science labs, home-making rooms, mechanic shops and workshops.

In 1982, the Carver Creative and Performing Arts Center (CCPAC) was created. CCPAC was created to accommodate the growing need for specialized arts instruction for students attending Montgomery Public Schools. This program would later become Booker T. Washington Magnet High School and a blueprint for the magnet school system in Montgomery.

In 2008, as part of Phase I of the district's facilities plan, $36 million dollars were allocated for the construction of a new school. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 2, 2008. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held August 3, 2010.

The "new" Carver High School utilizes modern advances in architecture, construction and technology. The community, faculty, students and alumni take pride in a building that has become a monument to the successes of both the school and its namesake. Although the original building no longer exists, the original sentiment does:

"Once a Wolverine, Always a Wolverine."

Principals

Mr. M. H. Griffin (1949-1951)

Carver High School was opened on January 4, 1949 and dedicated on Sunday, April 10, 1949. The initial enrollment was 875 students were transferred from Loveless High School where the students attended classes half of the day.  The initial focus of Mr. Griffin was on organizing the new school, and engaging the students and teachers to strive towards excellence. Much work was achieved in the early months of the school's existence. The school song was written by Ms. Bernice Thompson, the school's motto, "Forward Ever, Backward Never," was chosen by the senior class, the school colors and mascot were chosen.

Mr. W. E. Thompson (1951-1974)

Mr. Thompson served as a classroom teacher and as Asst. Principal under Mr. Griffin. Mr. Thompson's love for Carver, the faculty and student body was unparalleled. He was a member of the original faculty that began teaching at Carver in 1949. He served as principal of the school for 23 years; only leaving when offered a new challenge as Asst. Superintendent at the Montgomery Board of Education in 1974. Under Mr. Thompson's leadership, the school plant and curriculum were expanded to include not only additional space, but an expansion of the grade levels as well. The Wolverine Spirit was vibrant and alive. Annually a homecoming was held to celebrate the achievements of the school with a parade and a big football game that attracted alumni from far and near. The competitive nature of Mr. Thompson was obvious as he worked closely with the principal at the original Booker T. Washington High School, Mr. C.T. Smiley, to foster good sportsmanship and a winning spirit among the students of both schools.

Charles Gildersleeve and Robert L. Jones (1974-1980)

Mr. Gildersleeve and Mr. Jones represented diversity as Montgomery Public Schools began an earnest effort to fully integrate all of the public schools. Together, Gildersleeve and Jones implemented new initiatives that helped to being more minority students to Carver's campus. They were an unbeatable team that represented a new era in the Wolverine family. They worked together as they led the very first fully diverse student body, faculty and staff; however, Gildersleeve did eventually become the sole principal.

Dwight Madison (1980-2002)

Dwight Madison began his relationship with Carver as a student. He was among the first students to attend Carver in 1949. He later became a teacher and then principal.

His very first challenge was to secure funding for air conditioning. He also began the Carver Creative and Performing Arts Center (CCPAC) which became Montgomery's first magnet program. Later, Carver became the first school to score 98% or higher on the graduation exam and was the first school to implement the use of computers for all course scheduling. Carver was also the first high school in Montgomery to implement block scheduling.

Mr. Madison's tenure with Carver spanned over 43 years. His leadership was responsible for many significant changes and advances at Carver and MPS as a whole. Though retired, he remains an integral part of the Carver family.

Reginald Eggleston (2002-2005)

Shortly after being named principal Dr. Eggleston was recalled to active duty. During this time, Cynthia Tucker and Darren Douthitt served in the interim. Shortly after his return, he left to serve as Asst. Superintendent with the Butler County School System.

Gary A. Hall (2006 - present)

Mr. Hall began his teaching career at Carver in 1996 as an English teacher. He later became an assistant principal at Carver before transferring to McIntyre Jr. High in 2002 to become principal. He returned to Carver in 2006 where his tenure has been marked by achievements that have been recognized both locally and nationally. In 2008, Carver became the only traditional high school in Montgomery to score 100% on its annual AYP assessment and was named a Bronze Medalist school by U.S. News & World Report. In 2010, Carver became home to the Advanced Manufacturing and the Hospitality and Tourism Academies. These academies provide students with practical skills and experience in the industrial field. Mr. Hall has been a force for positive change in the staff, students and the community. He has been a progressive leader operating the school with professional ethics and a family atmosphere.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony