Jackson P. Burley High School

Q-51

The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County opened Jackson P. Burley High School in Sept. 1951 to serve nearly 550 African American students. The 26-classroom building reflected an effort to provide “separate but equal” facilities in an era when lawsuits frequently challenged poor conditions in Black schools. Burley, named for a local educator, replaced Albemarle Training School, Esmont High School, and Jefferson High School and also drew students from Greene and Nelson Counties. The 1956 football team was undefeated and unscored on. In partnership with the University of Virginia, Burley’s licensed practical nursing program trained about 150 nurses. Burley High closed in 1967.

Department of Historic Resources, 2021

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References/Bibliographic Citation:

Jackson P. Burley High School, National Register of Historic Places nomination (2020). Atlanta Daily World, 2 April 1952. Norfolk Journal and Guide, 29 March 1952, 20 Oct. 1956. Charlottesville Daily Progress, 6 Oct. 2006. Greene County Historical Society, Images of America: Greene County (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing Co., 2013), 55, 66. Donald D. Covey, Greene County, Virginia: A Brief History (Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2007), 107. Anne E. Bromley, “UVA Shines Light of Recognition on African American Nurses It Trained Decades Ago,” UVA Today, 17 Oct. 2019. House Resolution #528 - “Celebrating the Life of Jackson P. Burley” from Patron David Toscano, Virginia House of Delegates, 57th District, 2018 Special Session I.