A Historic School’s Struggle to Survive: Sumner High School’s Fight Against Closure
Sumner High School, known as the oldest high school west of the Mississippi River to graduate Black students, marks a significant 150th anniversary this year. Despite its storied history and cultural impact, the school in St. Louis, Missouri, now faces significant challenges in its survival journey following a devastating tornado earlier this year.
Situated in The Ville, a once-thriving hub for Black entertainment and business in St. Louis, Sumner High School was established in 1875. Alumni such as Louisa Williamson recall the institution’s golden days in the 1940s, when it was a beacon of Black excellence. “The teachers saw to it that we learned. There’s a whole lot of Blacks that graduated from Sumner that were great,” Williamson shared.
Among its notable alumni are cultural icons like Chuck Berry, Tina Turner, Arthur Ashe, Grace Bumbry, and Dick Gregory, who all walked Sumner’s halls. However, the school has faced enrollment challenges in recent years as Black families moved away following the end of housing segregation laws. This led the St. Louis Board of Education to consider its closure in 2020 to cut costs.
The situation worsened this spring when a powerful tornado struck St. Louis, causing widespread destruction. Mayor Cara Spencer described the calamity: “We’re talking about thousands of buildings. Thousands of families are being displaced.” The tornado left Sumner with a damaged roof and several ruined classrooms, amounting to over a million dollars in damages.
Currently, Sumner’s students are attending a smaller middle school nearby, where Principal Ronda Wallace actively engages with them. “Where you been all my life? Welcome home, baby. You good?” Wallace greets them warmly. Despite efforts to make the temporary arrangement comfortable, students frequently inquire about the repairs and their return to Sumner.
The district is once again evaluating school closures, but Wallace, along with hundreds of alumni who gathered for Sumner’s anniversary gala, remain hopeful the school will be spared. E.W. Clay, a 1972 graduate, emphasized the school’s influence: “Sumner High School taught me to be an activist in the community. Most of the teachers were activists in addition to being experts in the field of education.”
The school board has indicated plans to repair Sumner, though no timeline has been established. Dakota Scott, a recent graduate, expressed determination: “I hope that not only do they not close my school down, because we are currently thriving, but I hope that with the fundings that they’re allegedly supposed to get from closing these schools down that they will actually give us better quality education.”
In a bid to preserve Sumner’s legacy, alumni are working towards securing national historic landmark status for the school through the National Park Service. The community’s efforts underscore their commitment to keeping this iconic institution alive for future generations.
