Short history of Sandtown School in Waco, Texas explored.

Sandtown School is one of Waco’s lesser known but highly remembered schools. However not all of the history of Sandtown School can be found online or offline. This news article will explain what Sandtown School was.

A four room frame building was erected at the corner of South 1st Street and Clay Avenue in 1881. Sandtown School was recorded by WISD as the first public school established for black youth in Waco. Professor A J Moore was the first principal of Sandtown School. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/42932838/)

“The next school built for the Blacks was the “Sandtown School” River Street, now First and Clay; Professor A J Moore was the first principal.”

(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/53426984/)

Sandtown School was the next to the last of schools in operation for blacks before the birth of the Waco Public Free Schools in 1882. The last of the schools in operation for Blacks before the birth of the Waco Public Free Schools in 1882 was the East Waco Colored School. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/53426984/)

Sandtown School had closed in 1885 after Waco Public Free Schools had been established. However Waco Public Free Schools would reopen Sandtown School in 1886. During the 1899-1900 school year and onwards, students above the 5th grade attended Sandtown School. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=Za54T56V86AC&pg=PA10)

The personnel of instructors at the Clay and River greets school consisted of a dozen teachers: J. A. Kirk; J. W. Bartlett; R. H. Mines; Mrs. M. Jackson; Mrs. A. V. Jones; Mrs. A. B. Thomas; G. D. Wiley; Mr. I. D. Wimbish; Mrs. A. C. Jones; Mrs. Nannie V. Maxe; Mrs. Mary E. Moore.

(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/81934028/)

By 1924, Sandtown School was known as Clay and River Streets School. The school had changed their name from Snadtown to Clay and River Streets. There were 22 teachers for/to educate 946 students. Sandtown School was valued at a price of $91,385.07 in 1924. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/62555389/)

For years, Sandtown School had lacked sidewalks around the school property. This was because of a lack of funds from the city. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/51140866/)

“For several years the board had wished to put concrete sidewalks around the school buildings, but has not done so because of lack of funds. Since concrete walks are so generally distributed about the town, the board feels that not only does utility but also civic pride demand that cement walks should be placed around most, if not all, of the school grounds.”

Sandtown School had been in existence more than 50 years by 1944. “The school, located at Clay and River streets, has been in existence more than 50 years.” (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/48019493/)

Sandtown School was shut down in 1954 after Waco Public Schools officials decided the school was no longer needed due to the openings of other schools in the city. This lead to the closure of Sandtown School in 1954 during the 1954-1955 school year.

Sandtown School was located at South 1st Street and Clay Avenue, Waco, Texas, US 76706. Near South 2nd Street and Clay Avenue, Waco, Texas, US 76706 of what is now South University Parks Drive.