by Jennifer Roberts

On April 29^th, 2025, members of the Luther Jackson High School Alumni Association hosted “Luther Jackson High School and the Black Experience” at Annandale’s George Mason Library.

Louvenia Johnson, Camille Washington Brown, Barbara Carter Wilks and Ronald Reeves (Bruno), all members of the alumni association spoke fondly about their experiences as students at Fairfax County’s only all Black high school that operated from 1954-1965.  

“Luther P. Jackson students experienced a special bonding, a vibrant school.  There was a family atmosphere among the students and staff,” recalled Barbara Carter Wilks.  She went on to share that “Luther Jackson always ranked high in math and science competitions” and that they were “exposed to international travel without ever leaving Gallows Road through Spanish and French classes.”

The school was named after Dr. Luther Porter Jackson, a history professor at Virginia State University who was known for his civic leadership in the Black community.  Until the opening of Luther Jackson High School, Black students in Fairfax County had to travel at their own expense to the Manassas Industrial School, founded by Jennie Dean or to schools in Washington, D.C.  Some Black students traveled as much as 50 miles each day to secure an education.

Camille Washington Brown attended Luther Jackson High School for two years, but the school closed before she graduated.  She proudly recalls, “Luther Jackson was the school that was built on the shoulders of outstanding civic leaders.  They had high standards and wanted a school with certifications.  They wanted the same courses of studies as the other schools in Fairfax County.”

Ronald Reeves is a proud member of the class of 1960.  His family has deep roots in Fairfax County as some family members were enslaved on George Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation.  “Bruno” as he is affectionately known shared fond memories about the school’s sports program.  “The school only existed for about 10 years, but we became a community in a short period of time.  We had a lot of good athletes out of Bailey’s Crossroads and Alexandria.  We won state championships in golf…in baseball.  We were competing against schools that had 50, 60 year traditions.”  Reeves also expressed disappointment that Luther Jackson did not have a serious women’s sports program.    

Luther Jackson High School served Black students for 11 years before being closed during desegregation.  It reopened as an intermediate school in the fall of 1965 and currently operates as Luther Jackson Middle School serving predominantly Hispanic students in 7^th and 8^th grades.  The alumni association preserves the original school’s rich history through community engagement experiences and its annual scholarship fundraiser which is held in November. 

(Jennifer Roberts is a Haymarket resident and founder of Conversations In the Community).