Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation 

Principal Jefferson Grigsby was head of the school for nearly 30 years.

The year was 1923 and no longer would blacks have to attend church schools or leave town to complete a high school education. At the beginning of the school year in 1923, teachers and students moved from Myers Street School to the new building located on the corner of Alexander and First Streets.

William H. Stinson, having served as principal of Myers Street , became the first principal of the new high school. He held the position from 1923 to 1931. Jefferson E. Grigsby who served as principal for 28 years followed him.

Two other persons served as principals, Dr. Spencer E. Durante and Dr. Elbert E. Waddell.

There were four assistant principals, Dr. Edward H. Brown, Dr. W. Howard Mooreland, Robert E. Woods, and Ernest H. Stanback.

During the first years, the school was a combination junior and senior high school with curriculum emphasis placed on academic and vocational courses.

By the end of 1966, Second Ward High School had an enrollment of over 1500 students. The faculty increased to 125 teachers and the curriculum offerings expanded to 98 courses.

Students were recognized for academic and vocational achievements and many became members of the National Honor Society.

Second Ward was an accredited high school by Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges.

The 1969 commencement was to be the last for Second Ward High School.

The school was closed and torn down as part of Charlotte’s urban renewal effort.

City  Classic. 

Vermelle Diamond Ely was the first Miss Queen City Classic.  She is standing in front of her father , Kenneth Diamond, a Second Ward teacher. 

The principals from the two rival schools stand beside her:  Jefferson Grigsby of Second Ward and Clinton Blake of West Charlotte High School.