AJC Photos: MLK's old Atlanta elementary school

Education

PHOTOS: MLK's Atlanta school gets $52 million makeover

AJC Photos: MLK's old Atlanta elementary school

The front entrance to David T. Howard Middle School was heavily renovated before opening day Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

The newly constructed portion of David T. Howard Middle School is ready for students Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

The front entrance to David T. Howard Middle School was heavily renovated before opening day Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

8th-grade teacher Parry Ruder sits in an empty classroom while talking with his students on Zoom on the first day of class at David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Superintendent Lisa Herring (C) talks with principal Dr. Kevin Maxwell (R) while they tour the newly renovated David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Old school chalkboards line the classroom that is preserved in its original 1924 state at the newly renovated David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

There are some spectacular views at the newly renovated David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Superintendent Lisa Herring writes on the old school chalkboard in the classroom that is preserved in its original 1924 state at David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

There are some spectacular views at the newly renovated David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Lockers line the wall at the newly renovated hallway at the David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

The newly renovated auditorium at David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

The original bleacher seats are preserved in the newly renovated gymnasium at the David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

The newly renovated 7th-grade walkway at David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Superintendent Lisa Herring (R) takes a photograph of the view out of one of the new classrooms in the newly renovated David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Superintendent Lisa Herring talks with Patrick Dougherty's 6th-grade class over zoom on the first day of class at David T. Howard Middle School, Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

Martin Luther King Jr., born in 1929, was enrolled in the Howard School at age six. The school educated Atlanta’s first black mayor, Maynard Jackson, civil rights activist and presidential adviser Vernon Jordan, and construction and real estate businessman Herman J. Russell, among other notables. Read more.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Atlanta Public Schools could re-open the Old Fourth Ward’s Howard High School as a middle school.The school would serve the Grady cluster, which includes some of the district’s most crowded schools. Read more. Photos: BOB ANDRES/AJC, AP Photo

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Howard opened in 1923 as a grammar school. It was converted to a high school in 1947. Read more.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen delivered her State of the District address at the Howard School Oct. 8. Carstarphen has proposed using funds from the next Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to renovate Howard as part of $90 million in projects for the Grady cluster. Read more.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Howard closed in 1976. In recent years, alumni and Old Fourth Ward neighbors have urged APS to renovate and reopen the school. Read more.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: "Judged by the content of their character," part of MLK's historic "I Have A Dream" speech from 1963, is painted on an exterior wall. Read more.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Howard opened in 1924 as a segregated elementary school for African American students and was later converted to a high school. Read more.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: If voters approve the SPLOST Carstarphen has proposed, the renovations at Howard and related projects could be completed by 2023, Carstarphen said. Read more.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: The remnants of a sink stand out in this room.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: This "lunch" sign is a holdover from when the building housed the district's nutrition department.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: A vintage hallway clock and class-change bell inside David T. Howard School.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Re-opening Howard will require millions of dollars of renovations, district officials say.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Large windows allow sunlight to stream into classrooms and hallways.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: A wide hallway interior within the school.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: This old sign promotes Howard High's Army JROTC Department.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Stairwells inside the school are also in need of upgrading.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: A door bears the inscription "BAD FLOOR. DON'T DIE."

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Old reports and various papers are among the debris in the schoolrooms.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: A look inside an old Howard classroom.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: An old poster with a drawing of a tiger sits discarded in a hallway.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Sunlight brightens a dreary second floor hallway.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: Stairwells and corridors are among the challenges presented in the proposed redesign.

FROM 2016 -- HOW IT LOOKED THEN: JROTC students stand inside one of the old Howard School hallways.

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The front entrance to David T. Howard Middle School was heavily renovated before opening day Monday, August 25, 2020. STEVE SCHAEFER FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

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