First Ward Elementary School Records, 1980-2013

First Ward Elementary, initially named North School, was built in 1900, following two other schools in the 1880s. The plans for the school, submitted by Frank P. Milburn, had been originally intended as a hospital. Accommodating white children only, North School served grades one through five, and a city-wide tenth grade. J.A. Bivens was the first principal.

Over the next few years, Bivens would be replaced by H.P. Harding, and a city-wide eleventh grade was added. In 1912, the decision was made to divide North School in two, with North School housing grades six through eleven, and a newly named First Ward, grades one through five. First Ward’s first principal became Allie Nooe. The two buildings were later united in 1925, following the formation of Central High, for senior high school students, and Alexander Graham, for junior high grades, leaving grades one through six, as First Ward Elementary.

By the 1950s, First Ward was no longer a school for white students, due to the migration of their families to the suburbs. Alexander Street School became overcrowded, and moved into the old First Ward building, and brought about the addition of another building facing Caldwell Street. For a while, Alexander Street and First Ward Schools shared a principal. The school system built a new school building in 1967 in front of the old North School, which was torn down afterwards. Alexander Street School closed two years later, and First Ward returned to being a school for first through sixth grades, with African-American children.

During this time, desegregation and urban renewal began. Although many white families had previously left First Ward, many middle and upper class African-American families remained. Some of these families were caught in the redevelopment of the area, and pressured to leave as well. Earle Village, a housing project, replaced the homes in this community. In 1969, desegregation brought white children from the suburbs back into First Ward, along with white teachers. The principal, Preston Allison, was African-American, and urged all of the parents to work together to improve the school for all of their children. Beginning with small projects, the parents did just that, and in a few years advanced the school greatly.

Cleo Gullick became principal in 1981, and continued the push for parental involvement, while also emphasizing academic excellence. First Ward Elementary became a National School of Excellence in 1987, and was visited by Vice-President Dan Quayle. Patricia Holleman became principal that year, and two years later, new buildings were completed. In 1991, Carl Flamer, who had served as Assistant Principal under Holleman, became principal. By 1994, the Magnet School Program came to Charlotte, and the following year, First Ward Elementary became First Ward Accelerated Learning Academy. First Ward received the honor of being name a School of Distinction in 2000, and celebrated its centennial anniversary.

The building currently housing First Ward Creative Arts Academy was built in 2003. This elementary school specializes in “arts integrated learning experiential learning across all curriculum using elements of dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts.” Children attending the school come from all around Charlotte, and are placed through lottery.