New Kent School; Watkins, George W., School - New Kent, VA - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

In the late 1960's New Kent County had two separate school systems which were established in response to the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. Black students attended George W. Watkins School and whites attended New Kent School. In the 1968 Green v. County School Board of New Kent County, the supreme court ruled that the New Kent County system was unconstitutional. Previous court cases barred discrimination, but this decision was a more of a move towards integration.

New Kent School is located in the town of New Kent near the courthouse district. The high school was built in 1930 and, in 1989 when a new high school was built, it became the middle school. Currently, the former New Kent School houses county offices. George W. Watkins School, located in Quinton, is now an elementary school. Both schools were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. George Watkins school is located at 6501 New Kent Hwy, Quinton, VA (N 37° 31.774 W 077° 05.884).

A Virginia highway marker in front of the Watkins school, titled "Green v. County School Board of New Kent County", reads as follows:

"In the 1968 Green v. County School Board of New Kent County decision, the Supreme Court of the United States abandoned the "all deliberate speed" mandate of Brown II (1955) and demanded immediate integration of schools. Black plaintiffs in New Kent County had filed suit in 1965 with assistance from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). New Kent County maintained two school systems despite the federal mandate; black students attended Watkins School, while white students attended New Kent School. After Green, integrated schools were defined not only by their student bodies, but also by their faculties and staffs."

Street address: 11825 New Kent Hwy New Kent, VA USA 23124 County / Borough / Parish: New Kent County Year listed: 2001 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event Periods of significance: 1950-1974 Historic function: Education Current function: Education Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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