Crisfield Academy and High School - History

History

Prior to 1908, there was only one educational facility in Crisfield: the original Crisfield Academy, located on Asbury Avenue near the intersection with Somerset Avenue. In 1908, the very first Crisfield High School was built, succeeding the Academy. This school, however, only served the white population of Crisfield. This building was closed in 1926 when a new, larger building was constructed, on Somerset Avenue. A school had also been built shortly before World War II for the African-American population, named Crisfield Colored High School, which succeeded limited facilities for those students whom beforehand were only equipped for teaching up to sixth grade. This building was located on Collins Street, near the current site of Family Dollar. Eventually, this building would be succeeded by Woodson High School, on South Somerset Avenue.

A third high school building opened in 1953 at the site of the current high school, with two high school buildings operating in Crisfield on Somerset Avenue at this time. By the 1969-1970 school year, desegregation of high school had taken place, and Woodson High School had been renovated into the area middle school as the high school students were moved to CHS. In 1972, the high school building built in 1926 was destroyed in an arson fire. After the fire, a new building was constructed on the property of the 1953 building. This is the building currently located at 210 North Somerset Avenue and in current operation, though it has gone through expansions and renovations since then.

The Somerset County Public School System has been attempting since the 1960s to consolidate Crisfield High with Washington High School, which serves northern Somerset County, as the dwindling population of Somerset County has caused school enrollment to shrink as well. The schools have largely resisted this, though the middle school was closed at the end of the 2003-2004 school year, and after an extensive renovation reopened for the 2004-2005 school year as Carter G. Woodson Elementary School in September 2004. Somerset Intermediate School, located in Westover for 6th and 7th graders of Somerset County, was built during the spring and summer of 2004, and opened for students in September 2004. Crisfield High School's name was changed to Crisfield Academy and High School, and also took on the 8th grade students in lower Somerset County beginning with the 2004-2005 school year.

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