Rocky Mount Schools
Rocky Mount has had several elementary schools and high schools over the years. One of the earliest schools was built on Dent Street in the late 19th century.
Rocky Mount School, c. 1900
front of school
Blue Ridge Insitute and Museum
Rocky Mount School, c. 1900
back of school
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Students at Rocky Mount School, c. 1900
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Teachers in Rocky Mount, c. 1900
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
The first modern high school was built in 1903. It had eight rooms. It was the first school in Franklin County built with a concrete foundation, central heating, and indoor plumbing. It did not originally have electricity. It later served as an elementary school, but it was lost to fire in 1944.
Rocky Mount High School,
constructed in 1903
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Baseball champs, 1904
Rocky Mount High School,
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
By 1920, it was clear that a larger high school would be needed. Franklin County hired the renowned Smithey & Boynton architectural firm in Roanoke to draw up the plans. When it opened in 1923, it had a concrete foundation, central heating, and indoor plumbing, and it was wired with electricity. The school had several sports teams.
Blueprints for Rocky Mount High School, 1923
Smithey-Boynton papers, Special Collections
Virginia Tech
Blueprints for Rocky Mount High School, 1923
Smithey-Boynton papers, Special Collections
Virginia Tech
Blueprints for Rocky Mount High School, 1923
Smithey-Boynton papers, Special Collections
Virginia Tech
Rocky Mount High School, c. 1920s
The Animo, FCHS yearbook, 1986
Grads from Rocky Mount High School, c. 1920s
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Girls’ basketball team, 1925
Rocky Mount High School
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Girls’ basketball team, 1925
Rocky Mount High School
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Boys’ basketball team, 1929
Rocky Mount High School
This team won the class-B state championship.
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Baseball team, 1929
Rocky Mount High School
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Baseball team, 1929
Rocky Mount High School
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Rocky Mount HS & Elem School (circled),
schoolhouse map of Franklin County,
Virginia State Planning Board, 1935
After the modern-day Franklin County High School (on Tanyard) opened in 1950, the previous high school became an elementary school.
Rocky Mount Elementary School, c. 1950
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
The photograph shows the proximity of the original high school, built in 1903 (foreground), to the second high school, built in 1923 (background).
Students at Rocky Mount Elem. School, c. 1950
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Crossing guard and students, c. 1950
Rocky Mount Elementary School
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
Built in 1923, the second high school was destroyed by a fire in the 1970s.
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum