County Training School

The County Training School was a secondary school for African-American students in Rocky Mount. It consisted of three buildings: a four-room high school, a two-room elementary school, and a dormitory for students who traveled in from the county. These buildings were constructed on concrete foundations. Because of its proximity to Rocky Mount’s first power dam, the County Training School was one of the first schools in the county to have electricity. Cullen Atkins was one of the teachers. If you have any additional details, please let us know and we’ll update this page accordingly.


County Training School, c. 1920s
Franklin County Historical Society


Meeting of county educators, 1926
The Animo (FCHS yearbook, 1986)

William Bond, Martha Bolling, Ethel Walker, Pearl Walker, Duck Wilder, Elmer Patterson, Willie B. Helms, Gertrude Preston, Clair Saunders, Martha Brown, Mrs. Shelton, Mr. Terry, Irene Preston, Lucy Hick, Martha Goode, Mannie Holland, Josephine Wade, Hazel Tinsley, and Tabitha Dudley


Faculty of County Training School, 1933-34
The Animo (FCHS yearbook, 1986)

Charles Scruggs (principal), Jean Jackson, Mattie Eggleston, Mamie Holland, Artie Gwaultney, and Claudius Toles


County Training School, 1935
Archie G. Richardson papers, Special Collections
Virginia State University


County Training School, 1931-32
Archie G. Richardson, Special Collections,
Virginia State University


County Training School, 1935-1936
Archie G. Richardson papers, Special Collections
Virginia State University


County Training School, c. 1930s
Archie G. Richardson papers, Special Collections
Virginia State University


County Training School, 1931-32
Archie G. Richardson papers, Special Collections
Virginia State University


Drum and Bugle Corps, n.d.
County Training School
Franklin County Historical Society


County Training School
Franklin County Historical Society



County Training School
Franklin County Historical Society


Site of County Training School, 1947
Smithey-Boynton papers, Special Collections
Virginia Tech


Site of County Training School, 1947
Smithey-Boynton papers, Special Collections
Virginia Tech


Blueprints for addition to County Training School, 1947
Smithey-Boynton papers, Special Collections
Virginia Tech


Blueprints for addition to County Training School, 1947
Smithey-Boynton papers, Special Collections
Virginia Tech

Blueprints for addition to County Training School, 1947
Smithey-Boynton papers, Special Collections
Virginia Tech

County Training School (circled),
schoolhouse map of Franklin County,
Virginia State Planning Board, 1935


County Training School (circled),
topographic map of Franklin County,
United States Geological Survey, 1951