which was cut off from the rest of the county when the Interstate highway was built. The school's public address announcer and former faculty member, Rodney Robinson, was named the 2019 National Teacher of the Year. Neighborhoods served The community served five public housing facilities in proximity to one another; one, Fairfield Court, is on the other side of the street from the high school. Operations Circa 2015 the school used metal detectors and had six security guards. April Hawkins, the principal, stated her belief that the school should have more guards. Demographics Circa 2015 there were 974 students and approximately 97% were African American. Student performance Circa 2015, of the entire student body, the number with plans to attend a four-year college or university was fewer than thirty. Alumni Jean L. Harris, First African-American to be admitted to medical school in Virginia, former Mayor of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, first African-American cabinet member in Virginia - Secretary of Human Resources Virginia Estelle Randolph, internationally recognized educator with Henrico County Public Schools William Ferguson Reid, Richmond physician (surgeon), civil rights activist, and member of the Virginia General Assembly. Douglas Wilder, the first African American governor of Virginia. Elizabeth Coles Bouey, missionary References External links Official website High schools in Richmond, Virginia Educational institutions established in 1865 Public high schools in Virginia Historically segregated African-American schools in Virginia 1865 establishments in Virginia Schools supported by the Freedmen's Bureau