Booker T. Washington High School, also known as Booker T,BTW, or the Academy Of Visual and Performing Arts, is a public high school located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is administered by Norfolk Public Schools system. The school colors are maroon, white and gold. The school is called “The Mighty Booker T” and the “Fighting Bookers" in Norfolk, Virginia.
History
Booker T. Washington High School was named in honor of Booker T. Washington who was an African-American educator, author, orator, and adviser to presidents of the United States. In April 1911, when the Norfolk School Board agreed to allow one year of high school at the site of John T. West Elementary School. For each of the next three years, a grade was added culminating in the State Board of Educations approval. Thus Washington became Virginia first accredited public high school for African-Americans.[2]
In 1915 the high school was moved to Princess Anne Road, where Norfolk Mission College had been located and adopted the name Booker T. Washington High School.[3][4] In 1917, Booker T. Washington High School became Virginia’s first accredited public high school for African Americans. A new building opened on Virginia Beach Boulevard in 1924. There were 1,750 students in grades 7–12 and 63 teachers. The school became known as The Mighty Booker T, and the athletic teams were nicknamed The Fighting Bookers.[5]
In 1974, the school moved into a new facility, which was built for $8 million. The school marching band Marching Bookers was the first African-American Marching Band to perform in a televised presidential inauguration parade, when they performed for President Harry Truman in 1949. The band also performed in both of President Eisenhower's inauguration parades.[6] They also performed in the 2014 Virginia governor inauguration parade.[7][8]
Alma mater
Composed by: Phyllis Hoggard and Wanza Sutton
Class of 1960
