Worsham High School
Also known as: Worsham Elementary and High School; Worsham School
Why it's listed
Worsham School, built in 1927 on a hillside in rural Prince Edward County, Virginia, is a brick complex of three buildings: a main school with 12 classrooms arranged in a U around a central auditorium, plus a cinder-block agricultural building and a cannery. Its design is plain, though the symmetry, brickwork and recessed arched entrance reflect Colonial Revival influence. It opened as a high school for white students and operated until 1959, when the county closed its public schools instead of integrating them. In 1963 Worsham was leased to the Prince Edward Free School system, a privately organized but federally supported effort to educate children locked out of school for four years. Enrollment across the Free Schools reached 1,578 students. The stage was converted to classroom space, and the cannery was later added for teaching. The system ran for one year, until public schools reopened in 1964. Most original interior materials survive, though the building is now vacant.
Significance in brief: The school is significant at the state level for its role in the struggle to desegregate public schools. After Prince Edward County closed its public schools in 1959 rather than integrate, Worsham was one of four schools leased to the Prince Edward Free School system in 1963-1964. It was the only formerly all-white county school used, and it served mainly African-American students until public schools reopened in 1964.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10000384, listed June 24, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8832 Abilene Rd, Farmville |
|---|---|
| County | Prince Edward County |
| Listed | June 24, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000384 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1963-1964 |
| Architectural style | Other; plain building with Colonial Revival influences (symmetry, brick, recessed arched entrance) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Black |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in the form as vacant/not in use; condition described as fair with minimal damage, some roof leakage and fascia rot, and most original layout and materials preserved. |
| Acreage | 8.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.23048, -78.44680 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10000384.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903726
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.