In 1892, Dallas established its first high school for African American pupils. In 1911, the school was enlarged and named the Dallas Colored High School. The school was moved in 1922 to larger quarters, designed by famed Dallas architects Lang & Witchell, and renamed Booker T. Washington High School, after the African-American education pioneer Booker T. Washington. For many years, it was the only Dallas high school that allowed students of color. In 1939, Wilmer-Hutchins Colored High School of the Wilmer-Hutchins ISD burned down in a fire. Afterwards, African-American WHISD students were sent to DISD high schools for "colored" people such as Washington. In 1942, teacher Thelma Paige Richardson sued the Dallas School District, demanding equalization of pay based upon tenure and merit; the school district denied that any discrimination was taking place. Richardson, with the help of the NAACP, won the case, increasing general awareness of discrimination in the public school system. In 1952, it was enlarged yet again, and given the new name as Booker T. Washington Technical High School. In 1976, the school was repurposed as the Arts Magnet at Booker T. Washington High School, inheriting and expanding the magnet-school arts curriculum that had been in place in the Performing Arts Cluster at Skyline High School since 1970. The Arts Magnet would become a prototype for magnet schools across the country. The repurposing was part of the Federal Court Desegregation Orders that created the magnet school system in Dallas ISD. Paul Baker was selected by Superintendent Estes as Founding Director of the School. The neighborhood surrounding Washington has evolved into the Dallas Arts District. The main school building was designated an official Dallas Landmark in 2006. In 2008, the building was enlarged a third time when a new $65 million facility designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture, was completed. The expansion preserved the historic main building.
Statistics
The attendance rate for students at the school is 96%, equal with the state average of 96%. 32% of the students at Washington are economically disadvantaged, 2% enroll in special education, 31% enroll in gifted and talent programs, and 1% are considered "limited English proficient." The class of 2017 managed to receive over $60 million in offered scholarships and grants. The ethnic makeup of the school is 42% White American, 21% African American, 30% Hispanic American, 3% Asian American/Pacific Islander American, and 1% American Indian/Alaskan Native. The average class sizes at Washington are 20 students for English, 27 for foreign language, 19 for math, 22 for science, and 25 for social studies.
