Harding High School

This school has a distinct claim to fame. In September of 1957, Dorothy Counts was the first African American student to enroll in the student body. She was met with rioters and an unhappy community. The incident drew the attention of the national media and did not represent the local leadership well. Afterwards, the town of Charlotte decided it needed to integrate the school system and make a "civil adjustment."(1) This particular school, designed by Martin Boyer, created a huge shift in the outlook of the Charlotte Public School system. The effect Harding High School had on the Charlotte community is unique and sparked a change. 

Photograph courtesy North Carolina State Archives alongside J. Murray Atkins Library Special Collection at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Harding High school, now Harding Elementary, was designed by Martin Boyer. All that remains of Boyer's original pieces are the facade, auditorium, and cafeteria. The facade promotes a neoclassic architectural design while the floor plans show how the school was designed more closely following the Colonial-Revival style. The building still functions as a school, however targeted at slightly different age groups.