Years before Wacoochee Elementary School in Salem, AL came to be, it was known as Wacoochee High School. Wacoochee High was a beloved institution that educated Black students prior to the integration of schools in Lee County (Alabama). Wacoochee served students from Bleeker, Crawford, Motts, Salem and Smiths Station communities who were in grades 1-12. Despite the “Brown v. Board” decision in 1954, which declared segregation unconstitutional, Wacoochee operated as an all Black school from 1956 to 1970.
During this time in American history, efforts within the social justice movement were made to ensure the rights of all Americans. Laws, such as The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were passed. Ultimately, under the direction of President Richard Nixon, the various court rulings on desegregation were enforced, leading to the full integration of all schools. Beginning with the 1970 school year, Wacoochee became a junior high school for all students in the area to attend, regardless of their race.
Wacoochee represents the journey to gain civil rights and equality for all Americans. Its presence is a critical piece of the history of Lee County Schools. More than a decade after the Supreme Court’s decision outlawing segregation, schools, particularly in the South, were still operating “dual systems.” Not only was this practice illegal and inherently wrong, the idea of “separate, but equal,” adopted from the Plessy ruling was actually far from it; the reality was that separate was not equal.
Wacoochee lacked resources, such as electric typewriters or updated textbooks. Their resources were handed down from other schools. Student activities were limited as the school only had baseball and basketball teams, where as their counterparts at Smiths Station had the opportunity to play other sports, such as football. In spite of the disadvantages, Wacoochee students embraced each other, their teachers and principal as their family.
Before Wacoochee’s existence, Black students in the rural areas of Lee County who wanted to attend high school had to travel to Opelika, because schools in the area stopped at 8th grade. Of course families were responsible for transportation at a time where households with even one car was rare. So, when Wacoochee was built in 1955, it was a significant advancement for Black students and their families because students could then continue their education within their own community. Attending the brand new Wacoochee school was a point of pride and the gateway for educational opportunities.
The sense of pride that students who attended Wacoochee had at that time remain with its alumni to this day.
Results from a research questionnaire given to alumni indicated that former students placed a high value on the experience they had while attending Wacoochee High School. Family was a recurring theme. Their principal Mr. Everett Debrow, Sr. who served as the school’s only principal held in high regard. When former students even speak of Wacoochee, Mr. Debrow’s name is most often mentioned, underscoring the principles and values that were instilled within their school family.
Alumni regularly hold class reunions. Each class’ reunion not only includes students, but also the faculty and staff who were a part of the Wacoochee family. In addition to the reunions held for individual graduating classes, former Wacoochee students hold a Grand Reunion for all alumni who attended Wacoochee with the most recent one being held in 2017.
The tight-knit relationship that the classes of Wacoochee High School share is indescribable. Attending Wacoochee High was an honor that is boldly proclaimed by its students–embraced and engrained in their heritage. During a time when there were legal, social and educational limitations placed on public school students because of race, Wacoochee High was seen by many as the option to thrive, irrespective of those barriers.
Generations for America Incorporated 