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Tracing the history of the Georgia Interscholastic Association
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Profile: Emanuel County

Year Minimum Foundation building program completed
c. 1955-56

Seven new buildings were part of Emanule's program. African American schools in the deal were Emanuel County and elementary schools at Lexsy, Summertown and Twin City.

Year of total integration
1969.

Emanuel County's total integration was touch-and-go, a process that kept everyone on their toes. The Augusta Chronicle documented the process of what went down.

The school system was all set under the federal department of Health, Education and Welfare to fully integrate for 1969-70 school year, said the Aug. 29, 1969, Chronicle, but a group of Swainsboro people calling themselves the Citizens Constitutional Committee filed suit to prevent the plan from going into effect.

Emanuel schools' opening were postponed by a judge until a hearing. Initially, an injunction was granted and the schools were to open with freedom of choice on Sept. 10, 1969, according to the Sept. 8 Chronicle.

However, on Sept. 15, U.S. District Court Judge Alexander A. Lawrence ordered complete integration to take place, the Sept. 16 Chronicle quoting Lawrence's opinion, "Reluctantly, I must deprive the Superior Court of Emanuel County of jurisdiction over the case brought by the parents of certain white children against the school board. Its obvious purpose and its necessary result was to thwart the functions of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare."

Schools were to be closed Sept. 17 to allow for the transition. That did not happen.

On Sept. 20, the Chronicle said that school would remain closed until an appeal. Finally, Emanuel went back to school Sept. 24 after the the Augusta Chronicle of the same date said a stay in the decision was denied.

Known high schools
  • Emanuel County (Swainsboro)
  • Swainsboro High & Industrial
  • Twin City Rosenwald

Known schools
  • 1948-49: Swainsboro High & Industrial
  • 1950-51: Blundale, Brinson, Canoochee, Cross-Green, Currytown, Durden, Garfield, Gary, Jones, Lexsy, McLeod, Mount Chapel, Mount Zion, Nunez, Oak Park, Pine Grove, Promiseland, Redding, Sam, Stillmore, Summertown, Summit (probably Twin City Rosenwald), Swainsboro High & Industrial, Watson (possibly a full list, from survey recommendations)
  • 1951-52: Cross-Green, Nunez, Promise Land, Summertown, Swainsboro High & Industrial
  • 1952-53: Swainsboro High and Industrial, Twin City Rosenwald
  • 1953-54: Jones Elementary, Swainsboro High & Industrial, Twin City Rosenwald
The Georgia Department of Education begins publishing a list of schools in 1956-57.
  • 1956-57: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1957-58: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1958-59: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1959-60: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1960-61: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1961-62: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1962-63: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1963-64: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1964-65: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1965-66: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1966-67: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1967-68: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
  • 1968-69: Emanuel County Elementary & High (grades 1-12), Lexsy (1-8), Summertown (1-8), Twin City (1-8)
Additional notes