Year Minimum Foundation building program completed 1955. Nothing in Gilmer's plan was for African American students, but Gilmer did have minority students. And at some point in the early 1950s, they made another plan for them. To get building money, Gilmer had to have their schools surveyed by an independent committee to assess needs. The survey, printed in the July 5, 1951, Times-Courier, mentions a Black school in the county: "There are only six students in this school which is housed in a one-room building located one mile from Ellijay. A teacher is regularly employed for these six children." Unlike in Murray County, the committee instead recommended busing the children elsewhere: "It may be that an agreement could be reached with the Pickens County Board of Education when their new plans are in effect." Pickens was already in agreement that year with Fannin County about housing their high school students. This was the path taken for Gilmer. The Jan. 20, 1955, Times-Courier advertised a March of Dimes benefit basketball game in Ellijay featuring Black high schools from Tate - home of Pickens County Training - and from Murphy, N.C. The article noted local interest, "David and Mark Roberts, sons of Floyd and Nora Roberts of Ellijay will play with the Tate team." When exactly the busing began is unknown, but is likely 1953 based on a remark in the Pickens County Progress on Aug. 27: "[T]his year the colored students from Gilmer and Fannin counties are being brought here." The Department of Education's Annual Reports - actually issued every two years at this time - had statistics for number of schools in each county. Gilmer had a Black school in the 1952 edition, but not in 1954.

Year of total integration ? Research into Gilmer for the mid-1960s has not been done, but the Department of Health, Education and Welfare cracked down on school systems busing across county lines very early. In all likelihood, GIlmer's African American students were returned to local schools in 1965.

Known high schools None. By 1954, the county was busing all students to Pickens County.

Known schools 1950-51: Six students in county, attending a school one mile from Ellijay.

Additional notes