Historic Preservation · Community Legacy · Carrollton, GA
The Carver Center
Carver High School operated until 1969, when the integration of Carroll County schools was completed. At that time, the school closed and students were reassigned to previously all-white schools as part of the desegregation process.
Following its closure as a high school, the building continued to serve the community in different capacities, including as an elementary school, preserving its role as a place of learning and gathering for decades.
Today, the Carver Center carries that legacy forward. The auditorium has been reimagined as an event space, but its foundation remains the same—a place where people come together. From performances and celebrations to community events, the space continues to echo with the history, resilience, and spirit of those who came before.
Origins & Foundation
History of the Carver Center (Carver School Auditorium – Carrollton, GA)
The Carver Center is housed within the historic auditorium of the former George Washington Carver High School, a cornerstone of education and community life in Carrollton, Georgia.
The origins of Carver trace back to 1913, when the first school for African American students opened in Carrollton during a time of segregation. As the community grew, a more established institution was built in 1932, known as the Carroll County Training School.
In 1954, the campus expanded with the construction of a dedicated high school building for grades 8–12, officially named George Washington Carver High School. This facility became the primary secondary school for African American students in Carroll County and served as a center of academic achievement, athletics, arts, and community pride.
The auditorium—now home to the Carver Center—was an essential part of that experience. It served as a gathering place for school assemblies, performances, ceremonies, and community events. Like many school auditoriums of the era, it was more than just a stage—it was where milestones were celebrated, talent was showcased, and the community came together.
Milestones Through the Decades
1913
First School Opens
The first school for African American students opens in Carrollton during segregation.
1932
Training School
Carroll County Training School established as a more permanent institution for the community.
1954
High School Built
Dedicated high school building constructed for grades 8–12, officially named Carver High School.
1969
Integration
Carroll County school integration completed. Carver High closes as students join previously all-white schools.
Today
Carver Center
The auditorium lives on as an event space — a gathering place carrying the legacy forward.
