Bedford County School District (BCSD) or Bedford County Schools is a school district headquartered in Shelbyville, Tennessee.[1]

Bedford County School District
Address
500 Madison Street
Shelbyville
, Bedford County, Tennessee, 37160
United States
Coordinates35°29′17″N 86°27′13″W / 35.488001°N 86.453559°W / 35.488001; -86.453559
Other information
Websitehttp://www.bedfordk12tn.com/

History edit

The first class of African-American students graduated from the district in May 1890. In 1964 African-American students became admitted to schools previously reserved for white children due to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[2]

Schools edit

High schools:

Middle schools:

  • Cascade Middle School
  • Community Middle School
  • Harris Middle School
  • Liberty Middle School
  • Bedford County Virtual Middle School

Elementary schools:

  • Bedford County Learning Academy
  • Cascade Elementary School
  • Community Elementary School
  • Eakin Elementary School
  • East Side Elementary School
  • Learning Way Elementary School
  • Liberty Elementary School
  • Southside Elementary School
  • Thomas Magnet School
  • Bedford County Virtual Elementary School

The district previously operated East Bedford School and Bedford County Training School for Negroes, the latter previously John McAdams High School and also Harris High School for Negroes. These schools were reserved for black students. In 1967 it merged into Shelbyville Central.[2]

Demographics edit

In the Jim Crow period circa 1930s to 1960s the district had around 700 African-American students.[2]

Notable alumni edit

  • Sondra Locke (1944–2018), actress and film director; graduated from SCHS in 1962 as valedictorian[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Home. Bedford County Schools. Retrieved on June 9, 2019. "500 Madison Street, Shelbyville, TN 37160"
  2. ^ a b c Lovett, Bobby L. The Civil Rights Movement in Tennessee: A Narrative History. Univ. of Tennessee Press, 2005. ISBN 1572334436, 9781572334434. p. 77.
  3. ^ Aquila 1962

External links edit