The Potomac School in Westmoreland County, Virginia

Potomac School was a Rosenwald School that once served black children in Westmoreland County. Its construction was made possible through a partnership between the Julius Rosenwald Fund, public support, and strong local involvement. According to the Rosenwald Fund card, the school cost $2,500 to build. Of that total, $1,200 was raised by the local Black community, $600 came from public funds, and $700 was contributed by the Rosenwald Fund, reflecting a shared commitment to education in the community.

The school is listed in Rosenwald records with years of use spanning 1917 to 1948, with construction funding recorded during 1922 to 1923. Potomac School was classified as a two-teacher school and sat on two acres of land, serving students from the surrounding rural community.

Potomac School was located near what is today 6099 Nomini Hall Road, close to the present site of Potomac Baptist Church. While the original school building no longer stands, its location and history are preserved through documentation and can be explored today on an interactive map created by Preservation Virginia.

Today, Potomac School is remembered as part of the broader story of education in Westmoreland. By documenting and sharing this history, we help preserve an important chapter of the county’s educational past for current residents and future generations.

Photo credit: Fisk University, Julius Rosenwald Fund Archives, Rosenwald Fund Card File, John Hope and Aurelia E Franklin Library