Emma Sansom High School (opened 1929 – closed 2006) was a

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

located in

Gadsden, Alabama Gadsden is a city in and the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located on the Coosa River about northeast of Birmingham and southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan ...

. It was named for a young girl (

Emma Sansom Emma Sansom (June 2, 1847 – August 9, 1900) was an Alabama farmgirl noted for her actions during the American Civil War, during which she helped Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest cross Black Creek. Activists in the 2020 racial pro ...

) who was credited with helping General

Nathan Bedford Forrest Nathan Bedford Forrest (July 13, 1821October 29, 1877) was a prominent Confederate Army general during the American Civil War and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan from 1867 to 1869. Before the war, Forrest amassed substantial wealt ...

to cross Black Creek in

and get his troops ahead of Union troops, thus stopping an impending attack upon

Rome, Georgia Rome is the largest city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, it is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia metropolitan area, Rome, Georgia, metropolitan statisti ...

during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

Closure

Emma Sansom High School was closed in 2006 when the Gadsden City Board of Education consolidated the city high schools into All City High School now known as the

Gadsden City High School Gadsden City High School is a public high school, located in Gadsden, Alabama, United States serving approximately 1500 students in grades nine through twelve. The school is the only high school in the Gadsden City School System. Admission ...

. The Emma Sansom High School building was converted into a middle school beginning with the 2006/2007 academic year. General Forrest Middle School students were moved to the newly renamed Emma Sansom Middle School. Emma Sansom Middle School offers many clubs and organizations, such as student government, quiz bowl, choral, band, art, and more. It also offers AP classes, such as pre-algebra. Students can participate in marching band as well as jazz band. Students compete on state level for choral and band and the band travels to places such as Disney World. Emma Sansom Middle School provides a range of sports opportunities including: basketball, football, softball, baseball, volleyball, track, tennis and more. In 2018 Ms. Jacqueline Tiller became principal and Mrs. Marcia Farabee was vice-principal. The school has 350 students and is currently a Title 1 school with 75% of students being on free and reduced lunches. Emma Sansom middle school received a B on their state report card for the 2017 school year. That was the highest middle school get in Etowah County. Emma Sansom faculty, staff and students are proud to be called the Emma Sansom Rebels! Emma Sansom Middle School participates in service projects to help the community. During this time the students provided hygiene items to people in need during the holiday season in order to help teach the students that it is better to give than to receive. The middle school's Rockettes' assisted in giving out these items to the people in need.

Band

Emma Sansom Middle School (ESMS) Band is directed by Stacy Harris. The advanced band has over 100 members, made up of 7th and 8th graders. The school has beginning, advanced and stage band classes. The marching band is the second biggest middle school band in

Etowah County Etowah County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 103,436. Its county seat is Gadsden. Its name is from a Cherokee word meaning "edible tree". In total area, it is ...

area. Often, much larger than area high school bands. The Gadsden City High School Band has taken on the glory as well. With a band of 260, GCHS band is one of the most well known in the state.

References

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External links

Emma Sansom High School Trophies

Digital Yearbook Collection
Educational institutions established in 1929 Educational institutions disestablished in 2006 Defunct schools in Alabama Buildings and structures in Gadsden, Alabama Schools in Etowah County, Alabama 1929 establishments in Alabama 2006 disestablishments in Alabama