In 1907, a school with an enrollment of 12 pupils was begun in a small one-room building,Cowan Chapel Colored Methodist Church on the 1700 block of what is now Amanda Street. There were two teachers at the school, V.C. Cox and Wealthis Hudson. They were paid a salary of $120.00 to $160.00 for their services. The school was called the Rustville Colored School. This school remained in existence until 1911. At that time the school was moved to the 1700 block of Langston behind the Cowan Chapel Colored Methodist Church later renamed Sagamore Hill Colored School with an enrollment of approximately 23 students. In 1915 another room was added to the school building to accommodate the increased growth of the students in this community.

In 1924, the Sagamore Hill Trustees purchased land east of Liberty Street for the new school site. The community raised the funds to finance the construction of a fine four-room building to house the school. Sagamore Hill Colored School was moved to 5100 Willie Street with an enrollment of 80 students. It was then admitted to the Fort Worth School System in 1925. The schools progressed under the leadership of Mr. J.C. Conger, Rev. Hines, Mr. S.T. Phillips and Rev. Henry T. Wise, all past-principals.

In 1934, Mrs. Maude I. Logan was principal to 134 students at Sagamore Colored School #1. In 1938, the Sagamore Hill Colored School was given a new name, now called Paul Lawrence Dunbar Elementary-Junior High School with an enrollment of 457 students. The school was named after the famous African -American poet, Paul Lawrence Dunbar. Approximately 300 pupils completed the 9th grade and 250 pupils entered the I.M. Terrell High School to complete their studies. The community had no high school during this era.

In 1952 the structure for the new Dunbar Elementary Junior High School school at 5100 Willie Street was completed. The students and faculty moved into the new structure with an enrolllment of 800 students.

With the opening of the new Dunbar Elementary School at 2300 Dillard in 1957, the Willie Street building became the home of Dunbar Junior-Senior High School with J. Martin Jacque as Principal.

In 1959, the south wing was added to the building to help accomodate the growing student population. By 1966 the school enrollment numbered over 2,300 students and continued to grow. The Class of 1957 was the first to graduate from Dunbar Junior-Senior High school. The last class to graduate from the building was the Class of 1967.

Beginning in 1967, construction began for a new high school located at 5700 Ramey. By 1968 Dunbar High School opened with all senior high students attending the new facility. The old building became the Dunbar Junior High School/Dunbar Middle School.

Soon to follow: 5100 Willie Street history form 1968 forward.

 Article compiled from documents available at the Stop Six Historical Center.