M Street High School (Perry School) - View this location on map One of the nation's first public high schools for African-American students, founded in 1870 as the Preparatory High School for Negro Youth; important benchmark in development of the city's educational system; represents struggle by African-American population for quality education, despite great disparities in facilities, grounds, architectural design, and size in the dual school system; precursor to Dunbar High School (established 1916); rigorous curriculum and exceptional faculty due to limited professional opportunities for African-Americans elsewhere; produced high proportion of college graduates and numerous prominent educators and public figures, including Carter G. Woodson; principals included Francis L. Cardozo, Sr., Robert H. Terrell, Anna J. Cooper; built 1890-91; architectural plans by the office of Building Inspector Thomas Entwistle (approved by Edward Clark, Architect of the Capitol) 128 M Street, NW, Washington , DC Historical

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