History of Education in America

By sombar

  • First "free school"

    First "free school"
    The first "free school" in Virginia opens. However, education in the Southern colonies is more typically provided at home by parents or tutors.

  • Second College Opens in Colonial America

    Second College Opens in Colonial America
    The College of William and Mary is established in Virginia. It is the second college to open in colonial America and has the distinction of being Thomas Jefferson's college.

  • First Academy For Girls Opens

    First Academy For Girls Opens
    The Young Ladies Academy opens in Philadelphia and becomes the first academy for girls in the original 13 colonies/states.
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  • First School For Children WIth Visual Disabilities Opens

    First School For Children WIth Visual Disabilities Opens
    The New England Asylum for the Blind, now the Perkins School for the Blind, opens in Massachusetts, becoming the first school in the U.S. for children with visual disabilities.

  • First "Normal School" Opens

    First "Normal School" Opens
    The first state funded school specifically for teacher education (then known as "normal" schools) opens in Lexington, Massachusetts.

  • First College to Admit Men And Women Equally

    First College to Admit Men And Women Equally
    The University of Iowa is then first state university "to admit men and women on an equal basis."

  • Junior High Schools Created

    Junior High Schools Created
    In order to improve high school graduation rates, the Columbus Ohio School Board authorizes the creation of junior high schools. Indianola Junior High School opens that fall and becomes the first junior high school in the U.S.

  • SAT First Administered

    SAT First Administered
    The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is first administered. It is based on the Army Alpha test.

  • The Great Depression Hits

    The Great Depression Hits
    The Great Depression begins with the stock market crash in October. The U.S. economy is devastated. Public education funding suffers greatly, resulting in school closings, teacher layoffs, and lower salaries.

  • Prayer Violates First Amendment

    Prayer Violates First Amendment
    In the case of Wallace v, Jaffree, the U.S. Supreme Court finds that Alabama statutes authorizing silent prayer and teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools violate the First Amendment.
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  • Columbine

    Columbine
    On April 20th, two Columbine High School students go on a killing spree that leaves 15 dead and 23 wounded at the Littleton, Colorado school, making it the nations' deadliest school shooting incident. Though schools tighten safety procedures as a result of the Columbine massacre, school shootings continue to occur at an alarming rate. article

  • Covid-19

    Covid-19
    On March 11, the World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Two days later, President Trump declares a national emergency. States close schools, and many colleges and universities suspend "in-person classes."