William C. Jason High School served Black students
William C. Jason Comprehensive High School in Georgetown served the Black students of Sussex County from 1950 through 1967. Prior to Jason, segregation meant Black students could only get an education at small schools that went to the 10th or 11th grade. For many Black students to earn a high school diploma, they had to attend the high school department at Delaware State College or Howard High School in Wilmington. The construction of Jason provided opportunities for students who were unable to travel north.
James R. Webb served as Jason’s principal from 1950 to 1962.
The school was named after the first Black president of Delaware State College. Funds to build the school were provided in the will of H. Fletcher Brown a local philanthropist, and by the Delaware General Assembly. Initially, Jason High School served grades nine through 12, but in 1953, it expanded to include students from seventh and eighth grades.
The desegregation of schools in Delaware led to the closing of Jason in 1967. It is now part of Delaware Technical Community College. Rehoboth Beach resident Janie Miller serves as the president of the Jason Alumni Association, which holds at least a reunion and Christmas party every year. Miller continues to preserve hundreds of photographs, programs, yearbooks and other memorabilia from the school. Another notable alumna, Rep. Stell Parker Selby, once served as the alumni association president.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and building pages, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
