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Central Middle School in Galveston has a rich history dating back to 1885 when it was founded as the first high school for African Americans in Texas. The aim was to provide education to African American students in Galveston and the surrounding areas. Central initially operated in a rented building before moving to a two-story brick building in 1893, which was designed by renowned architect Nicholas Clayton. The school underwent several improvements over the next four decades, providing additional classrooms, science labs, an auditorium, and a gymnasium. In 1954, the current building was constructed to provide African-American students an equal education to their white peers at Ball High School after age 14. When education in the city was officially desegregated, Central High School became a junior high school, opening its doors to a more racially diverse group of students. Today, Central Middle School carries on the legacy of integrated schools and the first African American high school in Texas, serving as a living reminder of the efforts to provide quality education for all Galvestonians.

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