History

from Garren by Crescent Communities | Canvas Output (July 2023)

Vision

THE BAILEY-JOHNSON SCHOOL

The Bailey-Johnson School, originally called the Alpharetta Colored School, was built to serve black students in North Fulton County in the 50s and 60s. The school opened in 1950 and, at that time, was the only school in North Fulton able to enroll black students over the 7th grade.

Prior to the first class’s graduation, faculty, and parents requested that the school’s name be changed to honor George “Hard” Bailey, a respected blacksmith in Alpharetta who provided the land for the school, and Warren Johnson, a Roswell man born into slavery and a lifelong advocate for black education.

The project’s name – “Garren” – was created by combining George and Warren’s first names, signaling the development team’s intention to preserve the essence of the school’s rich history). When Bailey-Johnson closed in 1967, it marked the end of segregated education in North Fulton County. Its students transferred to Milton and Roswell high schools and neighboring elementary schools.

1932 Three colored schools merged to create Alpharetta Colored School

1949 New building constructed, serving grades one through 12

1953 Four classrooms added. School renamed for George “Hard” Bailey, who donated the land, and Warren Johnson, a former slave and proponent of AfricanAmerican education