C.A. Johnson High School: A Legacy of Purpose and Promise in Columbia, SC

C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South Carolina, stands as a proud monument to educational excellence and community uplift. Established in 1949, the school carries the name and legacy of Mr. Cornell Alvin Johnson, a trailblazing educator whose life and career were wholly dedicated to the advancement of students and the strengthening of Negro public schools in Columbia. Mr. Johnson served in multiple capacities—teacher, principal, and ultimately supervisor—leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations.

The school officially opened its doors in August 1949 under the leadership of C.J. Johnson, Jr., its first principal. Assisting him in the formative years were Mr. James W. Witherspoon, Assistant Principal, and Mr. John H. Whiteman, Supervisor of Negro Schools. In its inaugural year, the school welcomed a student body of 1,035 students in grades seven through eleven, with the first graduating class totaling 102 students. These students primarily hailed from Columbia's Waverly and Kennellworth neighborhoods and previously attended Carver and Sarah Nance Elementary Schools. Notably, Carver’s upper grades were merged into the new high school, forming the academic bedrock of C.A. Johnson.

In those early years, the faculty and staff brought experience from Carver Junior High School and the esteemed Booker T. Washington High School. By 1951, the school boasted a faculty of 45. Just a year later, in 1952, the school expanded to include a complete high school curriculum for grades seven through twelve.

C.A. Johnson was built not only on high expectations but on a rich academic and vocational curriculum designed to prepare students for success beyond high school. In addition to rigorous instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, English, social studies, art, and music, the school became known for its robust commercial and vocational education programs. Students engaged in hands-on training through courses in painting, electricity, home economics, woodworking, mechanics, brick masonry, and cosmetology, equipping them with valuable skills for both employment and entrepreneurship.

Leadership has been a defining pillar of C.A. Johnson’s identity. After C.J. Johnson, Jr.'s tenure, the school was led by a succession of dedicated principals who each brought their vision and guidance to the institution. Mr. Reginald Danner took the helm in 1977, succeeded by Mr. A.T. Butler, Jr. in 1982, followed by Mr. Henry Young in 1983, and later Mr. Marvin Byers in 1995 Mr. Murray Smith became principal in 1999, continuing the legacy of adaptive and compassionate leadership.

educational resources and best instructional practices.

Today, Dr. Brenton Coe serves as the Academy’s principal and senior administrator. Under his leadership, C.A. Johnson continues to thrive with an enrollment of approximately 700 students, maintaining its reputation for nurturing academic excellence, civic responsibility, and leadership.

In 2002, under the direction of Dr. James Taylor, the school underwent a significant transformation. Renamed the C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy, this shift marked a bold new era, aligning the institution with the evolving demands of a globalized and technologically advanced society. The Academy’s mission became one of fostering all students' intellectual, cultural, and social capacities through academically rigorous instruction, global awareness, and service learning, supported by state-of-the-art

From its humble beginnings to its current standing as a modern preparatory academy, C.A. Johnson High School has graduated thousands of students who have gone on to shape their communities, state, nation, and the world in every imaginable field—from medicine and law to the arts, business, education, and public service.

As C.A. Johnson approaches a new chapter in its storied journey, it remains deeply rooted in the values of its namesake: commitment to education, community empowerment, and lifelong learning. It is not merely a school, but a cornerstone of Columbia’s educational and cultural heritage —a beacon for past, present, and future generations.