A School That Changed Education in Ohio
Gaines High School opened its doors in 1866 in Cincinnati’s old West End neighborhood. Founded by Peter Clark, it stood as Ohio’s first public high school for Black students. For 20 years, it was nationally recognized for its excellence, giving Black children access to a quality education that was rare in post-Civil War America.
Student researcher Windsor Holman explained, “It was a place where Black children could come and get an education that would put them on a—if not the exact same—at least a similar playing field as white children their age.” While many historians agree on its pioneering role in Ohio, debate continues over whether it was also the first public Black high school in the entire United States.
A Debate Over the Nation’s First
Some historians point to Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., which opened in 1870, as the first in the country. But Gaines predates it by four years. Eric Jackson, professor of history and Black studies at Northern Kentucky University, says the question comes down to funding.
“The argument is because it initially had private funding, was it the first public high school in the United States?” Jackson explained. “The school in Columbus, Georgia, and also a school in Washington D.C., initially started with only public money. There was no private money involved.”
Early Black Schools in Cincinnati
Before Gaines High School, Cincinnati had other schools for Black students—most of them private and run by churches. These private schools offered more autonomy over teaching and enrollment, but they lacked the broad access public education could provide.
After the Civil War, African Americans became one of the first groups to actively call for universal public education. This demand helped shape the push for schools like Gaines, ensuring Black students could learn in an environment designed for their academic success.
Remarkable Alumni and Lasting Impact
Gaines High School produced graduates who went on to make groundbreaking achievements. One, Peter Smith, became the first African-American doctor in Kentucky. Another, Consuelo Clark—daughter of founder Peter Clark—was the first African-American woman licensed to practice medicine in Ohio.
“Another reason it should be memorialized,” said student researcher Jorge Garay, “is because of people like her.”
Remembering the Legacy of Peter Clark
Peter Clark named the school after John Gaines, the legislator who helped pass the state law allowing education for Black children. Today, an Ohio Historical Marker at the intersection of Court and John streets honors Clark, Gaines, and the school’s contribution to education.
Yet the marker does not say Gaines was the first Black high school in the country. Some in the community, like Holman, hope that the story sparks more curiosity about local history. “One of my hopes was less that Gaines would go down as the first,” she said, “and more that people would start being aware that there are certain discrepancies that exist and start being more interested in their own local history.”
