Durham Reporter

Hillside High School in Durham has been there for its students for a century. The historically Black high school recently celebrated 100 years of service, with former grads paying tribute to their alma mater.

"We used what we had to prepare us for where we needed to be," alumnus George Scott said in a WTVD report. 

Hillside is one of the few historically black high schools that has survived that long. At one time, the state had more than 300 such schools in the days before desegregation. Today, five are active.

Scott, 82, didn't have a choice where he could attend school. Hillside was the only one in the area that accepted racial minorities.

He reminisced about some of his teachers who encouraged him to go to college and become an electrical engineer.

"I couldn't even spell engineer," he said, "(but) I started thinking, 'Well, gee, maybe I could be an electrical engineer.'"

He graduated in 1957 and proceeded to do just that.

Principal Dr. William Logan said that although the school has changed locations three times over the years, its core values remain the same. One of those is to help produce the next generation of leaders. A display in the halls today includes a centennial timeline with older photos "so students can see where we came from and whence we've come and what we're aiming for," Logan said. "We want them to be graduates and be able to tell their stories." 

Alysia Davis is well on her way. She is a legacy student, as her mother is a Hillside graduate. 

"It makes you feel like you belong here, but makes you want to make others feel like they belong here as well," Davis said.