By 1875, the "colored city school" system had organized and 50 students, a record high, were enrolled at the Western School under the supervision of Principal J.C. Grace. Student enrollment at the white school also was at a record high of 175 students.
By 1880, the Western school enrolled 1,020 students, a testament to the value that black parents placed on education. As more children advanced through the elementary grades, the need for a high school spurred the establishment of Western High School by 1888, one of the few black high schools in the state.