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The beginning of the Greensboro school system dates back to 1870, when Greensboro officially became a city. Education was first offered to Negroes in 1875, when Percy Street Graded School was constructed. School construction was expensive, however, this was not the case for Blacks. After Percy Street School was erected, other buildings were employed as schools until East Washington Street School was completed in 1912 or 1913. J. C. Price School was built in 1922.

Whiles Negro graded schools were established along with the white, no provision was made for Negro public high schools until 1912. Bennett Seminary (a Methodist co-educational institution for Negroes and now Bennett College for Girls) did have a high school department and the Greensboro Board of Education arranged to give some public aid to local Negro students who wished to pursue their education at Bennett until 1926. Other than this, the public school used for high school by Negroes was the Washington Street School. When Bennett began to need space for expansion as a college and after long and hard struggles of many who desired better education, the Board of Education finally established a high for Negroes. The school was named the James B. Dudley High School for a past president of the then A & T College. Students in Greensboro were place at Dudley High School depending on which term they were presently in, resulting in graduating classes both at mid-term and at the end of the semester.

The responsibility for guiding the students and faculty was shouldered by John A. Tarpley. Along with the Dudley leadership, this Dallas, Texas native was selected by the Board of Education as administrative Supervisor of Negro students in 1932, a position held until 1948. Dr. Tarpley served as administrator, counselor and father to thousands of Dudley students and teachers until his retirement in 1965.     During these years, Dudley had met the challenges in every area of black high school growth and participation. It excelled in sports, drama, dance, etc. The feeling of Dudley students was that of pride and complete togetherness in the Dudley spirit.

It has been under the capable leadership of the following persons that Dudley High School has grown from a small school that served one community to a large school that serves students from an entire city:

                                                                                      Dr. John A. Tarpley, 1932-1965

                         Mr. Franklin Brown, 1966-1976                                                                    Mr. Earl Crotts, 1976-1980
                         Mrs. Linda McDougle, 1980-1986                                                                 Mr. Robert Saunders, 1986-1989
                         Mr. Linwood Edwards, 1989-1993                                                                Mr. Larry Lewis, 1993-1999
                         Mr. Kenneth Thompson, 1999-2001                                                              Mr. Tony Watlington, 2001 -2004
                         Dr. Phyllis Martin, 2004-2008                                                                        Mr. Jesse Pratt, 2008-present

**Reprints from the 3rd consolidated Class Reunion Booklet and the Dudley 50th Anniversary Class Reunion Booklet.
** Photo courtesy of Willie B. Adams, II