The Second Street School 304462192000, Waterford, VA 20197

The Second Street School, located at 304462192000, Waterford, Virginia, United States, offers a unique educational experience for fourth grade students since 1984. The program allows students to step back in time to 1880 and experience a school day through the eyes of African-American children who attended school during that era. The school day includes recitation and seat exercises in the original 1867 one-room schoolhouse, with volunteers interpreting the role of the teacher, Miss Aura Nickens. This program, developed with the National Endowment for the Humanities, aims to foster an appreciation of the challenges faced by Black children in a segregated school setting.

The school building itself has a rich history, being one of the first one-room schoolhouses for Black children in Loudoun County and one of the earliest African-American houses of worship. Originally built in 1867 on land sold by Quaker Reuben Schooley, the school served as a church as well as a school for the local African-American community. The school was eventually integrated into the county's public school system in the early 1870s.

Today, the Second Street School program reaches around 1,000 young scholars during a nine-week spring term, offering a glimpse into the past and the struggles faced by African-American children in education. Teachers can access resources to prepare their classes for the program, and a virtual interactive experience is available for those unable to attend in person. The Waterford Foundation acquired the building in 1977, recognizing its historical significance in the community.