In 1876, a school for black children began meeting in what is now St. Stephen AME church in Leesburg under the instruction of Reverend S.A.
[1] By 1882, the school had moved to the current location of the Mount Olive Progressive Baptist Church, then to another building off of Mike Street.
[1] Lake County Training School was founded in 1922 with fewer than 100 students, and five faculty members.
In 1954 Carver Heights was opened at this new location, and continued to serve the community until 1968, when actions by the Federal courts forced white community leaders to allow black students to enter the same schools as white students.
Johnson was designated for black students, who met in the buildings of Carver Heights.