George Washington Carver School District

In February 1945, the federal government opened Oakdale Gardens there, an African-American housing project on Eight Mile Road for World War II production workers.

[2] In a public meeting, Black residents argued against the split and charged racism, but according to a newspaper report, they ultimately acquiesced.

Most of the structures in the housing project were intended to be temporary,[4] and as they were replaced with single-family homes, the neighborhood remained a Black enclave.

Several outspoken teachers were disciplined, leading to a protest by six adults who tried to stop students from entering the school.

[10] Another protest occurred in October 1954, when a citizens group alleged that the July 1954 school board election was fraudulent.

[11] After the Oakland County Circuit Court demanded a recount of the votes, it was found that the count had indeed been wrong, and one of the ousted board members was reinstated.

To prevent violence, the Oakland County Prosecutor temporarily closed the school until there could be a resolution.

Construction involved dividing the building in two by tearing down classrooms in the middle and leaving the northern section vacant.

[20][21] In January 1983, the Oak Park District school board voted to close Carver Elementary.