The Syms-Eaton Academy was America's first free public school.
It began as the Syms School, through the donation of 200 acres (0.81 km2) of land and eight cows for "a free school to educate and teach the children of the adjoining parishes of Elizabeth City and Poquoson from Marie's Mount downward to the Poquoson River", by Benjamin Syms on February 12, 1634.
Twenty-five years later, in 1659, Thomas Eaton donated 500 acres (2.0 km2), buildings, livestock, and two slaves for the Eaton Charity School to serve the poor of Elizabeth City County.
In 1805 the schools were merged by act of the Virginia General Assembly and called Hampton Academy, which in 1851 became part of the public school system.
The trust fund created from the Syms and Eaton donations has remained intact since the 17th century and was incorporated into support for the Hampton public school system.