The school taught black children academic and manual arts, like printmaking, carpentry, and sewing.

[5] Raised during the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War (1861–1865), Randolph was educated in schools in Richmond, Virginia.

A "noted secondary school", its curriculum included botany, civil government, physical geography, map drawing, and physiology.

[10] She believed that manual arts helped students had opportunities for employment if they were unable to acquire secondary education.

She involved members of the community members—while also instilling pride and pro-activity—she established school improvement leagues and the Willing Worker Clubs.

Towards that end, she established Sunday afternoon classes at the school, with the assistance of Virginia Union University faculty and students and her minister, Reverend R. O. Johnson.

Her programs were financially supported by Bryan and Steward families and were promoted by Henrico County Schools's supervisor Jackson Davis.

"[2] Anna T. Jeanes, a wealthy Philadelphia Quaker, had set aside $1 million to establish a fund to maintain and assist rural schools for African Americans in the South.

With the freedom to design her own agenda, she shaped industrial work and community self-help programs to meet specific needs of schools.

[2] Randolph was appointed to the Industrial School Board of Colored Children after the death of another noted Richmonder, Maggie L.

[1][3] Randolph, who remained single throughout her life, took in children whose parents were unable to care for them to board at her house.

[17] The Virginia Randolph Foundation, Inc formed in 1954, annually awards scholarships to Henrico County high school students who will be attending a four-year college or university.