Syms-Eaton Academy
Encyclopedia
The Syms-Eaton Academy was America's first free public school. Also known as Syms-Eaton Free School, the school was established in Hampton, Virginia
in 1634. It began as the Syms School, through the donation of 200 acre (0.809372 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 km²), buildings, livestock, and two slaves for the Eaton Charity School to serve the poor of Elizabeth City County. The schools were so popular that in 1759 a statute was passed to provide for the attendance of only poor children at Eaton School.
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 school was burned during the Civil War and rebuilt after the war using money from the original trust fund. The rebuilt school became Hampton High School in 1896. 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.
A number of schools are successors in name or location, including:
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
in 1634. It began as the Syms School, through the donation of 200 acre (0.809372 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 km²), buildings, livestock, and two slaves for the Eaton Charity School to serve the poor of Elizabeth City County. The schools were so popular that in 1759 a statute was passed to provide for the attendance of only poor children at Eaton School.
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 school was burned during the Civil War and rebuilt after the war using money from the original trust fund. The rebuilt school became Hampton High School in 1896. 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.
A number of schools are successors in name or location, including:
- Eaton School, a middle school feeding Phoebus High SchoolPhoebus High SchoolPhoebus High School is a public high school located in Hampton, Virginia. Named after the nearby neighborhood and former township of Phoebus, it is the newest of the four high schools in the city. Considered unique for its excellent technology, and Video Media and Design...
, Hampton, Virginia - Syms-Eaton Elementary School, a former school, now a pavilion in downtown Hampton, VirginiaHampton, VirginiaHampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
- Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)Hampton High School is a public secondary school located in Hampton, Virginia. It is the oldest standing high school in Hampton Public Schools. It contains an International Baccalaureate World School with the Diploma Programme.Hampton high is the first high school in the Hampton city high school...
, is a public secondary school that is arguably a successor to the Syms-Eaton Academy - Eaton Fundamental Middle School, a feeder to Bethel High School (Hampton, Virginia)