Built in 1925 in Helen, West Virginia, this company town school was originally a two-room school and later became a one-room school as enrollment declined. It served black children who lived in the coal camp, while a similar schoolhouse was used only for white students. The coal company owned the school buildings, but the board of education ran the schools, and only coal camp residents were allowed to attend. Average enrollment was about 30 students, with one teacher per room, and students were seated by grade, with first grade in the front row and the other grades following in order. The decline of the coal industry led to the closing of the last one-room school in West Virginia in 1965.