In 1891, the New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) moved their Normal School from Asheboro, North Carolina to High Point, North Carolina. High Point Normal and Industrial Institute was a private, co-educational day and boarding school for African-American students. In 1923, the school became a part of the High Point City School System. The name was later changed to William Penn High School. In 2003, the school became a visual and performing arts magnet school. The name was changed to William Penn - Alfred J. Griffin School for the Arts.