Manning Training School originated in the early 20th century, when the Slater Fund helped finance Clarendon County Training School, a facility that provided education for black students and advanced training for African American teachers who taught in the rural South. Schools that served this teacher-training role were known as training schools. The first school burned in the 1920s. A new school was built in 1927-28 with partial financing from the Rosenwald Fund, but this first Manning Training School burned in 1941. Temporary buildings replaced it until a new school was built in 1953 with funds from S.C.’s school equalization program. William M. Parker served as principal from 1942 until the school was consolidated with Manning H.S. in 1970.