Skyline School was built as part of the Skyline Farms Project, a self-help program conducted by the United States government from 1934 to 1945 for unemployed farmers. Started by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, the program loaned selected farmers and their families a house, operating funds, and 40 to 60 acres to farm. As part of an effort to create a model community, government officials sought to provide education for the children of the project. Nationally known landscape architect William Kessler designed the school and grounds, using native sandstone in the construction, and the school opened in 1938. Educators at Skyline introduced new educational ideas to the state, including individualized instruction for students and grades based on students' tested abilities. Workers from the Special Skills Office, including folk song collector Bascom Lunsford and director Nicholas Ray, conducted various programs at the school. It is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.