Apex Elementary, a public school for Black students, opened in 1932 during the era of segregation. It was one of over 5000 schools built to improve education for Black children through the collaboration of Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald. The school was financed by the Apex Black community, public funds, and the Rosenwald Fund, and land was donated by the Rev. James Hayes Baldwin family. The original brick structure had six classrooms, an auditorium, a library, and an office. As enrollment grew, it was renamed Apex Consolidated and remained the alma mater of Black students until 1970. Beloved principal P.A. Williams led the school for 26 years.