Curriculum
A 1965 yearbook shows an all-black faculty, designated in the following fields: English, Social Studies, French, Mathematics, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Music, Art, Home Economics, Vocational Education, Practical Nursing, Business Education, Mechanical Drawing, and Physical Education.Practical nursing training course
The Jackson P. Burley High School and the University of Virginia created a training course in practical nursing in 1951. In 1957, the program consisted of two years of training. The first year was offered at the high school and included courses on 1. body structure; 2. group living; 3. community health; 4. feeding the family; 5. meeting emergency needs; 6. care of the newborn, mother; 7. children and the aged nursing; 8. nursing principles and skills; and 9. personal and vocational relations and conditions of illnesses. The second year of the program took place at the University of Virginia Hospital. The second year of training consisted of 44-hours of instruction with 4 hours of classroom and 40 hours of clinical teaching focusing on condition of illnesses; personal and vocational relationships, and supervised nursing procedures. The subjects were taught by Mrs. Lucy Johnson, a registered nurse who served as clinical instructor of practicing nursing at the University of Virginia from the inception of this program. Applicants to the program had to be senior high school students, at least 16 years of age and of good moral character. In addition, applicants were required to demonstrate evidence of good physical, mental, and dental health care. Adults with two years of high school were also eligible for enrollment with the same requirements for good health and moral character.Student life
The school yearbook was titled the ''Jay Pee Bee''. The student paper was the ''Burley Bulletin'' and the school literary magazine was the ''Quill and Scroll''. The school song was "Ode to Burley" written by Mildred Jones. "Band life
In 1953, the Burley High School band was officially organized as a club. Mr. Elmer Sampson was band director of the Burley band during the years 1956 - 1959. The band was supported by a "Band Sponsors' Group" consisting of community members interested in supplying many of the needs of the band. In 1957, the Burley Band participated in the Apple Blossom Festival Parade, inAthletics
The school's mascot was the Burley Bears and the school colors were kelly green and old gold. Sports programs for boys included football, track, and basketball. The football program began under the leadership of coach Robert Smith, who had previously coached multiple sports at Jefferson HIgh School. Under Smith, the football team "compiled a 41-12-5 record, won five district championships and won 28 consecutive games from 1955-58. His 1956 team not only won the VIA state title, but did not allow a point the entire year."Segregation and massive resistance
Burley High School students were important actors in the fight over school integration in Charlottesville following the 1954 decision of '' Brown v. Board of Education''. In 1958, theReferences
{{Coord, 38.0398, -78.4865, type:edu_region:US-VA, display=title Schools in Charlottesville, Virginia Schools in Albemarle County, Virginia Historically segregated African-American schools in Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia