Lexington County could soon place its first African-American school on the National Register of Historic Places.

West Columbia’s Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center has submitted a nomination, supported by the Lakeview Alumni Association, for the Lakeview School building to be considered for the register – “the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation,” according to the National Parks Service.

“To be considered for the National Register of Historic Places is a tremendous honor and we're so happy that we've gotten to this point,” said Cindye Richburg-Cotton, executive director of the  Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center.

The presentation of the nomination will be held Nov. 18, when the S.C. State Review Board will consider it. If approved, the nomination will be sent to the National Park Service. Richburg-Cotton told the Chronicle that the center should then receive approval or rejection within 60 days.

“It's important to preserve this kind of history so that people learn about the struggles and the significance and importance of education now and of the past,” she said. “History is important so that we can have a better understanding of the struggle.”

The current building known as Lakeview School was built in 1949, though the school was established in 1925. The school was a state-equalization school and received funds from the state during the ’50s and ’60s.

The segregated school operated until 1968 and was closed by the school district when it began to integrate. The building later reopened in 1969 as Northside Middle School. When the middle school moved, the Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center purchased it and took up residence.

Founded in 2008, the center, according to its website, “house[s] a number of social service programs such as senior services, youth educational and athletic programs, human services, wellness/health services, feeding programs, and workforce development and entrepreneurial programs.”

A couple years ago, Lakeview School received a state marker, becoming one of the first historically segreagated African-American schools to receive one.

According to Edwin Breeden, staff historian and co-coordinator for the state’s National Register of Historic Places Program, there are two main things to consider when it comes to a site's eligibility.

First, the history of the site is appraised to ensure that the site reaches the National Register’s criteria. Second, the site's integrity is looked at, focusing on what aspect or period of history it is able to represent in the state it is in today.

“The site is an excellent example of African-American education,” said Josh Sherrer, nomination preparer with Historic Columbia. “Our educational facility in Lexington County, during the period in which education was segregated, it was the only high school for African-American students at that time.”