Coahoma Community College is one of thirteen 2-year HBCUs! Originally it was founded as Coahoma Country Agricultural High School in 1924 for Black people under the “separate but equal” doctrine. In 1949, the Junior College curriculum was added, and it was renamed Coahoma Junior College and Agricultural High School. The school says of that time period,
During the first two years (1949-1950), the junior college program was conducted by one full-Âtime college director/teacher and a sufficient number of part-time teachers from the high school division. A full-time dean and college faculty were employed in the third year of operation.
During the first year of operation (1949), Coahoma Junior College was supported entirely by county funds. In 1950, Coahoma Junior College became the first educational institution for Negroes to be included in Mississippi’s system of public junior colleges and to be eligible to share in funds appropriated by the Mississippi Legislature for the support of public junior colleges. Other counties also began to support the junior college, including Bolivar, Quitman and Sunflower.
In 1965, Coahoma Junior College opened its doors to all students regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or disability.
On July 1, 1989, with mutual approval of the Board of Trustees and The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, Coahoma Junior College was granted a name change to Coahoma Community College. In 1995 the Mississippi State Legislature granted Coahoma its own district comprised of Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Tunica Counties.
The school’s campus sits on 99 acres in Clarksdale, Mississippi. CCC offers 17 career and technical programs delivered online, in the classroom, and at extension sites within the district they serve. Its two-year degree offerings include Art, Business and Computer Information Systems, English and Foreign Language, Health and Physical Education, Math & Science, Music, and Social Science. One interesting degree is an Associates in African American Studies.
CCC is the home of the Tigers! The college’s athletic offerings include basketball, football, track and field, baseball, softball and cheerleading.
Notable Alumni:
Chris Claybrooks: Cornerback for the Orlando Storm of the United Football League (UFL).
Orlando Paden: Current Mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Earnie Killum: Former NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers.
