About

The school that would become Howard W. Blake High School of today, began as a vocational school for the community African-American youth. In 1945, the Hillsborough County School Board used an existing warehouse which was already providing vocational training and added more programs.  It was called the Don Thompson Vocational High School. Don Thompson was the director of the Vocational Education department for the district.  Students from Brooker T. Washington and George Washinton Carver, two all black junior high schools, attended the new school.