Sunrise Elementary School

Sunrise Elementary School was formed in 1936. The school was called the Village Creek Colored School. Its original location was 5418 or 5408 Cottey in a frame building. It was operated under the jurisdiction of the Village Creek School District. The school fell under the jurisdiction of the Tarrant County School Superintendent. Written documents indicate that Mrs. Mary Collins McMillian was the first teacher and principal.

Oral history indicates that there was a White teacher that was assigned to the Sunrise area to form a colored school; however it was believed that a Black teacher could do a better job in the area (Eva Moss long time resident of Stop Six).

In 1951, the site of the Sunrise Elementary School was located at Walker and Pinson Street. The building was constructed of yellow tile. There was also another building located on the northeast corner of Cottey and Walker Street. This was a two story frame building with two rooms downstairs and one room upstairs. The building was called the Chicken Garden because it was once a chicken farm. The building at one time had also been a road house/club. The children had stories about seeing figures upstairs looking out of the windows.

In 1955, Mrs. Mary McMillian was the school's principal and sixth grade teacher. Mr. Augustus Whitted Jr. was the fifth grade teacher. In 1956, the Village Creek schools including Sunrise Elementary were later annexed to the Fort Worth Independent School System.

In 1958, a new school was constructed at 3409 Stalcup Road. The name was changed to Sunrise McMillian in the 2003-2004 school year.

Source: Stop Six Heritage Center 5100 Willie Fort Worth, TX 76105.