In the late 1800s, Mr. James Choice, sent from Prairie View College, opened the first school for African American children in Port Lavaca, serving fewer than 30 students at Ann and Mulberry streets. After a fire destroyed the original one-room school between 1910 and the early 1920s, the school moved to two small houses on the bayfront, accommodating grades 1–4 in one and 5–10 in the other, with Mrs. Alice O. Wilkins and Mrs. Jennie Sayles as teachers.

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In 1907, Alice Ora Crawford (later Wilkins), a 16-year-old Fisk University graduate, joined as a teacher and eventually became principal. Under her leadership, the school expanded, and in 1923 a new three-room Rosenwald School was built at the original site. Several of her former students returned as teachers, including Jennie Fitzgerald, Alice Phillips, Artie Brown, and Naomi Bellfield, among others.

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In 1937, in recognition of her leadership and dedication, the Port Lavaca Colored School was renamed Wilkins High School. The first graduating class under the new name completed in 1938 with eight students, and shortly thereafter, the Wilkins Alumni Association was formed.

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Alice O. Wilkins taught for over 35 years, emphasizing academic excellence, honesty, and fair play. She passed away in April 1942 while decorating her classroom for a school prom. Today, she is remembered as “The Mother of Black Education in Calhoun County,” and her portrait is displayed in the Calhoun County Museum.

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After Mrs. Wilkins’ passing, the school continued to grow. G.W. Adams became principal in 1943, adding competitive sports and interscholastic programs. New teachers, including Mrs. Edna Brown (band director) and others in art, social studies, and special education, contributed to the school’s expanding curriculum.

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The last class of Wilkins High School graduated in 1955. Following integration, Wilkins students gradually joined Calhoun High School, and the school officially closed in 1965, with teachers transitioning to other district schools.

The Wilkins Alumni Association reorganized in 1981 to honor the school’s legacy, awarding scholarships and preserving its history. Key milestones include renaming Mulberry Street as A.O. Wilkins Avenue in 1982, placing a historical marker in 2008, and opening the Victoria College Wilkins Training Center in 2011.

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Through its alumni, scholarships, and ongoing educational initiatives, the legacy of Alice O. Wilkins continues to inspire and serve the Port Lavaca community.