During the 1950s RCTS grew in many ways. The student population increased, particularly in the elementary grades, due to the closing of many of RCTS' feeder schools.

The 1954 landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision (Brown vs Board of Education) outlawing school segregation did not change education for RCTS students. It would be another 16 years before the school was closed and Black students were assigned to previously all-white schools. Black children living in the city limits of Roanoke started attending Handley High School and Knight-Enloe Elementary School. Those living outside the city limits were assigned to Randolph County schools in Wedowee, Wadley, Rock Mills and Woodland.