Leak Street High School was originally a subscription school supported by parents and operated by some ministers in Rockingham, North Carolina.  In later years, the local School Board decided to purchase a tract of land more suitable for a school and the first multiple classroom school was built and staffed with teachers and the first Principal was selected to lead the Graded School.

In 1955, the school name was changed from Graded School to Rockingham Colored High School.  The name of the school changed a number of times in later years, to Rockingham High School and then Leak Street High School.

The Principals, Teachers, Counselors and Parents worked diligently together to provide a quality education for the students that attended and graduated from Leak Street High School.  This small community based school has molded educators, doctors, lawyers, architects, politicians and just about every type of professional career conceivable.  There has always been a sense of pride and excitement within the community.

As integrating of schools changed the dynamics of education, a new school, (Richmond High) was built to combine all of the high schools in Richmond County.  Leak Street High School then became Leak Street Elementary School.  In 1990 a new school was built to replace the old Leak Street School.  The old Leak Street School is now the Leak Street Alternative School.

The Leak Street Alumni, Inc., purchased the building housing the Library, Auditorium and the Science and Math classrooms.  It is now named the Leak Street Education and Cultural Center.