In or about the year 1907, a school was founded in Mooresville for African American students. For 38 years the old building served the community. Whatever products of education and citizenship the town offered due to the old school that was fondly called the "Bird House". That school began with two teachers and ended with five teachers; Mr. N. F. Woods, Mrs. Cleona Thomas Lucas, Miss Margaret Caldwell, Miss Clara Neely and Mrs. Geneva Burke Miller.
Mr. Woods, the principal, realized that the old school was outdated and it was time to improve conditions and secure a new structure. The new facility, Dunbar High School, was erected on West McLelland Avenue. With Mr. Woods, the teachers were: Miss Neely, Miss Caldwell, Miss Dumas, Miss Gill, Mrs. Myrtle, and Mr. J. C. Banner. The first graduating class was in 1943.
For two decades Dunbar prepared students to become worthy citizens, expanded its facilities, experienced good times, and became a symbol of success for the entire town. The last graduating class was in 1968. Then Dunbar was renamed Woods Elementary and continued as a part of the Mooresville School System.
In 1989, the first Grand Reunion was held as a three-day event. Rev. Sam V. Campbell delivered the concluding address at Woods Elementary. Mr. Woods, Ms. Moore, Miss Price, Mrs. Duncan and the Riddicks attended the festivities.
In 1991, the Grand Reunion Speaker was Dr. Roscoe Ramsey, Jr. A scholarship fund was proposed to "give back" to worthy college-bound students with ancestral ties to the "Bird House" or Dunbar.
In 1993, the Grand Reunion speaker was Mrs. Elizabeth "Bibby" Brown Daniels. The closing service was held at Mooresville Senior High and the recipient of the first N. F. Woods Scholarship was Tremayne Patterson.
In 1994, the original Dunbar building was demolished. The campus was then renamed - N. F. Wood Advanced Technology and Art Center.
