In 1928, the school’s name changed to honor Paul Lawrence Dunbar, a Black poet and novelist born in 1872 who was highly regarded for his representation of Black life around the turn of the century. Though the Dunbar School has been altered over the years, particularly between the 1930s and 1980s, several original elements remain, such as the unpainted brick and parapets. By 1960, the school had transitioned from a high school to a primary school. It was decommissioned in the 1980s and later became the Dunbar-Abrams Community Center.
The building has long been vacant. Due to extensive water damage, vandalism, and deferred maintenance, the roof system is failing, the masonry needs repointing, and the windows need to be repaired and replaced. Vegetation currently creeps along its facades. Community organizations seek to rehabilitate the former school building and are exploring ways to secure funding for this enormous task.