James H. Hope was South Carolina's tenth State Superintendent of Education from 1922 to 1947, the longest serving superintendent in state history.

Within a year after Hope took office, the S.C. General Assembly approved a major finance package aimed at addressing the funding disparities between wealthy and poorer counties. During Hope's tenure as Superintendent, high school diplomas were awarded to African American students for the first time, a mandatory attendance law was introduced, a teacher retirement system was created, and the twelfth grade was initiated.

Hope was involved with spearheading Work Progress Administration (W.P.A.) projects in South Carolina, particularly oriented for vocational training. Toward the end of his term, great progress had been achieved for equalizing teachers' salaries regardless of race. 

Hope supported the Julius Rosenwald School Project to improve educational opportunities for African Americans. Hope School in Pomaria, S.C. was built on land he donated from his ancestral farm. Hope School is one of South Carolina’s remaining Rosenwald Schools.

Hope established the Department of Education's first Division of Research and Information and the Division of Schoolhouse Planning, both of which exist today. He also created a unified Teacher Education and Certification program that led to a significant increase in the number of certified teachers in South Carolina. During Hope's tenure, the vocational education system was enlarged to provide more vocational opportunities for high school students.

Hope was enrolled in a two-year program at Clemson Agricultural College, and he graduated from Newberry College where he received the M. A. degree. He was also a school teacher in rural South Carolina for six years, city superintendent for thirteen years, and county superintendent for five years. Hope served as captain in the National Guard and held senior roles in a multitude of organizations and clubs such as South Carolina Lodges, Ancient Free Masons, Wardlaw Club, Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine, the Lions Club, and the Democratic Club of South Carolina.

Hope died in 1952.