1879 | Subscription school at the original John Stevens home |
1884-85 | First official school year as designated Garden City High School; classes in various buildings in town.
J.W. Nelson was named GCHS principal. |
1885 | First public school building constructed Garden City school district organized |
1887 | R. S. Hill elected superintendent
First school in Garden City (Subscription School)
Construction of Finnup Park Area School
Staff composed of 11 teachers |
1888
| Miss Suzie Harper elected first principal
First custodian hired $5.00 per week and privileged to attend classes
Superintendent was authorized to charge .254, .154 and .104 for Commencement Exercises Stevens Opera House
First graduating class (5 graduates) |
1889 | S. H. Sanford elected superintendent |
1890
| T. C. Coffman elected acting superintendent |
1891
| School Population 481
|
1892 | E.S. Ayre elected superintendent
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1894
| Fourth Ward School constructed
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1895
| Board of Education approves an eight-month school year
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1896 | Charles E. Johnson elected superintendent
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1897
| R.S. Liggett elected superintendent
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1898
| A.C. Wheeler elected superintendent
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1900
| North school destroyed by fire (old Garfield School)
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1901 | Old Garfield School constructed
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1902 | Miss Nettie M. Lawrence was named GCHS principal. |
1905 | E.F. Ewing elected superintendent
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1908
| G.E. Brown elected superintendent Original Valentine School opened on Valentine's Day
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1909
| Fourth Ward School withdrew - started Lincoln school
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1910
| First High School erected - Sabine Hall
Sugar Beet (school newspaper) started publication
School population - 979
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1912
| School tax levy established at five mills
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1913
| Mr. E.J. Dumond elected school superintendent
High School accredited by North Central Association.
Maude Gorham was GCHS principal; Gorham remained as principal until the 1917-18 school year, replaced by James B. Tucker. |
1914
| Kindergarten started
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1916
| Board set minimum teaching standard of one year of college and two years experience
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1917
| High School accredited by U.S. Military Academy
Built High School, Calkins Hall, and East and West Ward Schools
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1918
| Board accepted 150 Elm trees fro R.R.H. d'Allemand
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1919
| Junior College Library begun with donation of $154.50 from Senior class of 1919. These were the proceeds from the Senior play.
Junior College opens
C.J. Vinsonhaler elected superintendent
Senior High School was named Sequoaya High School.
Sarah D. Ulmer was Principal for one year only.
|
1920 | Board of Education approved night school
Vocational Agriculture Building built on Eighth Street.
E.F. Monroe became Principal of GCHS and remained in that position through the 1922-23 school year. |
1921 | Board of Education approved summer school
|
1923
| Approximate time of the building of Pierceville Elementary School.
Earl Walker served as GCHS Principal from 1923-24 to 1926-27 school year.
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1925 | Andrew Sabine Hall named; Spencer Penrose Field named; What would eventually become Calkins Hall was named Sequoyah. |
1926 | Vocational Home Economics added
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1927 | School population 1532
J. Earl Davis was GCHS Principal from 1927-28 and 1928-29 it was listed as both J. Earl Davies and W.E. Jones as Principal at GCHS. |
1928 | Four room addition to East Ward School
|
1929 | Calkins Hall remodeled
Fifteen units required for high school graduation
Ben Grimsley Gym completed.
W.E. Jones listed as sole principal of GCHS. |
1931 | Sixteen units required for high school graduation
|
1932 | Ira O. Scott replaced Vinsonhaler as Supt. of Schools. |
1935 | Kiwanis Club presented a $360 grand piano to the district for use in the auditorium
Part-time band instructor employed - one day each week
|
1936 | Eurhythmics add to the school curriculum
New Garfield School erected
Ward school names changed to Jones and Hutchinson
Penrose Stadium completed
South Side School razed
|
1938 | Hot lunch program begun |
1939 | School population 1,699 |
1940 | J. R. Jones elected superintendent.
R.C. Guy named GCHS Principal. |
1946 | Gymnasium added to Pierceville schools
Started instrumental music in elementary schools
Junior College football started
High School track team state champions |
1947 | School Safety Patrols started |
1948
| School population 2,290 |
1949 | Alta Brown school completed |
1950 | Approximate time of classrooms added to Pierceville school |
1951 | Student pictures for elementary schools begun
Gymnasium added to Lincoln Elementary
Theoni School constructed.
A.H. Elland named GCHS principal.
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1952 | Additional classrooms for Jones School (remodeled air base barracks)
Board requires regular summer school attendance by teachers
Old Garfield razed
Plymell school constructed
|
1954 | New High School completed
1412 N. Main Street. New Valentines school building
Parent-Teacher Conferences started in the elementary schools.
Transportation services started. |
1955 | High School Auditorium completed
Jennie Barker School constructed |
1956 | Dr. Leroy Hood Appointed superintendent
Adult crossing guards hired for busy school intersections
Bernice Smith elected vice-president of Department of Elementary School Principals, N.E.A.
Kenneth Henderson elected vice-president of National Agriculture Teachers Association |
1957
| Elementary School Special Education Program started |
1958 | High School and Junior College separately housed
Jones and Georgia Matthews Schools completed
Nineteen units required for high school graduation
Friend School constructed
|
1959 | Enrollment 3,037
High School counseling program begun
High School adopted dress code
High School honors program begun
High School debate team state champions
Two classrooms and dining facility added to Jennie Barker.
Bill Jellison named GCHS principal.
|
1960 | Enrollment 3,194
Six room addition to Georgia Matthews School
Gymnasium added to Theoni School.
Thomas Saffell named GCHS principal.
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1961 | High School debate team state champions
Special Education program extended to Junior High School
GCHS football team goes 9-0 for an undefeated season
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1962 | Junior High School textbook rental
Elementary School physical education program begun
High School gym completed
Bernice Smith elected president of Kansas State Teachers Association
Memorial Stadium constructed.
Upon her retirement from Garden City Junior College (14 years of teaching), the west building was named Calkins Hall in her honor. Dedication and naming occurred on 2/16/62.
|
1963 | Enrollment 3,843
High School textbook rental
Junior and Senior High School physical education begun
Abe Hubert Junior High completed
Georgia Matthews two-room annex
Gymnasium and additional classrooms added to Plymell
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1964 | Enrollment 3,691
Tom Saffell appointed superintendent
Unification - Garden City District No. 1 to Unified School District No. 457
Stadium Designated as "Memorial Stadium"
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1965
| Enrollment 4,170
|
1966 | Enrollment 4,363 Eight trailers were purchased for use in the remedial reading program
Cross-Country program started at senior high school
Jennie Wilson School started and completed in 1967.
Ray Ehlerts named GCHS principal.
|
1967 | Enrollment 4,628
City population - 14,745
USD #457 adopted the common name of "Garden City Unified School District No. 457"
Closed noon hour was initiated at both the junior and senior high schools
Former rural high school building at Pierceville closed
Valentine school closed
Jennie Wilson Elementary opened.
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1968
| Enrollment 4,642
Vocational building constructed and senior high school remodeling completed
J.D. Adams Hall at GCHS opened.
Darryl Woodson named GCHS principal.
|
1969 | Enrollment 4,692
Horace J. Good appointed superintendent
Agreement signed between the JUCO and the district relative to the exchange of the former junior college site for senior high vocational building space and other specified district facilities used by the college
Valentine School reopened for special education use
|
1970 | Enrollment 4,748
Children transported to a different school if there is not a kindergarten within their attendance area
|
1971 | Enrollment 4,708
City population 15,791
High School Debate placed first in State Class 4A Debate Tournament
Junior High graduation ceremonies discontinued
Grades one and two combined at Jennie Barker
Pierceville and Plymell elementary schools combined starting with the 1971-72 school year; the
7th and 9th grades brought to the Junior High and students living near the airport or north of Pierceville assigned to schools by administrative decision
name of combined school is Pierceville-Plymell Attendance Center
No 7th and 8th grades at Friend beginning with 1971-72 school year
Restroom facilities at Memorial Stadium constructed
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1972 | Enrollment 4,908
High School basketball team to state tournament
Pierceville Closed
Formed a special education cooperative, with USD 457 serving as the sponsoring district, named High Plains Special Education Cooperative
Junior High School renamed Abe Hubert Junior High School
Seven Semester Program adopted
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1973 | Enrollment 4,819
Transportation of students living in the city to the Pierceville-Plymell School
94 students graduated at semester & third nine weeks under seven-semester program
Abe Hubert Junior High allowed to publish a yearbook
Study group of citizens to determine the best use of property recently purchased from Carl Cooks.
The study group was named the FACTS Committee (Facilities and Current Trends Study)
Lunch prices increased to .454, .554 and .654 (elementary, secondary and adult)
|
1974 | Enrollment 4,794
243 teachers in district
751 total number of employees
Junior and Senior High use computerized scheduling - not successful
New Junior High to be named Kenneth Henderson Junior High
Gertrude Walker to be open-space classrooms
Math requirements for graduation increased to 1 1/2 credits (1/2 to be taken in senior high) effective with 1978 graduating class
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1975 | Enrollment 4,674
City population 18,827
Garfield School destroyed by fire, February 24, 1975 - arson by three students
FACTS Committee reinstated to research replacement of Garfield School
Garfield Annex started at Garcia's Jack & Jill store building on Jones Avenue
Garfield razed
Hume-Fry building acquired for service center
Gertrude Walker Elementary School opens
Abe Hubert Junior High multi-purpose room
GCHS music addition completed for September, 1975
|
1976 | Donation of the bust of President James A. Garfield, hand-carved from sandstone salvaged from the foundation. Windmill constructed at Garfield Elementary School by Mr. Jack Holdeman
|
1977 | Enrollment 4,625
City population 19,214
High Plains Special Education Co-op becomes a separate entity
Ben Grimsley Gym & Sabine Hall closed to student use
Calkins Hall closed and razed
Buffalo head donated to Buffalo Jones School by the Finney County Fish and Game Commission
Kenneth Henderson Junior High opens dedicated September 11
Lunch prices increased to .554 at elementary, .654 at Junior Highs .704 at Senior High and .904 for Adults
Garden City qualified for Federal Disaster money concerning the destruction of Garfield Elementary.
Pinpoint Disaster Fund - School District would receive $197,000, which would repay for expenses in construction of Garfield
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1978 | Enrollment 4,642
|
1979 | Enrollment 4,548
|
1980 | Enrollment 4,535
Michael Pomerico named GCHS principal.
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1981 | Enrollment 4,641
Hutchison School closed May 3.
Practice gym and locker area added to GCHS.
|
1982 | Enrollment 5,144
Hutchison School sold to Library Board
Florence Wilson Elementary opened.
Barton Albright named GCHS principal. |
1983 | Enrollment 5,260
|
1984 | Enrollment 5,480
Jim Phifer appointed superintendent (left April 1986)
Florence Wilson added two classrooms
Garden City High School Hall of Fame program initiated
|
1985 | Enrollment 5,728
Kenneth Frisbie named GCHS principal.
|
1986 | Enrollment 6,006
Charles O. Stones appointed superintendent (interim)
Edith Scheuerman Elementary opened, and Lincoln Elementary closed in May of 1987
|
1987 | Enrollment 6,062
Gerald Moseman appointed superintendent.
Victor Ornelas Elementary opened.
Rex Wells named GCHS principal.
|
1988 | Enrollment 6,460
Greg Springston named GCHS principal.
|
1989 | Enrollment 6,591
|
1990 | Enrollment 6,736
Charles Hubbard appointed superintendent (interim)
Addition to Victor Ornelas completed
Valentine School closed
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1991 | Enrollment 6,855
Remodel of J.D. Adams Hall
Friend Elementary closed
Moved 6th grade to Middle School and 9th grade to High School
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1992 | Enrollment 7,092
City Population 24,097
Andrew Sabine Hall closed
New cafeteria at the Garden City High School completed
The new ESC center was completed in December 1992
Alternative High School Moved to 1401 W. Jones.
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1993 | Enrollment 7,264
City Population 24,964
Dr. Milton L. Pippenger appointed superintendent
New enclosed walkway constructed at GCHS.
Richard Patton named GCHS principal.
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1994 | Enrollment 7,303
City population 25,028
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1995 | Enrollment 7,394
City population 25,218
Addition and Remodeling of Buffalo Jones Elementary School
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1996 | Enrollment 7,383
City population 25,366
Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center Opens.
Dan Barta named GCHS principal.
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1997
| Enrollment 7,490
City population 26,039
Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center Opens
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1998
| Enrollment 7,645
City population 26,039
Kevin Burr named GCHS principal.
|
1999
| Enrollment 7,780
City population 25,043
Summer Bookmobile begins
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2000
| Enrollment 7,864
City population 28,451
|
2001
| Enrollment 7,741
City population 28,124
Addition and remodeling of Alta Brown Elementary School
Addition and remodeling of Florence Wilson Elementary School
Thenoi Elementary closed
Lunch prices increased to $1.40, at elementary, $1.50 at Junior Highs, $1.75 at Senior High and $2.40 for adults
|
2002
| Enrollment 7,749
City population 27,472
|
2003
| James E. Lentz appointed superintendent
Enrollment 7,656
City population 27,204
Kraig Dexter named GCHS principal (Interim replacement for Kevin Burr).
|
2004
| Enrollment 7,543
City population 27,242
Artificial turf installed at Memorial Stadium, dedication April 15
Garden City Public Schools Foundation formed.
James Mireles named GCHS principal.
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2005
| Enrollment 7,379
City population 27,098
Dr. Richard Atha appointed superintendent
Brick replaced at Kenneth Henderson Middle School
Implemented paperless board meetings and provided each board member with a laptop computer which was changed to an iPad in 2012.
|
2006
| Enrollment 7,334
City population: 28,175
All day Kindergarten at all but three elementary schools (Edith Scheuerman, Garfield and Gertrude Walker)
Courtyard enclosed at GCHS
Additional parking at Edith Scheuerman Elementary, Georgia Matthews Elementary, Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center |
2007
| Enrollment 7,277
5th grades added at Jennie Barker and Pierceville-Plymell Elementary Schools
All day Kindergarten added to all schools |
2008
| Enrollment 7,390
City population: 28,743
6th grades added at Jennie Barker and Pierceville-Plymell Elementary Schools
Board of Education renames Pierceville-Plymell Elementary School to Plymell Elementary School
Educational Support Center parking lot converted to concrete
A $97.5 million bond passed to construct a new larger high school and remodel of the current high school, Abe Hubert Middle School, and Garfield Elementary School to house different education levels |
2009
| Enrollment: 7,461
City population: 29,095
A new "Jumbotron" video scoreboard has been installed on the west end of Memorial Stadium on the Garden City High School campus. The scoreboard was erected on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. No district funds were used to pay for the new scoreboard.
Construction begins to turn Garfield Elementary School into an early childhood center
Construction begins on the new high school. It is scheduled to open in August 2012.
Implemented a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at district, building, and professional learning community level. |
2010 | Enrollment: 7,547
City Population: 30,685
Construction at Garfield is completed. The building hosts both Garfield Elementary and Garfield Early Childhood Center. The ELF program remains housed in the elementary schools until the new high school opens and the remodeling at the old high school and Abe Hubert Middle School is finished.
The topping off ceremony for the new high school took place on December 2. This marks an important milestone in the construction of the facility.
Garden City High School officially received its JROTC Charter on Friday, December 10, 2010. The event started the JROTC program at the school. |
2011
| Enrollment: 7,638
US Census population count is officially challenged by the city
City Population according to US Census: 26,000
City Population according to city utility department: 30,300
The Partnership for All Students' Success (PASS) program started January 2011 at Abe Hubert Middle School and Kenneth Henderson Middle School.
Board of Education approves new school boundaries
Renovations at Abe Hubert Middle School to begin converting it to an elementary school. |
2012
| Enrollment: 7,602
City population: 28,855
Board of Education approves 1-1 initiative using iPads.
The 2012 staff appreciation luncheon is the first official event at the new high school.
The old high school building becomes Horace J. Good Middle School.
Abe Hubert Middle School becomes Abe Hubert Elementary School.
J.D. Adams Hall is converted to house the Garden City Alternative Learning Center.
Garden City High School named a National Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education.
Kenneth Henderson Middle School dedicated the school's gymnasium to the Lori K. Peister Gymnasium on August 28.
Buffalo Jones Elementary School won national 2012 Healthy School Makeover Grant for $45,000 |
2013
| Enrollment: 7,571
City population: 29,167
Waiver granted for the No Child Left Behind program, Common Core is adopted in the district.
The courtyard at Horace Good Middle School named Norman Clark Courtyard.
GCHS Buffs win 6A State wrestling, becoming state champions for the first time since 1999.
Class of 2013 is the first class to graduate from the new high school
Board of Education approves First Grade Readiness policy
USD 457 Virtual School started at the Garden City Alternate Education Center in JD Adams Hall. |
2014
| Enrollment: 7,696
City population: 30,761
Board of Education approved 2nd grade readiness program
Abe Hubert Elementary School added 5th grade to the school
GCHS wrestling team wins state title 2nd year in a row
External classroom added at Jennie Barker Elementary School. |
2015
| Enrollment: 7,795
City population: 30,945
Dr. Steve Karlin was appointed superintendent.
Abe Hubert Elementary School added 6th grade to the school.
Looping added to Buffalo Jones Elementary School.
GCHS wrestling team wins state title 3rd year in a row.
Pilot continued on EngageNY math curriculum for K-6 grades with modifications. All state laws and local ordinances pertaining to the regulation of traffic on roadways will be enforced on all USD 457 property located within the city limits of Garden City, effective February 1, 2015.
KBFZ-LP premiered on the air on August 3rd at 101.7 FM, the only radio station at a high school in Kansas.
The ALICE protocol was added to the district crisis plan. Video camera systems installed on school buses.
The Kansas Supreme Court visited Garden City. In the court’s 154-year history, it was only the second time for the court to hear cases in the evening. The session was held at Garden City High School on October 13th, which was the first time the court session was held in a high school facility.
|
2016
| Enrollment: 7,695
Population: 31,214
Jennie Barker celebrated its 60th Anniversary
EngageNY math curriculum for Kindergarten – 8th grades formally adopted for district.
Seven-period day implemented at Garden City High School.
GCHS wrestling team wins state title 4th year in a row.
The GCHS Bowling team is the 6A state bowling champions March 3rd. This is the team’s first state title.
Kenneth Henderson Middle School named the Kansas Middle School of the Year.
Five elementary schools are starting Kansas Reading Roadmap programs and will offer summer school and an after-school program for struggling readers.
Artificial turf replaced at Memorial Stadium.
GPS-tracking system installed on school buses
Robotics Summer Camp started at GCHS
District website was updated
Paved trail constructed at Victor Ornelas Elementary School
Paved trail constructed at Jennie Barker Elementary School
The Buffalo Living Legacy Fund was established.
Mobile app rolled out for website.
Steve Nordby named GCHS principal. |
