The West Carrollton Elementary School (Walter Shade), a twenty-seven-room facility, was finished in 1954.
Faculty: (left to right) Rebecca Marsh, Murl Huffman, Harry Russell, Dickinson Guiler
In 1825, the first school in West Carrollton was a modest two-room log building, a place where children learned by the light of oil lamps, and many teachers also served as ministers. By 1850, our community prioritized education enough to replace that structure with a brick schoolhouse on Walnut Street, marking the start of generations committed to learning.
Over the years, our school system grew alongside the town:
In 1894, we introduced our first high school courses, and by 1910, we proudly graduated our first class from a full four-year program. The first PTA was formed in 1920, born from a grassroots group of dedicated mothers. During the Great Depression, our commitment to youth never wavered. With help from the WPA, we added a new gymnasium and auditorium in the 1930s, a space that served both body and spirit.
We welcomed a Japanese-American student during WWII from a relocation camp, an act of inclusion that speaks volumes about who we are. Through the post-war boom, schools like C.F. Holiday, Harry Russell, and Harold Schnell Elementary were built to serve growing families and thriving neighborhoods. And who could forget Thumper, the courtyard rabbit at Harry Russell Elementary in the 1960s, who brought smiles to students and even outwitted the local dogs in Kentucky?
Why It Matters:
These schools were more than buildings; they were cornerstones of the community. They taught not just math and reading, but what it means to be a good neighbor, how to serve others, and how to lead with pride. Today’s students will shape the future of our community. That’s why we remain committed to supporting their education, not just in academics, but in building character. By encouraging values like community pride, integrity, teamwork, and kindness, we honor the traditions of West Carrollton while preparing the next generation to carry them forward. Here’s to 195 years of West Carrollton and to the young minds who will write the next chapter.
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