West Aurora Public School District 129
Encyclopedia
West Aurora Public School District 129 has a tradition in Aurora, Illinois
going back to the 1860s. The West Side High School and East Side High Schools have played an annual football game against each other since 1893. Four of the current elementary buildings are reported to be four of the oldest still in use in Aurora and in Kane County. Mary Todd school was originally constructed as Oak Street school, on the ruins of a prior building, and was built by the WPA in the 1930s. Its interior still features WPA murals and sculpture. Joseph Freeman Elementary School was dedicated in 1928. Abraham Lincoln Elementary, originally the Lake Street School, and Nancy Hill Elementary, originally the Illinois Avenue School, are both over a century old.
Two other school buildings exist on the historic sites of original school buildings. The original Montgomery Elementary School was built in 1891. The present Nicholson Elementary, itself built in the 1950s and 1960s, replaced the original Montgomery Elementary building on the same site. The original Galena Street School was built in 1895. It was renamed Greenman Elementary in 1915, and was replaced by a new building, constructed on an adjacent lot, in 2004.
The present "West Side" school district covers the city of Aurora with an eastern boundary of the Fox River, a southern boundary of the Kane County
and Kendall County
line, a western boundary of Aurora's city limits, and a northern boundary of the village limits of North Aurora, Illinois
. West Side District 129 absorbed the former North Aurora School District #51 in the early 1960s, constructing Schneider Elementary in that village's east side in 1963, and Goodwin Elementary (as a replacement for the former North Aurora School, which still stands at the corner of State Street and Lincolnway in North Aurora), in 1968.
The West Side District is presently the only one of the three major districts serving Aurora to own and operate its own fleet of School Buses (IPSD has a contract agreement with Laidlaw
and East Side District 131 does not operate any school buses). Students from Aurora, North Aurora, Montgomery, Illinois
and Sugar Grove, Illinois
attend West Aurora schools. In addition to the list below, fourth grade students from Freeman Elementary and fifth grade students from McCleery Elementary attend classes in the Institute for Collaboration building of the School of Education at Aurora University
, also known as the Partnership School. While the students are still technically enrolled in their "parent" schools, the classes are overseen by the Partnership School's own principal.
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
going back to the 1860s. The West Side High School and East Side High Schools have played an annual football game against each other since 1893. Four of the current elementary buildings are reported to be four of the oldest still in use in Aurora and in Kane County. Mary Todd school was originally constructed as Oak Street school, on the ruins of a prior building, and was built by the WPA in the 1930s. Its interior still features WPA murals and sculpture. Joseph Freeman Elementary School was dedicated in 1928. Abraham Lincoln Elementary, originally the Lake Street School, and Nancy Hill Elementary, originally the Illinois Avenue School, are both over a century old.
Two other school buildings exist on the historic sites of original school buildings. The original Montgomery Elementary School was built in 1891. The present Nicholson Elementary, itself built in the 1950s and 1960s, replaced the original Montgomery Elementary building on the same site. The original Galena Street School was built in 1895. It was renamed Greenman Elementary in 1915, and was replaced by a new building, constructed on an adjacent lot, in 2004.
The present "West Side" school district covers the city of Aurora with an eastern boundary of the Fox River, a southern boundary of the Kane County
Kane County, Illinois
Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :...
and Kendall County
Kendall County, Illinois
Kendall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 114,736, which is an increase of 110% from 54,544 in 2000. It was the fastest-growing county in the United States between the years 2000 and...
line, a western boundary of Aurora's city limits, and a northern boundary of the village limits of North Aurora, Illinois
North Aurora, Illinois
North Aurora is village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. A suburb of Chicago, its population was 15,848 at the 2009 census.In its early history, North Aurora was known as "Schneider's Mill" or "Schneider's Crossing" after John Peter Schneider, a German immigrant who established a mill and...
. West Side District 129 absorbed the former North Aurora School District #51 in the early 1960s, constructing Schneider Elementary in that village's east side in 1963, and Goodwin Elementary (as a replacement for the former North Aurora School, which still stands at the corner of State Street and Lincolnway in North Aurora), in 1968.
The West Side District is presently the only one of the three major districts serving Aurora to own and operate its own fleet of School Buses (IPSD has a contract agreement with Laidlaw
Laidlaw
Laidlaw, organized as Laidlaw International, Inc. , was a predecessor corporation of First Student , a US subsidiary of the Scottish transport firm FirstGroup plc...
and East Side District 131 does not operate any school buses). Students from Aurora, North Aurora, Montgomery, Illinois
Montgomery, Illinois
Montgomery is a village in Kane and Kendall County, Illinois. The population was 5,471 at the 2000 census, and was 14,407 in a 2006 special census...
and Sugar Grove, Illinois
Sugar Grove, Illinois
Sugar Grove is a far west suburban Chicago village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,909 at the 2000 census. The population was 6,016 in the 2003 special census. The population was 7,958 in the 2005 special census...
attend West Aurora schools. In addition to the list below, fourth grade students from Freeman Elementary and fifth grade students from McCleery Elementary attend classes in the Institute for Collaboration building of the School of Education at Aurora University
Aurora University
Aurora University is a private, not-for-profit, co-educational liberal arts college located in Aurora, Illinois, 40 miles west of Chicago, Illinois. Additional university locations include the George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin and the Woodstock Center in Woodstock, Illinois...
, also known as the Partnership School. While the students are still technically enrolled in their "parent" schools, the classes are overseen by the Partnership School's own principal.
Elementary schools
| School's name | School's namesake | Location | Mascot | Colors | Principal | Year opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fearn Elementary | Harold G. Fearn, former Superintendent of Schools | North Aurora | Falcons | Red & Black | Anne Giarrante | 2001 |
| Freeman Elementary | Captain Joseph Hewett Freeman, former Superintendent of Schools, former Illinois State Superintendent of Schools | Aurora | Mustangs | Maroon & Gold | Michael S. Smith | 1928 |
| Goodwin Elementary | Lucia Goodwin, former teacher | North Aurora | Eagles | Royal & Gold | Eric Benson | 1968 |
| Greenman Elementary (originally Galena Street School) | A. V. Greenman, former superintendent | Aurora | Lions | Kelly & White | Kristine Webster | 1895, original building — 2004, current building |
| Hall Elementary | Frank Haven Hall, former superintendent | Aurora | Huskies | Royal & White | Lisa Polomsky | 1960 |
| Hill Elementary (originally Pennsylvania Avenue School) | Nancy Hill, former teacher and principal | Aurora | Hawks | Royal & Gold | Cindy Larry | 1888 |
| Lincoln Elementary (originally Lake Street School) | Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and... |
Aurora | Lynx | Red & Grey | Michelle Gallo | 1892 - 2009 |
| McCleery Elementary | Wayne McCleery, former superintendent | Aurora | Mustangs | Red & Black | Cherie Esposito | 1957 |
| Nicholson Elementary (originally Montgomery Elementary School) | Grace Nicholson, former teacher | Montgomery | Eagles | Red & White | Brett Burton | 1891, original building — 1953/1962, current building |
| Schneider Elementary | J. P. Schneider, early settler for whom Schneider's Mill/Schneider's Crossing was named before it was renamed North Aurora | North Aurora | Bulldogs | Red & White | Michael P. Smith | 1963 |
| Smith Elementary | Gertrude Scott Smith, former teacher | Aurora | Super Star | Royal & Gold | Kathy DeTolve | 1963 |
| Todd Early Childhood Center (originally Oak Street School) | Mary Todd, former teacher | Aurora | Spelling Bees | N/A | Michelle Shabaker | 1934 |
Middle schools
| School's name | School's namesake | Location | Mascot | Colors | Principal | Year opened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herget Middle School | Robert Herget, former teacher, Principal and Associate Superintendent | Aurora | Huskie | Royal & White | Rachel Hattendorf | 2005 | |
| Jefferson Middle School | Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia... |
Aurora | J-Hawks (stands for Junior Blackhawks, after the West High Blackhawks) | Royal & White | Patricia Cross | 1956 | |
| Jewel Middle School | Gary D. Jewel, former teacher and superintendent | North Aurora | Jaguar | Red & Black | Greg Scalia | 1998 | |
| Washington Middle School | George Washington George Washington George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of... |
Aurora | Generals | Navy & Red | Gail Wronski | 1964 |
High school
| School's name | Location | Mascot | Principal | Year opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Aurora High School West Aurora High School West Aurora High School, or WAHS, is a public four-year high school located in Aurora, Illinois. It is part of West Aurora Public School District 129. The school is also referred to as "West," and "West High,".- History :... |
Aurora | Blackhawks | Dan Bridges | 1867, original high school — 1905, second location (still standing) — 1953, current location |
Special Education
| School's name | School's namesake | Location | Mascot | Principal | Year opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope D. Wall School (run in cooperation with East Side District 131) | Hope D. Wall, special education teacher | Aurora | Rockets | Doris Hillman | 1969 |