Easton Public Schools Chronologically
1794
The Penn Building was at one time the old Union Academy. This building was on North 2nd Street and was taken down to build the Governor Wolf High School. In 1889 it was being used for both grammar and secondary grades.
1838
The Sitgreaves School building stood on North 2nd Street. The building was erected in 1838 on the school lot, and was first located at the corner of 2nd and Church Sts. (later moved north to accommodate the McCartney School building) It was built by the Easton Female Seminary Co. . When this corporation went out of existence the trustees of the Union Academy purchased it. When the public school system was adopted the property was deeded to the Easton School District. Under the public school system, the pupils were the female department of the High School. It was demolished in 1894 by John Hensler.
1854
The Washington School was located on South 7th Street. It was once known as the
“West Ward Academy”. This building was said to be built in 1854. In an Easton Express Article from May 6, 1856, they describe the Academy as having 7 schools within the building. The building remains, although privately owned.
1856
The McCartney School building, (the High School) was completed in 1856. This three story building is located on the east side of North 2nd Street. Along with the grounds the cost was $20, 190.98. It was built and designed by Charles McIntire and named for Washington McCartney.
1860
The Primary Hall/ Jefferson School was located on 7th Street, right below the Washington School. It was erected by Mr. Levi Bennett for the sum of $1,700. The building still remains and are residences.
1873
The Taylor School, also known as the First Ward Building, was located on South 4th St. between Ferry St. and what was Spruce St. It was completed and occupied in 1873. The land was purchased from St. John’s Lutheran Church in 1870 for $20, 250 with the cornerstone being laid on June 30, 1871. This three story building could accommodate 130 pupils. The net cost to build the Taylor School was $96, 139.27. The building was demolished in 1962.
1875
The Lehigh School, known as a Seventh Ward Building, was located on Franklin St. The grounds were rented from the Glendon Iron Company and in 1875, the one story school was finished at the cost of $1,329.
1875
The Lafayette School, known as the Third Ward Building, was located at Parsons and Porter Sts. on College Hill. The school was finished in 1875 and was a two story brick building modeled after a plan published in the “Pennsylvania School Architecture.” In the end, the cost of the building was $8,650. In 1914, the building was converted to a firehouse. The building was demolished on February 15, 1971 to make way for a new fire station.
1876
The Centennial School, also known as a Seventh Ward Building, was located at the
corner of 12th and Ferry Sts. The lot was purchased for $2,000. This
two story brick building was finished in 1876 (probable reason for the name of
the school). The total cost of the building and lot was $12,763.34. The school was closed in June, 1971 and was razed late October, 1972.
1883
The Stevens School was named after Thaddeus Stevens and was built in 1883. It was located at Wilkes-Barre Street near Coal Street on the South Side of Easton. This was South Easton’s High School. In 1901, it became an elementary school in the Easton School District. Presumably, it was torn down sometime in the mid 1960’s.
Unknown & 1905
The Webster School was located at Iron and Lincoln Streets on the South Side of Easton. The old Webster School was torn down in 1904 and a new Webster School was erected on the same site. Presumably, it was demolished in 1979.
1884
The Franklin School, or Sixth Ward Building was erected in 1884, at Walnut and 9th Streets. This two and half story building accommodated over 400 pupils. Presumably, the building was torn down in 1962.
1889
The Monroe School was located on Monroe Street on College Hill. It was opened in 1889 and was closed the school year of 1913/14. Presumably, the building was torn down in 1962.
1889
The Vanderveer School was erected in 1899 and named after Reverend Vandeveer. It was located at 11th and Spring Gardens Streets. Presumably, this building was demolished in 1979.
1891
The Porter School was erected in 1891 and named after the Honorable James M. Porter. It was located at Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre Streets on the South Side of Easton. It was torn down in 1979.
1891
The Cottingham School building was built in 1891 and is located at 8th
and Northampton Sts. Named after William Cottingham, Superintendent of Easton Schools. In 1962 it
was converted to the school administration offices. The building was put up for
sale around 2013 by the school district. As of 2017 it still stands. It is currently apartments.2024
1893
The Governor Wolf High School was built in 1893 on North 2nd St., site of the former Easton Union Academy. This was the High School until a new High School was built in 1925, then becoming a Junior High School. In 1961, it was an elementary school. In July 1976, the building was sold for $57,501 and remains privately owned today.
1896
The Asa Packer School was finished in 1896 and pupils started in this school on October 5. The location was at Lehigh and Nesquehoning Sts.and was constructed by Jacob Raub at the cost of $24,000. (I have a description of the school) J.M. Stewart of Easton was the architect. When opened there were grammar, secondary, and primary classes. On Sunday May 5, 1968 the school had caught on fire (suspicion of arson as the next day a vacant home on South Side was torched). The building ( the address is now Valley and Nesquehoning Sts.) had been abandoned by the Easton School District, as Cheston School had opened last year, however Title I and Head Start programs were headquartered there and leased the building for $1 a year.
Nothing but the outer walls remained after the fire and at a School Board meeting on September 9, 1968 a contract to demolish the building was given to Miller & Brown Construction at $5,700.
1903
The Traill Green School building was erected in 1903 and is located at 13th and Washington Streets. It was named after Dr. Traill Green. In 1977, the building was sold and converted into apartments.
1913
The Francis A. March School building was erected in 1913 as an elementary school. It was named for Professor Francis March and is located at Monroe and Reeder Streets on College Hill. Later it became a junior high school and then once again, reverted to an elementary school and remains this to this day. It currently serves students grades K- 5th from College Hill and parts of downtown Easton.
1925
The Building at Northampton and 12th Sts.
Easton High School, school board pays $107,00 for the lot on 12th St. The school is built in 1925, in April 1935 a new gym is dedicated.
Easton Junior High School became exclusively the Junior High School in 1961
Easton Middle School
Paxinosa Elementary School Current
1924
The S. E.Shull Junior High building was built in 1924 at Berwick and Seitz Sts. at South Easton. It was named after Samuel E. Shull, former Superintendent of the South Easton Schools.
Classes ran into the 1970’s. IU20 held classes in this school until 1993. There was also a Senior Center and a branch of the Easton Area Public Library. The school board sold the building for $100,000 in 1994 to a private builder, who later converted the building into senior apartments
1954
The Palmer Elementary School was built and opened in 1954. This school started as part of Palmer Township School District but by 1958, Palmer Twp. joined Easton School District. It is located on 3050 Green Pond Road. This was always been an elementary school.
It served students grade
K- 5th from Palmer Township. Last year open was 2019.
* Torn down and rebuilt
The New Palmer Elementary School was opened nearby in 2023.
1958
The Forks Elementary School was opened as part of the Easton Area School District in 1958. Prior to that, it was an independent school system. An addition was added in 1989. It is located on Richmond Road in Forks Township. This is and has always been an elementary school. It currently serves students grades K- 5th from Forks Township and Martins Creek.
1962
The Easton Area High School was dedicated on May 12, 1962. In 1959, a $5,300.00 bond was issued for this school located off William Penn Highway and 25th Street in Palmer Township. This is grades 9-12.
1967
The Ada B. Cheston Elementary School was opened in 1967 and is named after former South Easton teacher, Ada B. Cheston. It was located on Coal St. in South Easton. This was always been an elementary school. It currently serves students grades K- 5th from Easton’s South Side.
*demolished and rebuilt in 2020 on the field across the street from old Cheston School
1968
The Edward Tracy Elementary School was opened in 1968 and was named after former Easton Superintendent, Dr. Edward Tracy. This school is located on Tatamy Rd. in Palmer Township. This is and has always has been an elementary school. It currently serves students grades K- 5th from Palmer Township and Martins Creek. During the school year of 2017-18 the students of this school reported to the Easton Area Middle School, while renovations were being done to the school on Tatamy Rd.
1971
The Paxinosa Elementary School was opened in 1971 and was located on Echo Trail in Southern Forks Township, north of 13th Street on a 57 acre tract of land. When it was built, it could accommodate 900 pupils and replaced Traill Green, Vanderveer, and Centennial Schools. In 2009 this school was renamed to Shawnee Elementary School. Currently, the school building located at Northampton and 12th Sts. where the former High and Junior High School were located, is now named Paxinosa Elementary School. It currently serves students grades K- 5th from the city of Easton and the West Ward.
1978
The Shawnee Intermediate School was opened in 1978 for grades 7 and 8
and was located on Echo Trail in Southern Forks Township.
2007
The Easton Area Academy is located on Edgewood Ave. in Easton. This school is alternative education for students grade 6- 12. The Easton Area Academy was started in 2007 after merging with the Success Academy and the Twilight Academy.
2008
The Easton Area Middle School was once Shawnee Intermediate School and is located on Echo Trail in Southern Forks Township. Starting in 2005 and ending in 2008, a three story addition was added. The Easton Middle School was formally opened to 5th and 6th graders, along with the 7th and 8th graders already there. Currently, 6th. 7th , and 8th graders are at this school.
2009
The Shawnee Elementary School was renamed in 2009, after being renovated. Formally this school was Paxinosa Elementary School. This school currently serves students grades K- 5th from Forks Township. It is located at Echo Tail in Southern Forks Township.
Notes
Around 1919 Martins Creek built a school named Centerfield School. For a few years, this was part of Easton School District. A fire in the spring of 1974, destroyed the building and all pupils who attended this school was sent to March or Palmer Schools.
There may have been an elementary school in Rieglesville, Pa.
While there were school buildings during the early years of Public Schooling, many classes were still held in “private” locations. *In Sept. 1855 a school or classroom for “colored children” was established at the property of Aaron Huff. By the middle of March the next year, it was voted to be discontinued.
( *this was in the School Board minutes )
Nov. 2017
updated Sep. 2024
