Elm Park Community School

The first school for this neighborhood was the District 1 School on Main Street across from the courthouse (the present site of the Crown Plaza's parking garage). It was built in 1748, and a young John Adams, who would later become the second president of our country, taught there for two years. Ever since that date, the neighborhood school has been an integral part of this section of the city. The present Elm Park Community School was opened to replace the aging Dix Street School which was built in 1890 and 1900 and finally closed in 1970 following a fire.

Elm Park Community School opened in September of 1971. The first principal was Charles Burack. As a community school, it involved the community as a whole and was open to student and adults day and night. The school originally operated under the open classroom theories of the Seventies. There was no bell system. Children were grouped into sections, not by grades. Teaching methods included open classrooms and workgroups. The staff at that time included two full-time gym teachers, a librarian, and a nurse. In addition to the principals, a full-time community school director had oversight of the after school and evening programs.

Elm Park is a community school at heart. This is seen in their dedication to educating the children of the Elm Park community, in the provision of varied programs, and in the assistance and support of parents, neighbors, and business people within the boundaries of their district.

Visit the Elm Park Community School Website