Summer SLAM

Effective Tuesday, July 16, all Summer SLAM classes and programs will be moved from Olson Middle School to Jefferson High School for the remainder of the summer schedule. For those who are registered, Extended Care will also be moved to Jefferson.

Jefferson is located two blocks east of Olson at 4001 W. 102nd St. Please enter through Door #1, the school’s main entrance.

History of BPS

Public education in Bloomington dates back to the 1850s when six one-room schools served this rural community’s students through eighth grade. Those who wished to continue their education after eighth grade enrolled in the Minneapolis high schools, traveling by horse-and-buggy or sleigh, or the Dan Patch train, or boarded and roomed in the city.

In May 1917, five rural school districts - Ferry Hill, Palmer, Kell, Poplar Bridge and Cates - consolidated to become Bloomington Consolidated School District No. 142. In 1918, a school for grades 1-12 was constructed on a parcel of land where the Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington currently resides.

In the years that followed, the district experienced gradual growth. By 1925 enrollment was at 300 and within 20 years had reached 700 students. They were served by one principal and 24 teachers. In the years 1945-1950, Bloomington School District No. 271 absorbed the Kimball School District and part of another to the west.

A population surge in the late 1940s impacted the school system and led to school bonds being issued to construct a new elementary school. Before it could be completed, the elementary grades went to split schedules, followed by the secondary grades in 1954. Construction of school buildings began in earnest as more bonds were issued. Enrollment reached 10,300 by the 1959-60 school year. By 1960, the district had 19 principals and 420 teachers.

Bloomington’s public school enrollment reached its peak in 1970 when the enrollment was 26,739 students. By 1990, enrollment had dipped to 11,376 students. During the late 1980s, several schools built during the population boom were sold and are now accommodating other community uses. Today, the enrollment sits at just over 10,000 students attending two early childhood centers, 10 elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools. The district also provides early childhood and adult basic education programs through the Richfield-Bloomington Community Education department.

Bloomington Schools Through the Ages

School	Opened	Closed	Historical Information
Bloomington High School 10025 Penn Ave So	1919	1966	Converted to Central Administration in August 1967; sold in 1980 and was razed for the Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington
Cedarcrest Elementary 8900 Bloomington Ave So	1950	1981	Sold in 1982 to Bloomington Assemblies of God
Riverside Elementary 201 East 102nd St	1952	1987	Sold in 1988 to City of Bloomington; building razed and is now a park
Westwood Elementary 3801 West 108th St	1954	-	Currently serving students & community
Valley View Elementary 351 East 88th St	1956	-	Currently serving students & community
Lincoln Senior High 2601 West 88th St	1957	1982	Sold in 1984 to Control Data Corp.; Lincoln Field remains part of BPS. Facility currently houses General Dynamics, Bloomington-Richfield Community Education Offices, and Bloomington Career & College Academy
Humboldt Heights Elementary 1700 West 82nd St	1958	1975	Sold in 1978 to Marquette Service Corp; building razed
Portland Junior High 8900 Portland Ave So	1959	1979	Facility became the District Offices and Community Education in JAN 1980; Housed the BRAVO program, from 1996-99. Reopened as Valley View Middle School in 2001.
Creekside Elementary 9801 Penn Ave So	1960	1973	Sold in 1976 to City of Bloomington; became Creekside Community Center
Indian Mounds Elementary 9801 11th Ave So	1960	-	Currently serving students & community
Southwood Elementary 4901 West 112th St	1960	1982	Reopened as Southwood Center serving early childhood special education students (ECSE)
Washburn Elementary 8401 Xerxes Ave So	1960	-	Currently serving students & community
Park Elementary 9201 Bloomington Freeway	1961	1982	Sold in 1984 to Hoyt Construction; building was razed
Brookside Elementary 10150 Xerxes Ave So	1962	1977	Sold in 1977 to Bloomington Covenant Church
Nine Mile Elementary 2201 West 108th St	1962	1982	Sold in 1983 to Bloomington Church of God
Northgate Elementary 8201 Park Ave	1962	1987	Sold in 1989 and is now Lutheran High School
Penn Junior High 2501 West 84th St	1962	1983	Sold in 1983 to Northwestern College of Chiropractic
Poplar Bridge Elementary 6401 Palmer Road	1962	-	Currently serving students & community
Ridgeview Elementary	1962	-	Currently serving students & community
Hillcrest Elementary 9300 Thomas Road	1963	1987	Reopened in 1991 as Hillcrest Community School
River Ridge Elementary 2300 East 88th St	1963	1979	Sold in 1980 to Control Data Corp.
F. Wilson Pond Elementary 9600 Third Ave So	1963	1979	Reopened as Pond Family Center serving early childhood and parent education
Kennedy Senior High 9701 Nicollet Ave So	1965	-	Opened in 1965 serving Gr. 10-12; became a 9-12 school in 1979.
Oak Grove Elementary 1301 West 104th St	1967	-	Currently serving students & community
Olson Elementary 4501 West 102nd St	1967	-	Currently serving students & community
Olson Junior High 4551 West 102nd St	1967	-	Converted to Olson Middle School in 2001. Central Services (formerly Buildings & Grounds Department) relocated to site in 2001.
Normandale Hills Elementary 9501 Toledo Road	1968	-	Currently serving students & community
Oak Grove Junior High 1300 West 106th St	1969	1987	Reopened as Oak Grove Intermediate (Gr. 5-6); converted to Oak Grove Middle School in 2001. Educational Services Center (formerly District Offices) relocated to site in 2001.
Jefferson Senior High 4001 West 102nd St	1970	-	Opened in 1970 serving Gr. 10-12; became a 9-12 school in 1979.
Valley View Middle 8900 Portland Ave So	2001	-	Formerly Portland Junior High and District Offices.

Files:

History of School District No. 271.pdf

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