The development of public education in Williamson paralleled that of the growth of schools in other parts of New York State. In contrast to other states, such as Virginia, most school systems in New York are town-centric, rather than county-centric (the exceptions being districts serving large metropolitan areas). In the late 1700s and early 1800s "one-room schools" sprang up across New York, often many to a town since attendance was determined by how far a child could walk. By the middle of the 19th century there were over 10,000 of these "Common Districts" in the State and the multiple Districts in each town combined resources to support a town high school to serve the needs of older students and a growing focus on post-secondary education and other opportunities.

It was at this time (1853) that the state authorized one or more common districts to form a "union free school district", thus formalizing the structure that is in place today. This law permitted the new districts to establish "academic departments," or high schools, which were to be overseen by both the Regents and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Boards of education managed the property and finances of the city and union free districts, and hired superintendents to administer systems with several schools. Most of the union free districts later became the cores of central school districts.

Williamson Union School in 1908

Maple & Miller Streets

Williamson's first school was formed in Pultneyville in 1806, just 12 years after the first white settler arrived and four years after the town was formed from neighboring Sodus. This became District Number One when a second school was opened in 1811 in the Village of Williamson four miles to the south. Williamson eventually had 13 such districts and did not "centralize" until 1930, placing them into a single administrative unit with the exceptions of the districts in Pultneyville, East Williamson and Benton (these villages/hamlets decide to maintain their own schools). By 1948, however, all school districts in the town were consolidated under the Williamson Central Schools name.

In 1931, WCS held its commencement excercises for its senior class in its newly-constructed classroom building, which replaced a school that had served, initially District 2 and then the central district, since 1876. It was located at Maple and Miller Streets and now serves as the system's middle school. When it opened in the fall of 1931 it had 600 students, 32 teachers and five buses. By 1954 the ranks of the students had swelled to 1,000 and the number of faculty was 51. This necessitated expansion and in 1956 a primary school was opened on land to the south-east of the high school campus; it served students in grades kindergarten through third.

The final growth spurt of the school system came during the 1960s as the town population grew. Much of this growth occurred as Williamson's demographic character changed from primarily agricultural to that of a bedroom community for neighboring Monroe County, New York to the west. As employment with companies such as Eastman Kodak and Xerox grew, so did the population of Williamson. Consequently, the need for a high school was recognized and initially it appeared that Williamson would open a combined facility with the Marion district just to the south. Sentiment was so strong against this move, however, and Williamson residents were able to secure their own senior high school, which opened on October 13, 1969. Ironically, the subsequent Marion Senior High School is located only three miles from Williamson's.

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