Visiting WCS

WCS History - 'The aim of education should be to teach the child HOW to think, not WHAT to think

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'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 exercises 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.

1802 - The Town of Williamson is founded from land split from the Town of Sodus.

1808 - The first school in Williamson is built in Pultneyville, a one-room building with Mr. Morrison as the teacher.

1811 - Pultneyville becomes District One when a second school house is built in the Village of Williamson on East Main Street (Williamson becomes District Two); Mr. John Lambert is the teacher. The structure burns down at some point, but is immediately replaced by another that serves District Two until the mid-1850s (when it, too, burns down).

1850 - District Number Eleven opens in "Koetsville", at the north-east corner of Shepard and Stoney Lonesome Roads.

1853 - A state law authorized one or more common districts to form a "union free school district". This law permitted the new districts to establish "academic departments," or high schools.

1855 - A Cobblestone school building is constructed for District Two, located on the corner of East Main and present-day Locust Street

1876 - District Two is enlarged and a new, larger school building is built on Miller Street, on what is now the front lawn of the Middle School. D.D. Warne is the principal of this two-story structure, which has two classrooms on the first floor and the town's first auditorium on the second. Maple Avenue is created to provide access to the school. While the school serves primarily District Two children, children from some of the other 12 districts in Williamson attend as well (thanks to tuition paid by their respective districts).

1895 - The Williamson Union School is registered by the State of New York

1902 - The "academic department" of Williamson Union School is registered as a New York State High School.

1907 - The school is enlarged, doubling its size.

1914 - 1918 - Formation of central rural school districts was first authorized by a 1914 law. In 1917 the Legislature abolished all the thousands of common school districts and formed them into "township units." Across the state, school taxes shot up, taxpayers protested, and a year later the township system was abandoned.

1922 - District 2 overcrowding prompts additional space for teaching grades 1 – 5 to be rented in the Grange Hall.

1924 - Portable classroom building rented and placed on present-day Middle School tennis courts location.

1930 - On April 25 Williamson voters decide to “Centralize” its school system, creating Williamson Central School from 8 of the town’s 13 Districts (Pultneyville, East Williamson and Benton are opposed to centralization and decide to maintain their own District schools).

1931 - In June the WCS Class of 1931 holds its commencement exercises in the newly-completed school building (built at a cost of $375,000). The new school is dedicated on September 27 and officially opened. It has 600 students, a staff of 32 teachers and five buses.

1941 - Enrollment drops from 650 to 607 almost overnight due to World War II enlistments.

1947 - After four to five years of declining enrollment due to WWII enlistments, the student population sharply increases due to resumption of interrupted educations and the dissolution of the East Williamson District.

1948 - The Benton District dissolves as well, further swelling the student body.

1949 - Board of Education purchases land to the south-east of the school for future expansion.

1950 - Enrollment increases to 850. New wing added to school building comprising 6 classrooms and a cafeteria.

1954 - School District has over 1,000 students and a faculty of 51.

1956 - Primary school for grades K – 3 constructed on land purchased in 1949. Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) created.

1964 - The need for further expansion is recognized, but plans for a new high school building are complicated by the state’s “Master Plan” for education requirements that would mandate Williamson to combine with Marion.

1966 - Disregarding its own Master Plan, New York State approves financial aid for a Williamson-only high school. Construction begins.

1969 - The Williamson Senior High School is officially opened on October 13.

1970 - Student enrollment reaches 1,792.