Bethpage School District #21

The first school in Bethpage built about 1855 was on the grounds of the Pearsall farm.  Its position at the bottom of the hill on Broadway (known as "Stillwell's Hill" by old-timers) resulted in flooding during rainstorms and thaws.  The second district school was erected at the top of the hill, near the present high school football field scoreboard.

Chronology:
Powell Ave. School built on School Street (now known as Powell Ave.) served as an elementary school. There were 12 classrooms, which were constructed in two sections. First section was built in 1915 and the second section was added in 1923. Later the school was supplemented by a two room wooden annex. The last payment on its bonded debt was made in December 1956. The school went to the 8th grade and high school students 9th to 12th grade went by train to Mineola. Later they went to Hicksville then, when Farmingdale built a new high school on the existing Main Street School, the Farmingdale Trustees agreed to accept Bethpage pupils at a lower tuition rate. Students were bused to Farmingdale in 1931.

First Jr. and Sr. High School - 23 classrooms built on Broadway in 1951 (now it's The JFK Middle School). In 1957 22 rooms were added.

Pine Ave. Elementary School - 22 classrooms, opened 1954-1955. Closed in 1980 due to declining enrollment.

Central Boulevard Elementary School - 33 classrooms, opened 1956

Kramer Lane Elementary School - 22 classrooms, named after Mr. Frederick P. Kramer former member of the Bethpage Board of Education for 21 consecutive years. Opened in 1957.

Bloomingdale Elementary School - 14 classrooms, opened in 1957 closed in 1972 due to declining enrollment. Private homes now on the property on this school site.

Bethpage High School - Cherry Ave., occupied in 1959 and formally dedicated in 1960.

Charles Campagne Elementary School - Plainview Rd. (named after Mr. Charles Campagne, member of the Bethpage Board of Education), built in 1962 at the same time the Powell Ave. School was razed, which made room for The Bethpage Public Library.

St. Martin of Tours RC School - Central Ave., built in 1955

(Information from BETHPAGE BYGONES and 21ST ANNIVERSARY OF BETHPAGE

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