Danbury Schools Timeline

17th Century

1692 - Connecticut passes a law that required towns to financially provide schools

18th Century

1764 - Danbury's first "Publick School" is built on Wooster Street

1769 - The First Society in Danbury divides the Society for Schools into 9 districts: Beaver Brook, Great Plain, Pembroke, King Street, Boggs, Mill Plain, Mirey Brook, Starrs Plain or Long Ridge, and Stoney Hill Districts.

19th Century

1867 - New Street schoolhouse building completed at a cost of $35,000

1874 - First high school organized, classes held on the top floor of the New Street School

1980 - Connecticut passes a law to require students to attend school until age 14

20th Century

1903 - Alexander M. White donates land on White Street to the town of Danbury for educational purposes

Western Connecticut State University opens as the Danbury Normal School

1914 - Corporal punishment in schools is abolished

1932 - 15 boys receive diplomas in the first formal graduation exercises of the State Trade School

1946 - Students revolt when the tradition of a school holiday for the Danbury Fair is cancelled

1962 - Danbury votes to build a new high school, three elementary schools (Great Plain, Shelter Rock and King Street) and an addition to Morris Street

1963 - Five members of Local 22 Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers International construct a replica of a 19th Century one-room school with bricks from the Balmforth Avenue School on the Scott-Fanton Museum (now Danbury Museum) property

1967 - National Art Month is celebrated at the Museum with Danbury children's art work from kindergarten to high school, Marjorie Shepard, art director

1970 - The Museum agrees to sell the Rogers Park site of the Charles Ives Birthplace to the city for a Junior High School (Rogers Park)

1973 - Mill Ridge Primary and King Street Primary Schools open