Children proudly pose in front of the Maple Grove School for their first day of school in the 1940s. Photo: Maple Grove Historical Preservation Society
It’s time to go back to school! Since the mid-1800s, Maple Grove’s dedication to education has been well documented. In 1858, the children of early settlers gathered at the home of Phineas Newton (1812–1887) where classes were taught by his wife, Mercy Jane Champlin Newton (1818–1907). Several years later, the first school building was constructed on the southwest corner of Territorial Road and Ranchview Lane. In 1887 it was replaced at the same location with a new building that still exists. The Maple Grove School, also known as District 42, served local children until it closed when consolidated into what is now Independent School District (ISD) #279.
Today ISD 279 students continue to excel in academics, athletics and the arts. The district’s mission statement likely mirrors what our city’s earlier settlers envisioned as well: “Our mission is to inspire and prepare each and every scholar with the confidence, courage and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning.”
Kate Wodtke is a research and inventory specialist with the Maple Grove Historical Preservation Society and a Minnesota Author Project judge. Discover more at maplegrovehistory.org.
