History Of Education
The early years of the educational history of Clayton are slightly confusing, because Clayton Township, included what is now both Glassboro and Elk Township, and had students from Franklin Township attending the upper grades.
The records suggest that around 1800 Peter Dehart started the first school in the Fislertown (Clayton) area in a private home with 17 pupils. In1808 (some accounts have it as 1812) a "useful school house" was built, with the dimensions of 20 ft. X 24 ft.. at a cost of $250. This stood where the present Sliver Lake Academy now stands. Dr. Jacob Fisler and his wife gave the three or four acre tract of land on which it was built. It was to be used for meetings and school during the day and religions services during the night. This building was used for these purposes until 1850 when a separate church building was built.
In 1863 at a cost of $500 a new school house was built. In1871 another building was built by John Hand for a total cost of $745 for both material and labor. This building was 22 ft. X 32ft. and was paid off, in three equal payments plus interest. On November 1st of 1871, 1872 and 1873.According to the 1875 census there were 3724 people in Clayton (including what is now Glassboro and Elk township). The enrollment in the schools was 1062 children , this included the students from Franklin Township as far down as Malaga. The average daily attendance was only 485. One of the reason for this was that transportation was not provided by the school. Students had to either walk, ride a bike, ride a horse or some even had to take a train to get to school.
According the the 1876 Atlas three of the school buildings in Clayton Township were in what is now Clayton. One was where the old elementary school is, one on Main street between Academy St. and Center St. across from the Church Lane and one past Wilson Lake where the ball field is. The value of the school property was $21,000, for all five buildings and land. The average male teacher received $60.68 per month and the average female teacher received $35.01 per month.
In 1883 a two room schoolhouse was built on the point on Academy St. in 1908 this building was moved to Delsea Drive. It is now known as Dancing by Denise and a new building was built on that site. With the additions in 1927 of a High School wing and auditorium, and in 1948 six more classrooms and and a separate gymnasium it was used as a school until 1989.
In 1957 a new elementary school was built at the end of Clinton and Howard Streets. In a couple of years however the old school could not hold the high school students with some having to go to school on the town churches. In 1962 the gymnasium and the high school wing were added and the high school students and elementary school students switched buildings. In 1972 the library and business/art wing were added and the sixth grade moved over from the elementary school. The next addition to the educational history of Clayton was the Herma S. Simons Elementary School which was opened in 1989 allowing sixth graders to move back from the High School/Middle School. The latest additions to the schools are the Primary Wing of the Elementary School completed in 2002 and the Auxiliary Gym on the High School/Middle School completed in 2003.
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