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Wilson Elementary School History
Wilson School was established as a public school in the mid 1800's and the boundaries redrawn in 1897. The district served the families of ranch hands and owners in west Petaluma. In 1908, a "new" school was built that housed four or five classrooms and an auditorium. This wooden structure served the Wilson School Community for approximately 50 years. A picture of the old Wilson School can be seen in the school office. The old building was replaced by the present facility.
When Wilson School and nearby Marin School merged in 1960, the new district was named Wil (taken from Wilson) Mar (taken from Marin) Union School District. As the population grew, the one-room Marin School closed down and development was concentrated on the Wilson School site. In 1968, the Cluster building was completed and the school reached its maximum enrollment of 425 students.
Present Day Wilson School
In 1985, the first of three new portables was added to the Wilson School site. Then in 1998, two more class rooms were added. 2002 found Wilson School earning the coveted “California State Distinguished School” award, being recognized for instructional excellence and high student achievement. In 2003, the first substantial construction at Wilson School since the completion of the Cluster Building occurred when the District contracted with the State Office of Public School Construction and DeCarli-Francois Construction to modernize the two main classroom buildings. New electrical, plumbing, and ethernet connections were installed along with phones for all classrooms.
And the Future?
We have a new roof, new exterior paint, and a fresh new look. Our greenhouse and garden will develop into an exciting Life Science Learning Lab, thanks to a grant from the Petaluma Education Foundation. And with such an exciting and varied past, who knows what other wonderful things will happen here at Wilson School?
Wilson Elementary School has worked hard to create a challenging, safe, and rewarding environment for our students. Led by dedicated staff and teachers and supported by a long tradition of parental involvement, we’ve been able to achieve our goals of providing superior educational and developmental opportunities for our students, and having a positive impact on the surrounding community.
On September 19, 2009 Wilson School was dedicated as a Historical Landmark by the Native Sons of the Golden West.
