The $320,555 South School opened in 1956.[3] It is now known as Al Behrman Elementary.[4][5]
East Elementary School
1954
The $372,998 school opened in 1954.[3] A new library and media center was built circa June 2015.[6]
Gordon L. Willson Elementary School
1970
The construction occurred in the years 1969 and 1970.[7] In 1986 an addition on the north lawn was being built.[6] In 1987 and 1989 the additions were installed,[7] including a 12 classroom wing. In addition, there was an interior renovation.[6]
North Freedom Elementary School
1902
It opened in 1902. In 1976 it had the value of $147,000 and was the only elementary school that the district was using that had not been built within 30 years prior.[3]
West Kindergarten Center
1951
A one story school,[8] previously operating as West Elementary School, it is between Downtown Baraboo and Oschner Park.[9] The West School, built for $261,370, opened 1951, replacing the First Ward School,[3] and the Second Ward School.[10]
Jack Young Middle School in 2025
Former schools
Old Baraboo High School
In 1885 the $8,000 First Ward School opened at the intersection of Summit Street and Sixth Avenue.[8]
The Second Ward School, a Queen Anne style building, was built in 1889. The Madison company Conover & Porter designed it.[11]
On January 9, 1883, the Third Ward School, a six classroom Queen Anne building, opened after having been under construction since 1882. The school was located at Elm Street at Grove Street. The Third Ward had a major population increase due to the 1871 construction of a railroad.[8]
According to the Baraboo Historical Society, in 1950 a fire ruined the First Ward School building.[8] A document posted by the Baraboo Public Library stated that the fire destroyed the Second Ward School Building.[10]
Some former schools were acquired by the district in the 1960s.[3] Lyons, now known as West Baraboo, was served by a wood schoolhouse until a permanent brick one was built in 1901. The former wood building became a storage unit and was relocated to Oschner Park. The brick building was razed in 1981.[11] The $56,444 Pleasant Valley School opened in 1956. The $93,889 Fairfield Center School,[3] located 6 miles (9.7km) northwest of the center of Baraboo,[12] opened in 1960.[3]
Leadership
The current interim superintendent is Stephen J. Considine who took over after the resignation of Dr. Rainey Briggs.[13] On April 14th, Considine was selected for the next superintendent term starting July 1, 2025.[14] Briggs served from July 1, 2021 until February 10, 2025.[15]
Board of education
The district is run by a seven-member school board. Members are elected in April for staggered three-year terms.
The first school in Baraboo opened in 1843. A school district was organized a year later. [19]
The City of Baraboo incorporated in 1882.[8] When the school district was first established, the district was solely within the City of Baraboo; the district charged tuition for students living in West Baraboo in other surrounding areas. The Mayor of Baraboo appointed members of the school board.[3]
The city had three wards upon its creation, and the initial plan was that one school building would serve one ward. New schools were built to serve those wards.[8]
The board system changed to one where citizens vote for board members in 1938. The district expanded in size in 1961-1962, so areas previously paying tuition no longer had to.[3]
1 2 3 4 5 6 Sauk County Historical Society. Baraboo. Arcadia Publishing, 2017. ISBN1467125105, 9781467125109. p. 82. "A new schoolhouse for Baraboo's first ward was built [...] It stayed in service for nearly 65 years but was destroyed by fire in 1950."
↑ "West." Baraboo School District. October 8, 1999. Retrieved on November 17, 2018. "West Elementary School 707 Center Street Baraboo, WI 53913" - the current kindergarten's address is "707 Center Street Baraboo, WI 53913"
1 2 Dewel, Bob. "'60s, '70s and sophistication too?" In: "The 1970's"[sic] Pages 989 to 1052. Baraboo Public Library. Retrieved on November 22, 2018. CITED: p. 990.
↑ "Fairfield Center Elementary School." Baraboo School district. October 8, 1999. Retrieved on November 17, 2018. "Fairfield Center Elementary School E12654 Cty. T [County Highway T] Baraboo, WI 53913"
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