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History
Our History
Bennington Public Schools has a rich history of growth, innovation, and community support dating back to the late 19th century.
In 1890, Peter Mangold laid out a school district for the town of Bennington. Just two years later, when the village was incorporated, School District No. 59 was officially organized—encompassing 840 acres and recognized as the smallest school district in the state at that time. The first school was a one-room schoolhouse, funded by a $500 tax from each of the four saloons in town.
As the community grew, so did the need for more space. In 1904, a committee was formed to explore options for expansion and hiring a third teacher. In 1910, while the school was raised on earth pillars to add a basement, a rainstorm caused the structure to collapse. A new facility was completed by 1911, with a second floor added in 1913 to accommodate 9th and 10th grades. By the early 1940s, 11th and 12th grades and several new programs were added.
In 1940, with enrollment reaching 103 K-12 students, a new fireproof building was constructed with help from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Completed in 1941, the facility included eight classrooms and a gymnasium and now houses the district’s administration offices.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the district experienced growing pains. Consolidation with four neighboring schools and the addition of vocational courses required more space. Bond issues passed in 1959 and 1964 funded additional classrooms and a gymnasium. The final addition to the original elementary building came in 1979, adding 14 classrooms, a media center, multi-purpose room, and office space to support approximately 500 students.
Significant expansion continued in the 2000s. A 2003 bond issue funded the construction of a new 7–12 secondary school, which opened in 2005 with a 450-student capacity. In 2007, a second bond added 12 classrooms and a 1,350-seat outdoor stadium. That bond also included renovations to Bennington Elementary and the construction of Pine Creek Elementary, which opened in 2009.
In 2010, voters approved a $19.75 million bond, supporting the construction of Heritage Elementary, which opened in 2012, and the addition of a 650-seat auditorium at the secondary facility.
With continued growth, a 2015 bond of $38.5 million enabled the district to open a new middle school in 2017 for grades 6–8. This bond also funded an auxiliary high school gym, security upgrades, a district warehouse, and land purchases for future expansion.
In 2018, 65% of voters approved a $36 million bond. This funded major renovations at Bennington Elementary, security upgrades, HVAC improvements, and the construction of Anchor Pointe Elementary, which opened in 2019 with 21 K–5 classrooms and 4 preschool classrooms.
A 2020 bond issue, approved by 58% of voters, allocated $72 million for projects including additions at Pine Creek, upgrades to the high school stadium, road development, and construction of Stratford Elementary and Bennington South Middle School. Both schools opened in August 2022.
Stratford Elementary serves K–5 students in 21 classrooms, while Bennington South Middle School, designed for 750 students in grades 6–8, features three academic wings and an outdoor track and field.
In March 2025, Bennington Public Schools reached another important milestone with the successful passage of a $112 million bond issue, approved by 71% of voters. This bond will fund the construction of the district’s second high school, which will be located at 180th Street and Military Road. The new high school is scheduled to open for the 2028–29 school year and will help accommodate continued enrollment growth across the community.