The Berkley School District (branded as Berkley Schools) is a public school district in Metro Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan, serving Berkley, Huntington Woods, and a portion of Oak Park.[5]

History

In 1840, the Blackmon School was the first school established in Berkley. It was built at Coolidge and Catalpa and its school district was called Royal Oak Township School District #7. It was the only school in the city until South School was built at Eleven Mile Road and Coolidge in 1901.[6]

1918 saw the district's transition to a modern graded school district. Berkley Elementary was built in 1919, and in 1926, a high school section was added to it. By 1930, Angell, Burton, and Pattengill Elementaries had been built. The present high school opened in 1949.[7]

Except Angell Elementary and the former Tyndall Elementary, all school buildings in the district were originally designed by architect Earl G. Meyer.[8] Burton Elementary and Pattengill Elementary were designed by his predecessor architectural firm Lane, Davenport, and Meyer. Angell Elementary was designed in 1924 by architecture firm Smith, Hinchman and Grylls,[9] with later additions by Meyer.

In December 1965, Tyndall Elementary opened.[10] In the 1966-67 school year, the district's enrollment reached a peak of about 9,000 students. The Loren A. Disbrow Physical Education Complex opened at the high school in 1976, paid for by a 1973 bond issue. It included a pool and a 2,400 seat gym.[11] But by 1977, enrollment had fallen to less than 6,300, and Tyndall Elementary was closed in June of that year and converted to a community education center.[12][13] When enrollment continued to decline, Berkley Elementary was closed in summer of 1978.[14]

Due to declining enrollment, Avery and Norup student populations were modified in 2002. Avery became PreK-2 and Norup became grades 3-8. Further decline resulted in the combination of Avery and Norup students of at the Norup building in 2006, making Norup the first K-8 IB school in Oakland County.[citation needed] The former Avery building was modified to house Berkley Building Blocks and BSD administrative offices, and was converted to entirely childcare in 2018.[15]

Schools

Source:[16][17]

School Address Notes
High schools
Berkley High School 2325 Catalpa Drive, Berkley Opened 1949
Middle schools
Anderson Middle School 3205 Catalpa, Berkley Opened 1956
K-8 schools
Norup International School 14450 Manhattan St, Oak Park International Baccalaureate school; formerly Norup Middle School, opened 1957, became International in 2006.
Elementary schools
Angell Elementary School 3849 Beverly, Berkley Opened 1921
Burton Elementary School 26315 Scotia, Huntington Woods Opened 1925
Pattengill Elementary School 3540 Morrison Ave, Berkley Opened 1925
Rogers Elementary School 2265 Hamilton, Berkley Formerly Hamilton Elementary, opened 1955
Preschool
Berkley Building Blocks 14700 W. Lincoln, Oak Park Formerly Tyler/Avery Elementary, opened 1951

Former schools

Source:[18]

School Notes
Blackmon School Opened 1840, closed 1901. Sold to a local resident after South School opened.
South School Opened 1901, converted to a dormitory for teachers in 1920 due to the opening of Angell School.
Temporary Berkley School Unknown name. Opened 1918, sold to Berkley Community Church and razed after Berkley School opened.
Berkley School Later called Berkley Elementary, built in 1919 and closed and demolished in 1979. Parts of the school saved from demolition now serve as the district maintenance shop and the headquarters for Berkley Robotics.
Oxford Elementary Later Oxford Center, opened 1951, closed to students in 1983, served as district administration offices until 2006. Demolished 2007, currently the site of housing and Oxford Park, purchased by the city in 2014.
Charles L. Avery Elementary School/Tyler Elementary/Early Childhood Center Opened 1951 as Tyler Elementary, converted to grades PreK-2 in 2002, became preschool & admin offices in 2006, converted to full childhood center in 2018. Now Berkley Building Blocks.
John C. Norup Middle School Opened 1957, became grades 3-8 in 2002, converted to K-8 IB school in 2006. Now Norup International School.
Tyndall Elementary Opened 1965, closed 1977, became community education building, early childhood center. Became district administration building in 2019.

References

  1. ^ Berkley Schools. "History". Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  2. ^ Berkley Schools. "Scott Francis, Superintendent". Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  3. ^ Berkley Schools. "Administrative Offices Staff". Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Berkley School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  5. ^ "Maps: School Districts: Berkley School District" (PDF). Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Berkley Schools. "History". Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Berkley Schools. "History". Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  8. ^ "Work from the offices of Earl G. Meyer architect" (PDF). AIA Monthly Bulletin, Michigan Society of Architects. September 1957. p. 17.
  9. ^ Calihan, Dan (December 2021). "James B. Angell School - 100 Years Later" (PDF). Berkley Historical Society.
  10. ^ "Class as usual as 180 move to new school". The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, Mich.). December 2, 1965. p. 17.
  11. ^ "'March Madness' starts Feb. 28". The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, Mich.). February 18, 1977. p. 14.
  12. ^ "Tyndall closing likely in Berkley". The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, Mich.). April 5, 1977. p. 1.
  13. ^ "Berkley Bd. To Convert Tyndall Into Community Ed. Center". The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, Mich.). July 12, 1977. p. 1.
  14. ^ "Decision due Monday on school closing". The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, Mich.). May 6, 1978. p. 13.
  15. ^ Ferndale Friends (April 1, 2018). "Berkley Schools : Helping Oak Parkers Achieve Their Personal Best".
  16. ^ Berkley Schools. "History". Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  17. ^ Berkley Schools. "Schools". Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  18. ^ Berkley Schools. "History". Retrieved February 20, 2025.


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