Clearwater is located by the South Fork Ninnescah River, near the historic Chisholm Trail in South Central Kansas.
Clearwater Schools History
Traditions
The Bell
First located in the tower of the 1910 school house, the Bell is now at the district stadium. We ring the Bell for victories.
The Arrowhead
Carved by 1993 Graduate Justin Lee to honor our mascot, the Arrowhead stands in front of the Intermediate-Middle School.
The Indian
Donated by the Lon Doll family, the statue at the high school reminds us of the dignity and courage of Indians.
Milestones
1934
The first concert by the Clearwater High School Band was held.
1939
The first football Homecoming Queen, Marilyn Woods McConnell, was crowned.
1946
The first year rural students could ride buses to school. Four busses were purchased.
1951
Thieves blew up the high school safe and took $400, then set fire to the building.
1955
School dances started under the guidance of Superintendent C.M. Smith.
1966
Clearwater School District No. 33 Joint became Clearwater Unified School District 264.
1980
The first Apple II+ computer was purchased for the school for $1,482.
first school
1872
Miss Jane
Hope
first teacher
Chronological history of our district
Continue scrolling for a look at the history of our district through the buildings that housed our students and staff.
Ross and Prospect Avenues
first 8th grade graduates
1895
first four-year graduates
1909
1909
Prospect Avenue
Indoor basketball practice
Site of current Elementary West
Open until
2010
Site of current 4th - 6th Grades
Portions of current Elementary West
New Middle School Completed
1975
Elementary West Phase 1 & 2
1989
Intermediate-Middle School connected
2019
High School Complete
2005
Thank you to the Clearwater Historical Society for their help in gathering the information and images.
Thank you to the authors of the 2009 Centennial Celebration program.
Thank you to the people, through their dedication and drive, who have made the Clearwater community and school a place to make history.
Recent History
In 2017 a $24.3 million bond issue was approved by the voters of the Clearwater school district to make improvements to the buildings to bring them into the 21st century. The following is a summary of the upgrades made.
2017
The building received an addition on the south side that included a large preschool room (that doubles as a tornado shelter), administrative offices, conference room, and nurses suite. Other improvements throughout the building included painting, carpeting, plumbing and updates to the cooling system.
The most extensive part of the renovation was to join the two buildings (4th-6th grade and middle school) to become one structure with a shared administrative space, new secured entry point, and tornado shelters. Other changes included new HVAC, a new roof, new flooring, and new auditorium seating. The middle school gym got a new floor, new bleachers, and for the first time, central air conditioning. The middle school parking lot got resurfaced and better drainage installed. A front drive and sidewalk that runs parallel to Fourth Avenue were installed.
Changes to the high school were not as extensive as the other buildings. A senior citizen parking area was added closer to the gym and auditorium entrance. Other key changes included a more prominent front entrance, heating and cooling system upgrades, security systems and cameras, and new main gym bleachers.