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.