Orchard Ridge Elementary School History


The majority of the development in the Orchard Ridge area was done between 1950 and 1960. The need for a school was recognized and Orchard Ridge School opened in the fall of 1958 to 336 students. There were 11 teachers on staff along with the principal, Mr. Wayne Kuckkahn.

In the fall of 1959 there were 450 students, 15 teachers and a new principal, Mr Norman Clayton. Of the 450 students, approximately 100 were first graders!

In the mid 1960's, the ORE student population increased from 999 to 1113 students. The middle school enrollment increased to 465 from 245 students. Some reorganization was done to deal with the number of students. A temporary addition was built on the school and the sixth graders were moved to the middle school. Additional schools were also added to the area.

When the school was built, it was intended to be both an elementary and middle school. The elementary school has 15 classrooms as well as rooms set up for art, a computer lab and the library. The addition for the middle school was completed in the fall of 1963. The middle school initially had 14 academic classrooms and specialty rooms for science, art, music, home economics and two gyms.

Orchard Ridge School has enjoyed the support of the Orchard Ridge Community Club. The Orchard Ridge Garden Club established and preserved a nature lab in the woods behind the school and made sure it was populated with native plants and trees. The ORCC also sponsors many neighborhood activities for children as well as the scout groups.


Other Orchard Ridge Elementary School Weblinks


ORE Homework Links
Message from Dr. Michael Hertting-Principal
ORE PTO Webpage
Information about ORE
Orchard Ridge Elementary School Home Page




Webauthor: Ralph Patterson
Last Revised: November 11, 2001
For comments or suggestions on this webpage please send us
an E-MAIL message by clicking here.