Jennie Wilson Elementary School celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. The 32,386 square foot building was built at a total cost of $532,038. The building is built in a pod arrangement, with the primary grades in the east pod and the intermediate grades in the west pod. The school is named after Mrs. Jennie Wilson who made many contributions to the youth of the Garden City area.

The current enrollment of 240 students attend classes ranging from Kindergarten through 4th grade. The faculty includes 2 kindergarten teachers, 3 third grade teachers, 2 teachers in grades 1, 2 and 4, 1 Librarian, .5 ESL teacher, .5 Literacy Coach, .5 Title 1 Coordinator and part-time Music, PE and Art teachers.  We also have 3 paraprofessionals.

Mrs. Jennie Wilson

USD-457 honored Jennie Wilson for her many contributions to the youth in Garden City and Finney County by naming our school after her. Mrs. Wilson was born in Sherman, New York on July 24, 1895. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Hughes, came to America from North Wales. The family then came to the Garden City area in 1907. She attended elementary school in Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio, and Garden City, Kansas. She attended high school and junior college in Garden City. She then attended Emporia State Teachers College, Fort Hays State and Colorado State. She received her B. S. Degree from Fort Hays in 1951 and her Master’s Degree from the same institution in 1955.

From 1915 to 1919 she taught at various Finney and Gray County schools. Then she taught Math and English at Garden City Junior High School until 1921. She then taught elementary education in Finney County and also served as principal at Lincoln School until 1927. From 1927 to 1933 she was an elementary teacher at Jones School and became principal there in 1944. In 1960, she went to teach at Holcomb Elementary School where she taught third and fourth grade.

Upon her death on July 15, 1966, our community lost a dedicated educator . She was an outstanding educator and influenced the lives of many young people. Jennie Wilson School proudly bears her name and we appreciate her dedication to young people.