Salisbury School District History

The history of the Salisbury School District extends back in time to the founding of the city of Salisbury in 1867.  Judge Lucius Salisbury deeded a plot of ground to the Salisbury Board of Education, and the first building was contsructed on the site in the same year as the founding of the town.

Numerous buildings have been constructed since the first one.  The first being destroyed by fire in 1888, a new brick building was constructed in 1888 and abandoned in 1902.  Another building was constructed in 1903 and used until 1937.  The old part of the present elementary building was constructed in 1938.  Additions were made during 1952, 1963, and the latest part, our new library and computer, in 1988.

The high school main building was built in 1925.  The band room addition was made in 1946, with the Industrial Arts and the Ag Shop in 1952.  In 1963-64 the junior high wing and the gym were constructed.  The latest addition to the high school is the library wing, which was completed in 1972.

Salisbury R-IV School district, as we presently know it, came into being during state wide reorganization around 1952.  Prior to that time, the Salisbury schools were limited to the city, and children attending high school from surrounding three-directory elementary districts were required to pay tuition.  The decline in rural populations accelerated the moves to combine these into a larger district.  After the first reorganization, an elementary school was constructed at Prairie Hill and was operated until 1985.

Various annexations have occurred over the years.  The Kaseyville district was included in the district around 1960.  Three larger districts were brought into the Salisbury School system: Bynumville, Roanoke, and Yates.  The addition of these three plus some smaller annexations comprise our school in its' present form.  The district is approximately 400 square miles and there are ten bus routes run per day.

1888-1936
The picture below shows the grade school building during the late 1800's and early 1900's  located at the present location.  The building cost $15,000 to build and had an enrollement of 375 pupils.

1907
Normal and Business College
It was called the Salisbury Acadamy in 1888 and the North Missouri Academy in 1891.   The enrollment of students during the 1906-1907 school year as 96. This building was located on the present High School property and was removed in the 1930's.

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