Ill BC-ing You, the History of Southwestern Jr High School

Описание: In the 1920’s, the city of Battle Creek was growing, and with that growth, the educations system had to keep up with the expanding student population and new innovations in education.
The Battle Creek Public Schools made plans to have four junior high schools in the community (the Central Junior High had opened in the former Number One School shortly after the new high school was built in 1910).
As the school system made plans for a new building, they also envisioned the merger with the Lakeview School System to the south of the city.
The location for the first of the new junior highs was chosen with plans for the southern expansion, and they built Southwestern Junior High School on Ravine Street (now South Washington Avenue).
The new building could house over 1,000 students, had a girl’s and boy’s gymnasium, shop classrooms (both wood, metal and automotive), a home economics class area that included a model apartment, a cafeteria, a auditorium large enough to hold the whole school, and more.
As the years went by and changes in state guidelines for enrolment (the School of Choice), Southwestern lost students and finally was closed. It is scheduled to be demolished in 2026.
This is the story of Southwestern Junior High School and it’s journey through educational changes.