The Two High Schools

     Central: (BCHS) was built as a small high school-- the District's first-- in 1955 for roughly 500-600 students at a time of rapid population growth. Central has had five additions since first being constructed. The school is not handicap accessible and is constructed on four different levels. Any student from the western portion of the district who is in a wheelchair does not continue onto high school with her or his classmates. He or she instead, starting after 8th grade, is transported daily to East where halls are wider, some restrooms are able to accomodate persons with physical limitations, and where there is one elevator on the north end of the building.

     East: (BEHS) was built just six years after Central-- in 1961-- to again provide badly needed space for the district's rapidly growing population. East has had three additions since first being constructed. Although East was constructed with a better design/layout than was Central, it is smaller. It faces an acute shortage of classrooms. An example is that a Mathematics class needed to be held in a wood shop. The Science program is particularly short of space.

     Each school educates between 1,300 and 1,400 students annually in grades 9-12. Each school was last added to or significantly renovated in the late 1970s.

     A significant question for the HSST (High School Next Steps Steering Team) is what will be the future population of the School District of Elmbrook and even more vital, what will be the most accurate projection of future enrollment of students in the District. This applies to all schools and grade levels but particularly to the projected enrollment of the high school grades.