The Spirit of Community in Delano is defined by the Creativity, Resilience, and Community Investment of its people.
Delano Public Schools
The 1928 Delano School building stands as a lasting reminder of the community’s long commitment to education. Built at the corner of Elm Avenue and 2nd Street after fire damaged the earlier high school, the new building brought Delano’s grade and high school students together under one roof and was considered one of the finest and best-equipped schools in the area. Its modern gymnasium-auditorium, library, science laboratory, and industrial arts and home economics departments reflected a new era in education. As Delano grew and new schools were built, the building continued to adapt—first serving younger grades and later becoming home to Community Education and other community programs. Nearly a century after it opened, the 1928 school remains an important part of Delano’s educational and community history.
1858: The first school was held in a claim shanty
1870: A two-story frame building built on corner of Bridge Avenue and 2nd Street
1882: A larger school building was erected on the corner of Elm and 2nd (present site.) Destroyed by fire in 1894.
In 1894 a new school building erected on the same site.
In 1903 a new high school building built directly behind the 1894 building, which then became the grade school.
1926: Both school buildings were damaged by a fire
1927: A bond issue was passed and both the 1894 and 1903 buildings were completely taken down
Classes were held in local churches until the new building was completed.
A state-of-the-art school was built in 1928 to replace fire damaged buildings.
For the first time Delano had a regulation sized basketball court and auditorium.
1967: A new high school and a new grade school were built on the east campus
1992: A new elementary school was built on the east campus
2018: A new intermediate school was completed on the east campus
2019: The 1928 building now houses the early childhood and community education program
The content of this page is brought to you by the Delano Spirit of Community Trail Committee in honor of Delano's 150th Anniversary.