New York Elementary History

New York Elementary was established in 1869. Although the original building no longer exists, it was constructed at 936 New York Street, the same location as the current school. Karl Ramberg, father of NYS alumna Zoey Ramberg, created a stone tablet sculpture placed near the southwest corner of the school to commemorate the school's original building. New York is one of the earliest schools founded in Lawrence located in one of its most historic neighborhoods.

Langston Hughes is our most famous alumnus. In the early 1900s, the Harlem Renaissance writer attended NYS for fourth through sixth grade. When his grandmother died, he went to live with family friends at 731 New York Street just down the street from our school. His book, Not Without Laughter, is a fictionalized account of his childhood in Lawrence. Click on his name to learn more about Langston Hughes from the City of Lawrence website.

In 1937, the original building was replaced with a structure which forms the core of our current building. Four classrooms which make up the north end of the main hallway were added in 1955. The most recent and most extensive addition/renovation was completed in May 1996. The gymnasium with kitchen were added and the old gym was converted into the media center with a mezzanine computer lab. New windows, lighting, doors, and air conditioning were included in the renovations.The Shelley Miller Memorial Community and School Kitchen was completed and dedicated and the Dorothy Macgregor room was rededicated. In addition, the office area was refurbished.