Hillsboro Schools Revealed

A primer on Hillsboro Schools

by local Historian Ginny Mapes and Editor Dirk Knudsen

Hillsboro School District #7 began in 1854 in a one-room log cabin.

Construction started in 1853, with a log cabin for the schoolhouse.

Students from ages four years — 20 could attend school.

When the log cabin was finished, the school began - in October 1854.

Hillsboro was growing.

The second building was a one-room frame building.

As Hillsboro grew, so did the need for a larger school. In 1875 a two-story frame building was constructed, and the old log cabin was used as an extra room, and a woodshed was added. These original schools were located on the northeast corner of Third and Baseline.

The old log school can be seen here on the left, the first addition to the right, and the 2nd addition is the main structure of the original Hillsboro, Oregon School. Located on the corner of 3rd and Baseline

The first three schools are pictured in the 1879 photo. The building burned.

In 1888, planning on the continued growth of Hillsboro, the school directors purchased a full block of ground on what is now Oak Street. A new building with eight rooms was started in 1889 and occupied by the spring of 1890. There would be “nine months” of free school. A short time later, two rooms were added to the south side of the building, and the ninth grade was installed.

Located on the David Hill Donation Land Claim between Oak, Walnut, 4th, and 5th Streets, this modern beauty was erected in 1890 for the children of Hillsboro to have the finest education possible.

A Hillsboro Argus ad announced in the September 15, 1904, issue, “Every school girl and boy attending Hillsboro public school will receive a lead pencil and a pencil tablet at E. L. McCormicks, beginning Saturday and continuing one week.” This new school was constructed at the present-day location of David Hill School at Fifth and Oak.

On November 25, 1907, 582 students attended Hillsboro School. In 1908 10th graders were housed upstairs, and 11th and 12 graders were added the year after.

Still growing, in 1909, a six-room addition was added to the building. By 1912, there were 75 more eighth-grade students than the previous year.

Growth continued, and a separate High School was needed. It took some time to locate the property, raise the funds, and select a builder. On September 18, 1913, after a battle between the school board and the builders, a new High School school building was dedicated.

Hillsboro High School was built on 3rd and Grant and remained our High School until 1929, when the new High School was opened. This school would later be BW Barnes School, and the Peter Boscow Elementary School was built on this site too.

Opened in 1929, HilHi was a favorite among many locals in Hillsboro, Oregon. The Beautiful building was designed and built in 1928 for a total cost of $175,000. The first graduating Class was in 1929. The school transitioned to a middle school known as Mid High in 1970 when the new HilHi opened off of Rood Bridge Road in the South part of the City. A few years later, it was renamed J.B. Thomas. It is remembered for its windows, massive size, multiple gymnasiums, shooting range, shop area, and beautiful auditorium with a stage, dressings rooms, and more. It was torn down in 2009 despite strong opposition from the community.

More to follow on Hillsboro Schools