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Central School LBCSD | Lemont, IL
Photo Credit: Molly Hebda Photography

The crisp fall air brought a sense of nostalgia this school year. Lemont residents weren’t only filled with anticipation for the upcoming year but reminiscent of their own time at Central School, a building within the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District (LBCSD), that reopened its doors this year after a decade of being closed.

History of Central School

The schools in the early Lemont School District consisted of Walker Road School (aka Hastings School), Bell School, Derby School, Bracken School, Sag School, and the Lemont Public School on McCarthy Road--which came to be known as Central School. This school was built of limestone in 1869 and opening doors for classes in 1870.

Over the next hundred years, Central School would morph from high school to grade school and back again with three distinguishable additions made to add more classrooms, athletic facilities, and administrative offices. 

While the original limestone building was turned into condominiums the early 2000s, Central School continued to grow. Many long-time Lemonters remember it as the school their parents attended, they attended, and their children attended. However, at the end of the 2011-12 school year, the district voted to close the school citing a "sound long-range plan, fiscal responsibility, optimization of facilities and optimization of staffing resources," according to former District 113A Supt. Tim Ricker.

Central School’s Next Chapter in Lemont

The school district has continued to grow, with many millennials choosing Lemont as the perfect place to build a family. LBCSD broke ground on renovations to Central School in 2021, paving the way for Central School to reopen this 2022-23 school year. The renovated building includes 23 classrooms,  seven resource offices, an art room, a music room, a gymnasium, a library, a STEM lab, breakout rooms, teacher support space, and an expanded main office area.

The school hosted a Community Open house this fall which left many students, alums, and families reminiscent of their school years and grateful that the next generation of Lemonters has such a beautiful space to learn. 

Tell Your Story of Central School

Do you have stories to share about Lemont Downtown’s nearest and dearest Central School? Share them in the comments below!