Mascotte's Fourth School
What was special about this new school?
The Mascotte community now had Midway Elementary School,
which opened its doors in August of 1973.
This school was for kindergarten through second grade, for the Mascotte and Groveland students.
The construction of Midway Elementary School was completed in August of 1973.
It was an open space concept school which served all the students of the Mascotte-Groveland area in kindergarten, first and
second grade.
Classes began in 1973 with 266 students and 19 teachers.
The staff provided the special services of music, physical education, library, and a migrant tutorial aide program.
Midway Elementary School was a special school in that there was no other school like it in the county.
The 1979-80 school year began with 314 students. By February 5, 512 children were enrolled.
During the first eight months of school, 654 students were enrolled and there were 185 withdrawals.
The school was composed of around 40% migrants (Mexicans, Negroes, and Whites) who move in and out each year.
About 60% of the students are year round residents.
About 14% of the permanent residents were Negro.
The basic school curriculum at Midway Elementary, in both reading and math, consisted of a sequential program using a county adopted text.
The Core of Basic Skills was used as an evaluation and supplemental tool to insure the child was given a good foundation for further educational experiences.
Midway had a staff of 18 classroom teachers with an average class size of 25 students.
There were aides who worked one-half day in each class.
Each student had instruction in library, music, and physical education.
The school provided special instruction to meet the children's needs.
There were three Chapter I reading teachers who assisted the students needing extra help in reading.
There was also a migrant tutorial teacher and six aides who help migrant children.
One teacher had instruction for English as a Second Language.
For children with special problems there were classes for educable mentally handicapped students and students with special learning disabilities.
There was a speech teacher, a teacher who served blind students, and a guidance counselor.
In the fall of 1982, the school board approved final plans for an $800,000 addition at Midway Elementary School that would include
four new classrooms, a lunchroom, and conversion of a multi-purpose room into three class- rooms.
The original piano from the two-story schoolhouse was used at the Mascotte Elementary School unit it was moved to the new Midway Elementary, where it was still in use up to at least 2000.
What sparked former students to reunite?
Read more about the GHS Alumni Reunions next to find out!