Beckwith School is one of many schools in Flint, Michigan that have been forgotten and faded away with time. The Beckwith School itself served as one of the many early educational institutions of Flint, Michigan along with many others. Not much is known about the Beckwith School itself. Its history is a bit skewed.
Beckwith School was named after a school teach named Louis Eugene Beckwith. The Beckwith School was named in honor of Louis Eugene Beckwith and his family. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=n6XhAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Beckwith+School%22+Flint&dq=%22Beckwith+School%22+Flint&hl=en)
Beckwith School began its life in Flint, Michigan in 1896 as a single story house somewhere by Clio Road and Pearson Road. This single story house was a one-room school where 1st grade through 6th grade were taught. At that time, Beckwith School was a 1-6 school. 7th grade was added later. After students completed 6th grade, students were bussed into Flint to attend Flint Community Schools. Westwood Heights School District (Westwood Heights Schools) operated the school from 1896 to 2001.
Beckwith School had its own school district called Beckwith School District which it operated on. The school district was never well off financially. So they relied on Westwood Heights School District and Flint Community Schools for help.
1920 is Beckwith School moved to location on Clio Avenue between Carpenter Road and Pierson Road. 7th grade was added in 1920. School was taught in a two story house this time as opposed to a one story house. After students completed 6th grade, students transferred over to Flint Community Schools to attend Flint Central High School.
During the 1931-1932 school year is when Westwood Heights School District, Beckwith School District, and Flint Community Schools had an agreement to pay the tuition of the students attending high school at Flint Central High School. Not many school districts could not pay the tuition of their high school students. Especially the rural school districts. That had meant many students didn’t get a chance to go to high school,
In 1950, Beckwith School moved to a different location on Ridgeway Avenue near the intersection of Doran Street & Ridgeway Avenue and Parkway off of off of Pierson Road. This building was a single story red and brown brick building with a black and brown roof., The color of the roof was black though for the most part. 1950 is when Beckwith School became a K-8 school. Students began attending Beecher High School operated by the Beecher Community School District in Beecher, Michigan in 1952. After 8th grade is when students transferred over to Beecher Schools to attend Beecher High School.
Beckwith School and its school district merged into Westwood Heights School District in 1957. This left Westwood Heights School District to operate Beckwith School as an elementary school for students in grades K through 8. Beckwith School continued to operate as a combined elementary-middle school until 1978.
The school closed during the 1978-1979 school year. Beckwith School was leased to several private companies and churches over the years. Now these private companies and churches did not actually own the real property. Westwood Heights School District allowed them to use Beckwith School on a lease. For example, Genesee Christian School once leased quarters in the former Beckwith School. At that time, the 2-year-old school had about 100 students. In 1997, Genesee Christian School had relocated thus leaving the school vacant.
2001 is when Beckwith School was demolished. The parking lot was repaved over with cement and the basement was filled. The asphalt has been covered up. Westwood Heights School District still owns the property.
Beckwith School was located at 316 West Parkway Avenue, Flint, Michigan, US 48504. The other addresses for this school were 3178 West Ridgeway Avenue, Flint, Michigan, US 48504 and 3179 West Ridgeway Avenue, Flint, Michigan, US 48504.
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