Island School history

By 1980, enrollment had doubled, and while kindergarten stayed in Rolling Bay, the first, second and third grades moved to a portable building at St Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Winslow.

By 1983, Island School had graduated only eight students and the high school was disestablished.

In 1989, the Board of Directors entered into discussions with American Factors, Inc., (AMFAC) about obtaining land for a new campus.

The United States Department of the Interior designated Crow Island School as a National Historic Landmark in 1990.

The new campus opened in September, 1991.

Island School used several portable classrooms at the Puhi campus, all of which were destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in September 1992.

In 1996, Chris Maxey received the Joukowsky Fellowship from The Lawrenceville School where he was a teacher allowing him to work towards his Masters in Marine Resource Management at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami.

Lawrenceville teachers gathered in July 1998 at Cape Eleuthera to design The Island School curriculum at the first ‘teacher conference’ (now Educators Conference) — a tradition of experiential education technique practice and sharing that has continued each summer since.

On March 15, 1999 Pam and Chris Maxey welcomed 22 students and 6 faculty from Lawrenceville School to launch the first Island School Semester — an opportunity to share his research and engage students in a powerful, place-based educational experience.

Island School began graduating seniors again starting with the Class of 2000.