1949-1950: The School Board purchases the site. There is a story that the road in front of the site had previously fronted a farm and was named after the farmer’s two children, Clare and Don and that the school took the name of the road, but it is not true.
03/17/1951: Clarendon Avenue Elementary opened its doors. The original cost was $160,000.00. There was an enrollment of 243 students and a small teaching staff. One school bus made two runs to accommodate students.
1952: The Clarendon playground was finished. The hot lunch program began. Lunches were 25¢.
1956: Clarendon becomes K-8, Joint District #3, but the building houses K-6. The small gym was added for a total cost of $25,000.00.
1956: Three one-room schools were consolidated into Clarendon: West Vernon, Vernon Center, and Edgewood. Due to space limitations, Clarendon houses grades K-4. The enrollment was 547 and the teaching staff had grown to 17.
1959: An addition opened at a cost of $405,283.78. The office, gym, cafeteria, band and music rooms were all part of the addition. Students in grades K, 5, and 6 from newly annexed school, Jonesville, attended Clarendon.
1960: The enrollment grew to 661 with a staff of 27. Clarendon officially becomes K- 6. Fifth and sixth graders return to Clarendon.
1964: The west wing was added it included 12 classrooms plus three office and a teacher’s lounge. The enrollment jumps to 900 students.
1972: All schools from the Mukwonago Area Schools, Joint District #10. Sixth graders are moved to Park View because of space constraints. Enrollment at Clarendon is now 1037 with a staff of 42.
1973: Fifth graders are moved to Washington Avenue due to being overcrowded. The school becomes known as the Clarendon Avenue complex.
1974: The library doubles in size. Enrollment is 1094.
1979: The small gym is converted into classrooms. Enrollment is 1241.
1980: Enrollment is at 1241 with a teaching staff of 69.
1981: The cafeteria is cut in half to make another classroom. Enrollment is at 1253 with a staff of 76.
1979: Redistricting occurs when Section Elementary opens. Fifth and sixth graders move back to Clarendon. Enrollment is 789 with a staff of 50.
1982: Dr. John Shanahan is hired as principal.
1989: Student Council is formed. Clarendon Ink, our in-school publishing center begins. Enrollment is at 779.
1990: Our school logo changes to Clarendon Avenue Cougars.
1999: In December, the staff packed up everything and moved to Rolling Hills Elementary, a school that had just been built. Clarendon underwent major renovations.
2000: In August, the newly renovated Clarendon opened its doors.
2013: Dr. John Shanahan retires as principal.
2013: Current principal, Mr. Ben Kossow is hired.
2014: The gym receives a new projection screen and new stage curtains. The library was reorganized to accommodate the library lab and make use of much-needed space.
2016: Clarendon celebrated its 65th anniversary in March. New principal is hired Andrea Kaplan, as Mr. Kossow moves to the district office.