Public schools have always been an important part of the Madison community. Here are a few facts about Madison's first schools:

• In the spring of 1838 the first school opened its doors to about a dozen children. School was held in the building that was also the home of Isaac Palmer and his wife.
• The Palmers' home-and the building where the first school class took place-- was made of wood and located on the corner of King and Clymer streets, near what is now the Capitol Square.
• Our first school teacher was Miss Louisa Brayton. Her salary was $2.00 per week, but she had to pay half of that amount each week for her room and board.
• In 1839, residents of the village of Madison used tax money to build the area's first official school building on the corner of Pinckney and Dayton streets.
• A new, brick school building, known as the "Little Brick," was completed in 1845 at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Butler Street.
• In 1847 the "Female Academy," a school for older girls, was built on the block near Wisconsin Avenue and West Johnson streets.
• After Madison became a city in 1856, it was divided into four wards and the first superintendent, Damon Kilgore, was hired to oversee the education of Madison's 1,865 school-aged children.

Today, Madison's students and teachers often research the history of their schools. Some of them have created Web sites to document their efforts. Click on these links to find out about the histories of Allis Elementary, Crestwood Elementary, Mendota Elementary and Randall Elementary.