In 1894, before University Place School District was organized, Mr. F.A. Elden arranged for school to be conducted in a two-room house which was located on the corner of Crystal Springs and 27th street. Seven pupils were enrolled in school the first year. A petition was given to the Superintendent of Common Schools for Pierce County on Oct. 5, 1895 and the formation of the district was granted on November 2, 1895.
A plot of land, located on the north side of 27th street at Elwood, was given to the District by Mr. F.A. Elden in 1896. A one-room building was built: this school was called "Lemon's Beach School". In 1911, as enrollment increased, a second room was added.
More people were moving into University Place. A special levy was held on June 10, 1915 at Lemon's Beach School. Eighteen voters favored building and equipping a new building, and one voter voted against the proposition.
Five acres were secured where our present location is and a new four-room brick school was built. The general contract was $8,039 for the new building, and $1,297.50 for the plumbing and heating. Seven additions were added onto this original building by 1954, giving the school a total of thirty classrooms.
On April 27, 1927, Mr. George R. Curtis was elected by the board to be the next principal of University Place School. Little did the board realize the role this man would assume in the future years of University Place. He retired as superintendent from our district in 1972. Curtis Jr. High and Sr. High are named in his honor.
In 1957, Curtis Jr. High and Narrows View Elementary were under construction. Work was progressing well on Curtis Jr. High and Narrows View Elementary. However, before these buildings were finished, there were 1,277 students in attendance at University Place Elementary. Ninth graders were attending school within the district for the first time. Conditions greatly improved as the new facilities became available for use.
In 1978, the original building of University Place Elementary and four of the additions were condemned and the present building was constructed. Our school was designed to handle 500 students.
In 1990-91, University Place Elementary became a primary school, with grades Pre-school - 4th grade. By 1992 University Place Primary had grown to over 640 students with six portables for added classroom space; we also celebrated our 75th year with a Diamond Jubilee. A special Diamond Jubilee project completed in the fall of 1994 was the remodel of our playground, adding 4 new play structures. In September 1993 our population dropped to the current 500, due to the opening of the new Evergreen Primary School. Our school mascot is the Mustang, and our students voted in November 1991 to name our mascot "Lighting". Lightning symbolizes our students' brightness, quick learning, and high energy level. Our official school colors are blue and gold.
In November 1995, we celebrated 100 years of University Place Schools by planting trees on the playground and the Centennial Garden in the front parking lot turn around area. (designed by Willie Gatlin, 3rd grade)