St. John's was the Location of the First Public School in New Rochelle

Did you know that our School House's location was where the first public school house in New Rochelle was erected?

"A public school was established here under the provisions of the first public school law passed by the State of New York, the Act of April 9, 1795. Although this Act was limited to five years in its operation, the schoolhouse, as late as 1803, is referred to as 'the new school house.' It is clearly the only schoolhouse that was erected in the Town under the provisions of that Act. It stood partly in the street, was about 16 x 24 feet on the ground and one story high.

This served the upper or third school district until the Civil War period. Then it was replaced by the present (1938) building lately used as a police station by the City of New Rochelle. This latter building continued to be used as a schoolhouse until the Roosevelt School on North Avenue was built, after which it was used by St. John's Church (Wilmot), which immediately adjoins it, for Sunday School and other church purposes until the City altered it for a police station (again). It was continued as a sub-station in 1936."

From The History of New Rochelle Public Schools by Brother Austin Devane of Iona College