Chaires School


Chaires Elementary School, formerly The Chaires School, is an elementary school located in the unincorporated community of Chaires, Florida in eastern Leon County. Under the name Station One School, it appeared in Leon County School Board minutes in the 1870s. At that time, it served grades 1–10. Like all schools in Florida at the time, it was racially segregated and served only white students.
By 1928, the original building was no longer suitable; it was too small for the growing population and needed extensive renovation. In addition, the school regularly flooded during heavy rains.
A new school opened in 1929, on a campus of. It had a coal heater, electricity, and a fresh well. Station One was turned over to the blacks in the community. The school at that time went up to the 11th grade. The grade level has fluctuated although it was never accredited above the junior high level.
An addition to the building was built in 1948. In the 1950s, Chaires School was "designated an Emergency Federal Civil Defense 200-bed hospital."' It became integrated and student population increased, in 1967, when the Station One School closed.
Being in a rural area, the children at Chaires have raised their own chickens, tended their gardens, planted trees, and experienced "Pioneer Day" where they engaged in activities such as churning butter.
The Chaires School became Chaires Elementary School. Today there are over 900 students.
In 1986 Chaires opened its new and current building located at 4774 Chaires Cross Road. At that time it had grades pre-kindergarten to 5th.