Willo Neighborhood Association

Kenilworth School History

A Proud Past

Kenilworth Elementary opened in 1920 during the first major growth spurt for the new City of Phoenix. During this period it was fashionable for public buildings to reflect a community's hopes for the future. Kenilworth was meant to be a statement that a small town would become a major force in the history of Arizona (only eight years after statehood) and of the U.S.

Among the Kenilworth students that first year were two who would later become U.S. Senators -- Barry Goldwater and Paul Fannin. They were followed by a string of other notables, such as: Margret Hance (Phoenix Mayor), Tony West (Arizona State Treasurer), and Stan Akers. Judge Earl Carrol and U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Renquist were both presidents of Kenilworth's Parent Teacher Organization.

Slated for Demolition?

In the early 1970s, when the state began to map the course of the I-10 freeway, Kenilworth was briefly scheduled for demolition, along with many homes. It was saved by a committee of prominent citizens, neighborhood activists, and parents (including the current principal whose three children went to Kenilworth).

A Promising Future

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the oldest school in Maricopa County which continues to serve students, Kenilworth has undergone a dramatic improvement under the leadership of Prinicpal Ruth Ann Marston. The auditorium was restored and hallways are filled with displays of photographs, newspaper clippings, and artifacts that help to give students a sense of belonging in this historic neighborhood.

Today, eight new classrooms are being built due to overcrowding and construction of over 1,000 new dwelling units within a mile radius of the school. The addition will harmonize with the historic structure and is being financed as part of a $48 million bond project approved by voters in Phoenix Elementary School District #1.

You can donate up to $200 per year to Kenilworth, deduct the amount from your state income tax, and designate how the money should be spent: arts, sports, music, field trips, etc. In 1998-99, most funding for Kenilworth went to after-school programs. The deadline is December 31, 1999. For more information, call 602-257-3889.