Purchase School

Purchase’s first elementary school was actually built in 1859 and it stood on the present property of the Purchase Community House. Today’s Purchase School is located on the corner of Anderson Hill Road and Purchase Street. Dedicated in 1906, it began as a two-room stone building. The picture shows our school in the year 1917. Additional rooms were constructed in 1922 with the end room with the fireplace being added in 1929. In 1953, a new corridor with eight classrooms, a music room, and an auditorium/gym were added.

Most recently, in 1997, a new wing housing nine classrooms, three tutorial rooms, a larger gym with a stage, and a multi-purpose room were constructed. Also, that "end room with the fireplace" was turned into a beautiful library and computer room. In 1999, and again in 2003, rising student enrollment necessitated the installation of eight “portable” classrooms. There are currently twenty-three general education classrooms.

Purchase School was an independent school district until 1969 when it centralized with the Harrison Central School District. Purchase maintained a Kindergarten through Eighth Grade program until 1974. Currently containing Kindergarten through Fifth Grade, Purchase School is one of four elementary schools in the Harrison School District. The Louis M. Klein Middle School serves grades Six through Eight, and is followed by the Harrison High School.