Our History

researched by Kim Gobble-Sengstock/PTO Parent

Some brief history of this school is as follows. In 1873, oldest record of the school building on Oakwood Blvd across from the cemetery. A one-room, school house cost $432.60, with 41 students staffed by 1 teacher a man, and there was only 6 month of school due to the farming community. In 1891 a new 2 story 2 room school was built with the first school bell, supported by the Christy Coal Company for 75 students…K-eighth grades.

Unfortunately, the school burned down in 1930 so students had to attend classes in the Youngstown Chapel located in the cemetery. Not able consolidate with Four Mile School district; a new school was built for $6000. The new school foundation was built with bricks from the old brick school. Due to lack of funding Pleasant Hill lost the school property to DMPS, so students only attended Pleasant Hill to 8^th grade. Students than attended this fire-proof frame 1946-63. School schedule was 9-4 with an 1 hour lunch.

Pleasant Hill became a true town in 1956. In the May 9^th, 1962 Pleasant Hill was attached to the DMPS. The school was sold and the next 10 years students were bused to DMPS. In 1972, Pleasant Hill regained their school. The school built at the current site Oakwood Blvd. could have up to 320 students K-6, design open space classrooms including some closed classrooms for 1 Kindergarten, art, & music, and a joined gym/cafeteria. The 1^st Principal was Kenneth Rouse.

Pleasant Hill Elementary is located as an adjacent small Des Moines suburb. Pleasant Hill Elementary is close to churches, parks, and other small consolidates school districts with middle-class housing, small business with community development.

The makeup of the diversity students changed last 5 years, the increase in single family homes, 2 parent incomes, varied ethnic diversity, and more lower economic status. For past 5 years, the number of students the in the building has been approx. 365 students each year. In the past 20 years approx. 230 students K-6 grades each year.

The PTA was established around 1976. The PTO was established 2000-2001 school years. The Parent Teacher Organization is a group of parents and teachers working together to continually promote and provide assistance to the quality educational programs at Pleasant Hill Elementary. Some of the items paid for are: buses for field trips, assemblies, classroom magazines, additional teacher supplies, daily planners/folders for all students, Fun Night, indoor recess games, yearbook, student directory, and the PTO website. The PTO is very active more teachers/parents attending monthly meetings, but with only 1 big fundraiser “Fall Walkathon” have many volunteers. The Website was established 2005.