Macon County Schools
Macon County’s first known teacher was John Thompson in 1834. When the county was incorporated in 1837, the county
court established two districts, Bloomington and Liberty, both in close proximity to the County Courthouse. The first school houses were log cabins, usually having one door and maybe a window, puncheon floors and seats, and heated by a fireplace or wood stove. The teacher may have been just an older student who had become the teacher without further education than he had attained in the pioneer school he attended.
The Missouri Constitution 0f 1820 had mandated that at least one school be established in each township to provide
a free education for those who could not afford private schooling, and by 1840 there were seven primary schools in the county, with 180 pupils.
Macon County adopted a “system of public schools” in 1850. Better schoolhouses were built and more competent teachers employed. The present school system went into effect in 1875 with provisions for both whites and those of African descent. By 1884, 9,413 school children were taught by 172 teachers—77 male, and 95 female. By 1910 there were 135 schools for whites, seven for colored, and ten high schools.
By 1913 there were 139 school districts in Macon County. In the 1966-67 school year there were only seven rural schools left, most of them having annexed and consolidated with nearby public schools. By 1967 all rural schools in Macon County had closed.
Prior to the Civil War, Macon County had two academies and one college-- Bloomington Academy under the patronage of Macon’s Methodist Episcopal Church, Macon Academy established by Frances Wallen, and McGee College (Cumberland Presbyterian) at College Mound, 1853.
McGee College was quite successful for several years before the Civil War began. In 1861 it had an attendance of some 250 students, and its graduating class for the year numbered ten or more. It stopped operating during the War, but opened again in 1865.
Dr. F.W. Allen opened Macon College just before the War, but it closed in 1861 in the wake of the Confederate flagpole being cut down in Macon.
Other early private schools established in Macon under the auspices of religious groups were Johnson College (Methodist
Episcopal), 1866; St. James Academy and St. Agnes Hall (Episcopal), 1875 and 1884; and Western College (Baptist), 1892. Johnson College was opened in Macon as a coed institution, but closed in 1870 and incorporated with St. James
Academy in 1880.
In 1884 St. James Academy became a military institution, closing in 1886. Colonel Fredrick W. Blees from Germany reopened it in 1892. It closed in 1895 when Blees returned to his homeland. Blees came back to Macon and opened the Blees Military Academy in 1899.
court established two districts, Bloomington and Liberty, both in close proximity to the County Courthouse. The first school houses were log cabins, usually having one door and maybe a window, puncheon floors and seats, and heated by a fireplace or wood stove. The teacher may have been just an older student who had become the teacher without further education than he had attained in the pioneer school he attended.
The Missouri Constitution 0f 1820 had mandated that at least one school be established in each township to provide
a free education for those who could not afford private schooling, and by 1840 there were seven primary schools in the county, with 180 pupils.
Macon County adopted a “system of public schools” in 1850. Better schoolhouses were built and more competent teachers employed. The present school system went into effect in 1875 with provisions for both whites and those of African descent. By 1884, 9,413 school children were taught by 172 teachers—77 male, and 95 female. By 1910 there were 135 schools for whites, seven for colored, and ten high schools.
By 1913 there were 139 school districts in Macon County. In the 1966-67 school year there were only seven rural schools left, most of them having annexed and consolidated with nearby public schools. By 1967 all rural schools in Macon County had closed.
Prior to the Civil War, Macon County had two academies and one college-- Bloomington Academy under the patronage of Macon’s Methodist Episcopal Church, Macon Academy established by Frances Wallen, and McGee College (Cumberland Presbyterian) at College Mound, 1853.
McGee College was quite successful for several years before the Civil War began. In 1861 it had an attendance of some 250 students, and its graduating class for the year numbered ten or more. It stopped operating during the War, but opened again in 1865.
Dr. F.W. Allen opened Macon College just before the War, but it closed in 1861 in the wake of the Confederate flagpole being cut down in Macon.
Other early private schools established in Macon under the auspices of religious groups were Johnson College (Methodist
Episcopal), 1866; St. James Academy and St. Agnes Hall (Episcopal), 1875 and 1884; and Western College (Baptist), 1892. Johnson College was opened in Macon as a coed institution, but closed in 1870 and incorporated with St. James
Academy in 1880.
In 1884 St. James Academy became a military institution, closing in 1886. Colonel Fredrick W. Blees from Germany reopened it in 1892. It closed in 1895 when Blees returned to his homeland. Blees came back to Macon and opened the Blees Military Academy in 1899.
