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Gettysburg Elementary

Part of the Clovis Unified School District

School History

The majority of the following information about the history of Gettysburg Elementary School is from the book, 50 Unified Years compiled and edited by Susan Sawyer Wise.

In 1987, Gettysburg Elementary first started operating in portable buildings behind Clovis High School. The students attended the portable site through June 1989 while contractor Lewis C. Nelson and Sons completed the new $6.3 million facility. The staff and students moved into its permanent facility located at 2100 Gettysburg Avenue on 15 acres in Clovis, California.

Gettysburg was named for the street on which it is located, Gettysburg Avenue. The school colors were selected by students who would be attending Gettysburg when it opened and were approved by the governing board. The mascot, the Generals, was in recognition to the Civil War/Gettysburg influence.

The school opened in September 1989 with Tony Peterson, Jr., as principal. Since then it has had Rick Talley, Todd Bennett, Carl Tomlinson, Scott Dille, Nick Mele, David Castro, and current principal Katie Scalzo.

Recognition in excellence includes the National Blue Ribbon School Award (1999, 2007). The National Drug-Free Schools Program Award (1995) and the State Distinguished School Award (1998, 2006). Gettysburg has also earned the CBEE (California Business for Education Excellence) Honor Roll in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Gettysburg reached an API (Academic Performance Index) over the coveted 900 with scoring 914 in the school year 2012-2013.  The Generals continue to strive for academic excellence and current data can be seen here.

The Generals always strive to Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Ready to Learn!

GO GENERALS!

  • A watercolor painting of a building complex with trees and an American flag.