About Our School

For more than a century, the Garfield name has represented education, community, and opportunity in Steubenville’s North End. The story of East Garfield Elementary begins in 1884, when the first Garfield School opened at the corner of Madison Avenue and North Fifth Street. Built for $19,000, the eight-room school welcomed generations of children and became an important part of the neighborhood’s history.

As Steubenville grew, so did the need for a modern school facility. In 1962, a new Garfield School was completed on North Fifth Street overlooking the Ohio River. Designed to meet the needs of a changing community, the new building included classrooms, a library, music room, nurse’s clinic, kitchen, multipurpose space, and other facilities that supported both learning and student life. The school also brought together students from nearby communities, including those who had attended the former Alikanna and Brier Hill schools.

Throughout the years, Garfield became more than a school—it became a gathering place where families, teachers, and students built lasting connections. Academic achievements, community programs, student activities, and strong family involvement helped shape its identity as a neighborhood cornerstone.

After renovations and modernization, the school continued its mission as East Garfield Elementary, carrying forward a tradition that began nearly 140 years ago. Today, East Garfield honors its past while preparing new generations of students for the future, standing as a reminder that great schools are built not only with bricks and mortar, but with the memories and achievements of the people they serve.