What we know as French Settlement High School today started off as a charter 123 years ago on January 7, 1899. The first school was built on property belonging to Pierre "Boss" Lambert. Shares were sold for $10 each to raise funds for the construction of the school. 

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After many of the surrounding schools suffered setbacks -- from deaths to fires -- the school district decided to consolidate smaller schools around French Settlement to a central location. The site was purchased from Edmond Salassi, and in October 1928 a two-story school building, which still serves students today, was opened. The school's enrollment at the time was 225 students from grades 1-10. 

 

French Settlement had its first graduating class in 1930. Seven students received diplomas including Ada Aydell, Corinne Genre, Pearl Lambert, Ina Lambert, Aydell Lambert, Eddie Aydell and Earl Salassi. 

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Over the years the school continued to grow. In 1948, students from the Frost community began being bussed to French Settlement High. That allowed the school to expand to grades 1-12. That boom in enrollment meant the school needed to expand as well. Until 1960, there was only the two-story building, a frame building for a lunchroom and another frame building for the home economics department and gymnasium. The next year, the school added a kindergarten building and what is now the one-story high school classroom building. 

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By 1978 enrollment reached 575 from kindergarten-12 grade. French Settlement's staffing also grew from around a dozen to more than 30. During this time, the school continued adding buildings, including a special education and vocational agriculture building and a new gym. 

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With enrollment growing and little room to expand, more than five acres of land was purchased across from the high school with plans to build a new elementary school. French Settlement Elementary was completed and students K-6 began attending the new elementary school during the 1985-1986 school year. 

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Even with the new elementary school opening, enrollment for French Settlement High School has continued to grow year over year as more people move to the village. The school has built a new central office building, a new cafeteria, a new shop and a new gym within the last 15 years. Nearly 500 students attend FSHS from grades 7-12.