9709 - 60th Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98118 *** phone: 206-252-7100 fax: 206-252-7101

Emerson Elementary School is located on the southwest corner of Pilgrim Street and 60th Avenue South in the Rainier Beach neighborhood. Adjacent to the school is the 5.53 acre Hutchinson play field. Emerson had its beginnings in 1903 when a two-room, wood-frame school called Rainier Beach was built on the site for grades one through four. Then, in 1908-09, this structure was moved to the side and Emerson was built for a sum of $42,872.00. The Jacobean style building was one of the last schools designed by James Stephen, the district's first architect. The new school had 271 students in grades one through eight. In 1914, the Seattle School District's first public kindergarten was established at Emerson. As the area grew, so did Emerson. In 1956, there were over 900 students at Emerson; nearly 1000 students in 1958. By 1973, however, more elementary schools had been built and the elementary grades ended at fourth grade allowing Emerson to stay under its capacity of 600 students. In 1993, Emerson was recommended to hold "Landmark status" and the current remodel retains the character and style of James Stephen's design. finished in 2001, our building has large classrooms flooded with natural light, up to date electrical, water, and heating systems. At Emerson we are looking forward to the next 100 years!