Gwinn Area Community Schools
Streetaddress50 West M-35[1]
CityGwinn
CountyMarquette County
StateMichigan
Zipcode49841
CountryUnited States
SuperintendentSara Croney[2]
Schools3[3]
Budget$14,649,000 2021-2022 expenditures[3]
Students907 (2024-2025)[3]
Teachers66 (2024-2025)[3]
Staff161.7 FTE (2024-2025)[3]
Ratio13.74 (2024-2025)[3]
GradesPreKindergarten–12
MascotModeltowners
Websitewww.gwinnschools.org

Gwinn Area Community Schools is a public school district in Marquette County, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It serves Gwinn, K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, the townships of Forsyth, Skandia, and West Branch, and parts of the townships of Marquette and Sands.[4]

History

William Gwinn Mather, president of the mining company that founded the town, designed Gwinn as a planned community around 1906. Maher's intentions for an idyllic town earned it the nickname the "Model Town," and "Modeltowners" became the name of Gwinn Schools' sports teams.[5][6] The first class (consisting of one student named Jane Pepin) graduated from Gwinn High School in 1909.[7] A new school was built that same year and expanded in 1915.[8]

The current Gwinn High School opened in fall 1963. With K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base a major presence in the town, construction was funded by the United States Office of Education.[9] Gwinn Middle School opened in November 1967 on the site of the old Gwinn School.[10][11]

The air force base, which had contributed to district enrollment through service members’ children, closed in 1995.[12]

Schools

Schools in Gwinn Area Community Schools district[1][3]
SchoolAddressNotes
Gwinn Middle/High School50 W M-35, GwinnGrades 6–12. Built 1963.[9]
George D. Gilbert Elementary250 W Iron St., GwinnGrades 3–5.
K. I. Sawyer Elementary411 Scorpion, GwinnGrades PreK-2.

References

  1. ^ Gwinn Area Community Schools. "Gwinn Area Community Schools". Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  2. ^ Gwinn Area Community Schools. "Staff". Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  3. ^ NCES
  4. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Marquette County School Districts. Lansing: Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  5. ^ Gwinn Sawyer Chamber of Commerce. "History of Gwinn". Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  6. ^ "Gwinn Model Town Historical Marker". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  7. ^ Editorial staff of Gwinn High School yearbook. 100th Year Gwinn's Centennial Edition (2008 Gwinn High School yearbook). p. 1.
  8. ^ Editorial staff of Gwinn High School yearbook. 1958 Gwinner (1958 Gwinn High School yearbook). p. 3.
  9. ^ "Peninsula Potpourri". Escanaba Daily Press. April 3, 1962. p. 4.
  10. ^ Editorial staff of Gwinn High School yearbook. 100th Year Gwinn's Centennial Edition (2008 Gwinn High School yearbook). p. 1.
  11. ^ Editorial staff of Gwinn High School yearbook. Gwinner 1966 (1966 Gwinn High School yearbook). p. 38.
  12. ^ Editorial staff of Gwinn High School yearbook. Changing Times 1995 (Gwinn High School 1995 yearbook). p. 6.