About Amundsen, Roald Amundsen Elementary School

Designed by architect Paul Gerhardt, Roald Amundsen School opened November 10, 1930, not as a high school, but as a junior high. Over the years, Amundsen established several branches in other schools, including Branch #1 of Amundsen in the Pierce School on February 11, 1931, as well as ninth-grade branches in Audubon and Hamilton Elementary Schools on December 28, 1932. The Amundsen building also played host to branches of other schools, including a Branch of McPherson Elementary that opened in Amundsen in 1932.

On July 26, 1933, Amundsen Junior High became Amundsen Senior High, which, in addition to serving high school pupils, also accommodated an elementary school unit. In June of 1935, the Amundsen Elementary unit closed, except for a small number of first and second-graders kept on as a Branch of Goudy Elementary. This Branch of Goudy in Amundsen became a Branch of Hamilton on January 8, 1936, and remained so until 1937 when it was rendered obsolete by the newly-erected Chappell School.

Amundsen High School still serves students at its original location, 5110 N Damen Avenue, today. It also houses the Global Village Academy, a small school-within-a-school that seeks to cultivate an awareness of global citizenship among its students.

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