Benton Elementary
| Type | Elementary School |
|---|---|
| Year Opened | 1896 |
| Principal | Debby Barksdale |
| Address | 3301 New Haven Road |
| Phone Number | 573-214-3611 |
| Website | N/A |
| Student Capacity | 252 |
| Students Enrolled | 251 |
| Number of Teachers | N/A |
| Number of Trailers | N/A |
| Enrolled in Lunch Program | 207 |
| White Population | 73 |
| Black Population | 171 |
| Hispanic Population | 6 |
| Asian Population | 12 |
| American Indian Population | 1 |
| MAP Score Math | N/A |
| MAP Score Communication Arts | N/A |
BY COURTNEY SCHROEDER
news@columbiamissourian.com
Principal Debby Barksdale says Benton Elementary is a unique school because it is one of the oldest schools in Columbia. At 111 years old, Benton is one of Columbia’s original schools. Many students’ parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents attended Benton.
Benton is a smaller school, and can be described as a close-knit community. All the teachers know the students, not just the ones in their classes, creating a real sense of family.
Benton uses technology in its classrooms daily. They have several SMART Boards and try to purchase different pieces of technology each year with donations or PTA help. Teachers and students are looking forward to having a SMART Board and data projector in every classroom, thanks to the passing of the April bond issue.
Benton has a wealth of after-school programs, such as the running club and the chess club. They also have a swimming class for 4th and 5th graders, which is at Hickman High School. They hope next year to have a bus that will transport kids home after these after-school activities.
Along with many after-school programs, Benton has several partnerships. One of their partnerships is PACE, which is a performing arts theatre group for students in Columbia. Other partnerships include Primer bank, Alarm Communications Center, Kiwanis Club, and Wal-Mart located on Grindstone. Barksdale believes that “we’re all in this together, and our partnerships feel the same way.”
