History of Coleman

Initial Construction & Opening

The site on which Coleman Environmental Magnet Middle School is located contains 97 acres. McVay, Peddie, Schmidt and Allen were architects for the building. Originally named Coleman Junior High, the building was completed in July 1966 at a cost of $1,829,000. The school opened its doors in the fall of 1966. In the general plan of the structure, there are four circular buildings connected by a commons area. One building houses two gymnasiums; another has the auditorium in the center, with nine classrooms around this circular area; and the remaining two buildings have classrooms located on three floors. 

Namesake

W.C. Coleman, for whom the school was named, was an educator and industrialist. Born October 20, 1870, he built a successful life on a love of knowledge, discipline of hard work and principles of a strong faith in God. Reared on a Kansas homestead farm, W.C.'s "learning" began in a country school. His education was fraught with hardships: less than good eyesight, necessary interruptions to work on the family farm after his father's death, and the need to earn money in order to go to college. Despite these difficulties, he completed teacher's college, one year of university graduate study, and two and one-half years of law school before the turn of the century. W.C.'s first ambition was to be a teacher. His career as an educator encompassed two years as a country school master, one year as a university teacher, and two as a school principal.

Mr. Coleman's respect for his associates in the Coleman Company and for the citizens of Wichita brought out the best traits of everyone who worked with him. He was dedicated to all worthwhile public enterprises in the Wichita community. Mr. Coleman was elected the 25th mayor of Wichita for a two-year term (1923-1924). He died on November 2, 1957, at the age of 87.

Grade Level Shifts

In the fall of 1988, all ninth graders were moved to high schools, leaving seventh and eighth graders. In the fall of 1989, all junior high schools became middle schools and included sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students.

Building Additions

There have been two expansions to Coleman's building. A new main entrance and hallway was added. The hallway featured new science classrooms. In 2016, a second hallway addition was completed. Included in this hallway was a FEMA shelter which functions as four classrooms. One of the classrooms provides state of the art technological education space. The space is big enough for all students to go to in case of emergency weather.

Move to an Environmental Magnet

On March 7, 2022, the Wichita Public Schools Board of Education approved Coleman to become an environmental magnet school starting in the 2023-24 school year. Coleman is a neighborhood magnet, allowing students who live within our attendance boundaries to attend without having to complete a magnet application. Students living outside our attendance boundaries can apply to attend.