West Rowan Elementary came into existence in 2018. After combining Cleveland Elementary and Woodleaf Elementary, it became the largest elementary school in Rowan County.

Remembering our past:

The doors of Cleveland Elementary School opened in the fall of 1927. It was a two-story brick building constructed to serve the students of the Cleveland community. Expansion took place in the early 1950’s with the addition of the gymnasium and the agriculture building. Cleveland’s campus served both elementary and high school students until the opening of West Rowan High School in the fall of 1959. Complete integration took place in 1968 when West Rowan Junior High School was established at the former R. A. Clement School. With the addition of kindergarten students in 1973, Cleveland Elementary School served students in grades K-5.

Woodleaf Elementary School was nestled on eleven acres in the town of Woodleaf off of Highway 801 on School Street in the northwestern portion of Rowan County. Children in the community and surrounding area attended Woodleaf from kindergarten through grade five.

When Woodleaf first opened its doors in 1927, it was the Woodleaf Public School and accommodated grades one through twelve. The first floor of the main building was the elementary school and the upstairs floor had classrooms for the high school. In addition there were two rooms on the ground floor and an auditorium. Later a gymnasium and agriculture building completed the school until the 1950’s when a new cafeteria and additional classrooms were added. In later years, the high school and junior high students were sent to newly built schools and Woodleaf became an elementary school.