In 1908, as a result of a petition from the citizens of the northwest section of the City, the J.W. Hays School was erected. Three years later petitions were circulated for the construction of a new high school building; it was eventually built upon its present site in 1914. At the time of its construction the E-shaped design was regarded as somewhat revolutionary, and when four years later the gymnasium and swimming pool were added, it took its place as one of the outstanding high school buildings in the country.
Further building continued with the construction of Washington School located by Crystal Lake Park in the northeast in 1923 and the enlargement of Thornburn School in 1926.
During the years following World War II, the Urbana School District began to experience an increase in school population as a result of expanded home building within and outside the city limits. During the next twenty years the following buildings were constructed: Flossie Wiley Elementary School (1950); Urbana Junior High School (1952); Yankee Ridge Elementary School (1958); Thomas Paine Elementary School (1963); and Prairie Elementary School (1965). Also during this time several independent school districts were annexed to Urbana School District 116.
During the years of rapid student growth, several additions were made to existing buildings to meet the need for more space.
In November 1985, a referendum was approved for a $14.5 million renovation and expansion of Urbana High School. When completed in August 1989, ninth grade students moved to the high school to form a four-year high school, and Urbana Junior High became Urbana Middle School to serve grades 7-8 (it now serves grades 6-8).
School district voters approved a $23 million referendum in 1998 to expand and renovate Leal Elementary School, expand and renovate Urbana Middle School, and to construct the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center. The Aquatic Center was constructed through an intergovernmental agreement with the Urbana Park District.”
