Louisa Boren Junior High School opened in September 1963. On that day, the school welcomed 800 students in grades 6 through 9, and had 40 teaching stations. The mid-century modern building was designed by famous Seattle architecture firm Naramore, Bain, Brady & Johanson (now NBBJ); the architects of Safeco Field and The Museum of Flight.
The Boren building is spacious and light, with classrooms surrounding courtyards and Japanese Garden-style landscaping. Many of the original trees planted in the 1960’s are still part of the landscape.
Louisa Boren Junior High became a Middle School in 1978, serving students in grades 6 through 8.
Due to a dwindling population in West Seattle, the school was closed in 1981, and students were reassigned to Denny and Madison Middle Schools.
Seattle Public Schools kept the building for special projects, including alternative education programs such as the Indian Heritage School. Pathfinder K-8 got its start in the Boren building, when known simply as “Alternative Education IV”.
The building was also used as an interim location for schools whose premises were undergoing renovations. Boren has been a temporary home to many schools, including Madison Middle School, West Seattle and Cleveland High Schools, and most recently Chief Sealth High School.
For more about Louisa Boren Junior High School, visit the SPS History archives 1963-2000
