After more than a century of laughter, learning, and lifelong friendships, South Wayne Elementary in Fort Wayne is counting down its final days. The beloved Cottage Avenue school will lock its doors for the last time on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, ending a 103 year run that shaped generations of Hoosier kids.
A 103 Year Legacy Comes to a Close
South Wayne Elementary first opened its doors in 1923, just a few years after the South Wayne neighborhood officially merged with Fort Wayne. For 103 years, this small brick building has stood as a quiet anchor for families on the city’s near south side.
It has served as a Title 1 school, a home for English Language Learners, and a partner in the Blessings in a Backpack food program. Students have moved on to Portage Middle School and South Side High School, carrying South Wayne lessons with them.
Now, the hallways that once echoed with recess bells are about to fall silent.
Why Fort Wayne Schools Pulled the Plug
Fort Wayne Community Schools announced the closure on November 4, 2025. District leaders pointed to two big problems they could not fix: a deeply aging building and shrinking funding from the state.
Officials said the cost to repair or replace the structure had become too heavy a load. They also noted that nearby schools had open seats waiting to be filled.
- Building age: The original section dates back to 1923.
- Funding pressure: Cuts made long term operations unworkable.
- Open capacity: Other elementary buildings can absorb students.
- Final day: Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
The announcement landed hard for a community that has watched kids grow up inside those walls for four straight generations.
Teachers and Students Brace for Goodbye
Principal Brenda West has spent 20 years inside South Wayne. For her, this is not just a job ending. It feels like watching a family scatter.
“You spend 20 years in a place. It’s not like a job you do. It’s your family during the day, and oftentimes during the night. It’s like when your kids go to college, you know they’re going to be well taken care of. You look at the positives, but the loss will be real.”
Third grade teacher Lauren Underwood says her students swing between excitement and sadness. Some days they forget the school is closing. Other days, they walk in with big questions.
“They ask, ‘Where are you going next year? What’s happening?'” Underwood said. “It’s going to be really sad to say goodbye.”
West says the heart of the school was never the building. It was the kids who walked through the doors with struggles and walked out a little stronger.
“One Last Flight” Brings the Community Together
On Saturday, May 9, 2026, South Wayne is throwing open its doors one final time for an event called “One Last Flight.” Alumni, former teachers, neighbors, and current families are all invited to walk the halls together.
A filmmaker will be on site recording stories for a digital archive, so memories of the school can live on long after the bricks come down. Visitors can browse historic photos, peek into old classrooms, and listen to live music from the South Wayne Club O Orchestra.
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | One Last Flight |
| Date | Saturday, May 9, 2026 |
| Location | South Wayne Elementary, Cottage Avenue |
| Highlights | Story recording, classroom tours, live music |
For West, the people are what she will miss most.
“When you see a kid who starts out with a lot of struggle and they end with, ‘I figured out some of my struggles,’ and you have any part in that, mostly just the witnessing of it is so beautiful.”
What Comes Next for the Cottage Avenue Building
Most South Wayne students will start the 2026-27 school year at Abbett or Fairfield Elementary. To prevent overcrowding, the district is also adjusting Abbett’s southern boundary, sending some families to Levan Scott Academy.
The oldest section of South Wayne will be demolished. The newer part will be renovated into an Education Services Center for special education and other district services.
Human Resources is helping every South Wayne staff member find a new role inside Fort Wayne Community Schools. No teacher will be left behind, district leaders confirmed.
Parents say the transition feels heavy, but they are leaning on the same lessons their kids learned at South Wayne. Show up. Be brave. Help each other through the hard days.
As the final bell prepares to ring on May 20, South Wayne Elementary leaves behind something a wrecking ball cannot touch. It leaves behind 103 years of kids who learned how to read here, how to make friends here, and how to believe in themselves here. The building may change, but the memories of Cottage Avenue belong to Fort Wayne forever. Did you go to South Wayne, or know someone who did? Share your favorite memory in the comments below and help keep this 103 year story alive.
