Archives Closed Schools N-P: Prestonia Elementary School

Other Name: Prestonia Environmental School; Gheens Academy; Prestonia School #78

Last Address: 4425 Preston Highway

Year Opened: 1880

Year Closed: 1981

The original school property was donated by Dr. Elisha Standiford, who owned the farm where Standiford Field (Louisville International Airport) is now. It was located on Preston.  A larger building succeeded the first in 1887. The first teacher, Sallie Phillips Durrett, named the newer school Prestonia for Colonel William Preston, a large landowner in the area.  Spring Gardens School and Prestonia # 36 were consolidated with Prestonia into a new building in 1928. Its address was 3442 Preston Highway, near Keller Avenue.  Several additions were constructed to the 1928 school building.  More land was purchased at that location from Mike Breitenstein in 1946 and from the Mann estate in 1947.  Another new school building was opened in 1970 at 4425 Preston Highway.  The old school building became the Dawson Education Center.  Prestonia was closed in 1981 due to declining enrollment and was succeeded by Prestonia Environmental School.  After the end of the Prestonia Environmental School, the building became the Gheens Professional Development Academy.