Archives Closed Schools T-Z: Willoughby Special School

Other Name: Jewell B. Willoughby School; Valley Elementary; Valley School for the Trainable Mentally Handicapped; Waller Elementary; Waller Environmental School

Last Address: 6601 Dixie Highway

Year Opened: 1979

Year Closed: 1983

The Valley School for the Trainable Mentally Handicapped was renamed Willoughby School in honor of Jewell Willoughby, a longtime special education teacher.  Willoughby moved from the old Valley Elementary to the vacated Waller Elementary in Pleasure Ridge Park in 1980.  Willoughby was closed in 1983 and its students transferred to Churchill Park and Tully schools as those facilities were preferable for the mentally handicapped.  Waller Environmental opened in the school in 1986.