West Lenoir Elementary School was built during the 1934-35 school year as part of the Public Works Administration Program. When it first opened in September 1935, it had 12 teachers. It also included an office for the principal, a small room for the library and an auditorium that would seat approximately 500. The auditorium had a concrete floor, but the walls and the overhead was not finished (this later became the cafteteria). By 1939, there were 430 students enrolled in grades one through five. In 1951, a four-room addition was constructed (this later became the media center and classrooms).