With enrollment declining, Cherry Hill Public Schools closed three elementary schools each in 1978 and 1982. The Sun re-visited the sites of all six schools this week.
In the early 1970s, there were a total of 18 elementary schools in Cherry Hill school district. Today, that number is down to 12.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, six elementary schools closed in Cherry Hill. Three schools, Coles, Erlton and Stafford schools, closed in 1978. Three more schools, Barclay, Hinchman and Malberg schools, closed in 1982.
Some of the old elementary schools are still part of Cherry Hill school district. Other buildings are no longer in the district, but still exist. One other building has since been demolished and is now used for open space.
What do the sites of these six former elementary schools look like today? Find out in these short profiles below:
Barclay Elementary School
Opened — 1959
Closed — 1982
Why did it close: A June 23, 1982 story from the “Courier-Post” detailed the closing of Barclay, Hinchman and Malberg schools. The story cites an ongoing fiscal crisis and declining enrollment as the reasons the Cherry Hill Board of Education decided to close the buildings.
What happened to the building: Barclay is one of two buildings the school district still uses. The school is now home to the Barclay Early Childhood Center.
Coles Elementary School
Opened — 1927
Closed — 1978
Why did it close: Stories from the “Courier-Post” in the late 1970s say Coles was closed due to declining enrollment. A Citizens Advisory Committee issued a report in 1978 on what to do with Coles, Erlton and Stafford schools after they were closed. The three schools were all constructed in the 1920s.
What happened to the building: Coles Elementary is currently home to Y.A.L.E. School’s Cherry Hill campus. After more than a year of legal battles, in October 1986, Cherry Hill Township sold Coles Elementary to Y.A.L.E. School for $550,000, according to the “Courier-Post.”
Erlton Elementary School
Opened — 1928
Closed — 1978
Why did it close: According to Robert A. Shinn and Kevin Cook’s book, “Along the Cooper River: Camden to Haddonfield,” the Cherry Hill Board of Education closed the school due to declining enrollment. Erlton was closed along with Coles and Stafford schools.
What happened to the building: A Cherry Hill Sun Throwback Thursday story from November 2016 details the full history of Erlton School following its closure. The school sit vacant for more than a decade before Cherry Hill Township officials opted to demolish it and transform the property into open space.
Hinchman Elementary School
Opened — 1963 (Original, one room Hinchman School opened in 1922 according to “Images of America: Cherry Hill.”)
Closed — 1982
Why did it close: Hinchman was closed along with Barclay and Malberg elementary schools due to declining enrollment in 1982.
What happened to the building: In September of 1984, “The Philadelphia Inquirer” reported that the Cherry Hill Board of Education sold Hinchman Elementary to R. Steven Scherfeld. Scherfeld planned to renovate the building and open a nursing home named the Cherry Hill Convalescent Center. Today, the site is home to AristaCare at Cherry Hill.
Malberg Elementary School
Opened — 1969
Closed — 1982
Why did it close: Malberg was closed along with Barclay and Hinchman elementary schools due to declining enrollment in 1982.
What happened to the building: Malberg is the second building the school district still uses today. It is home to the administration offices, the Cherry Hill Alternative High School and hosts the Cherry Hill Board of Education meetings.
Stafford Elementary School
Opened — 1924
Closed — 1978
Why did it close: Stafford closed along with Coles and Erlton school due to declining enrollment in 1978.
What happened to the building: Stafford School is now home to Brookfield Academy, which still uses the original school building.
Some sources has conflicting information on when the six elementary schools opened. The dates used are from an early 1970s study published on school building needs for Cherry Hill Public Schools.
