Home of the Panthers
Fruit Valley Community Learning Center is one of the smallest elementary schools in Vancouver Public Schools. Our staff and students enjoy the small-school environment and connections with the Fruit Valley neighborhood, which has long considered the school to be an integral part of the community.
Truly a community school, we not only serve children in kindergarten through fifth grade, but also are home to a child care facility run by the ESD 112 Early Care and Education, Head Start program for preschoolers and Family-Community Resource Center.
Our school has long been vital to the community’s identity, just as the community has long been vital to ours.
Fruit Valley became part of Vancouver Public Schools in 1915, when the Fruit Valley School District was consolidated with VPS.
During World War II, families flocked to the area to fill aluminum production and shipbuilding jobs. School enrollment climbed, and the district opened a new Fruit Valley school building in 1944.
When a 1948 flood forced residents to flee their homes, the staff joined the response effort by preparing and serving meals for hundreds of people.
A parent-teacher association, established in the 1940s, advocated for youth activities. In the 1960s, a group of mothers organized to form a health room, where children with minor injuries could receive care. An adult volunteer program called Help One Student to Succeed, or HOSTS, provided tutoring in the reading center for many years.
In 2000, then–Washington First Lady Mona Locke visited to kick off Success by 6, which promoted the importance of reading to young children. We were one of two Clark County schools selected at the time to receive assistance through the program.
In June 2002, the building was torn down to make way for affordable housing. The new Fruit Valley Community Learning Center opened in September 2002. Three years later, Fruit Valley was remodeled and enlarged to accommodate more students.
In November 2007, we became one of four district schools to pilot full-day kindergarten. That year, we also established a community garden to provide food for families.
Spring 2020 – Four new classroom additions are underway. Thanks to a bond measure that voters approved in February 2017.
Today, Fruit Valley Community Learning Center is a vibrant part of the neighborhood, and we look forward to many more years of educating the children of this area.
We love our community and business partnerships
Our entire community benefits when everyone is invested in helping children succeed. The Fruit Valley community is fortunate to have numerous community/business partners that provide services and support to our school. Thank you for your generosity!
- 40 Et 8 American Legion
- Burgerville
- Cadet Manufacturing
- Clark County Community Network
- Costco
- Department of Community Services
- EOCF/ECEAP/Head Start
- ESD 112 Child Care
- Evergreen School District
- Faith Center
- Firestone Farms
- Fort Vancouver Regional Library
- Foster Grandparents
- Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools
- Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association
- Great Western Malt
- GFWC – Evergreen
- Hazel Dell Lions Club
- Hot Shots
- Kotobuki (MKA)
- Nor’Westers
- Omega Eggs
- Parents As Teachers
- Port of Vancouver
- Red Lion Hotel
- River’s Edge Church
- Ross Pacific Real Estate
- Share
- Veba’s School of Dance
- Washington Mutual Bank
- Wild Oats
- Windermere Real Estate
- Soroptimist of Vancouver
- Stormwater Management
- The Holland Inc.
- The Tire Store
- Vancouver Bolt & Supply Inc.
- Vancouver Housing Authority
- Vancouver Parks & Recreation
- Vancouver Police Department
- Vancouver Rotary Club