Jefferson / Whittier School

Jefferson / Whittier School in Pontiac originally started off as two schools - Jefferson Junior High and Whittier Elementary. They were built to replace Eastern Junior High School, which at the time was the only school on the majority-black south side of the city. An addition was made onto Jefferson in 1962, and Whittier around the same time.

In 2009, Jefferson and Whittier faced possible closure as the Pontiac School District struggled with declining enrollment. The two schools were instead consolidated into Jefferson / Whittier Elementary.

Jefferson / Whittier closed in 2012, due to declining enrollment and expensive repairs needed to make the schools viable. It is still active today though, as a training facility for local law enforcement agencies to deal with school shootings.