Criterion School
Children first attended classes at the one-room Criterion School in 1912. The Criterion was the first school in Wasco County to obtain the classification of “Standard” and served up to 25 children at a time.
Although it ceased to operate as a school in 1925, the building continued to serve the surrounding community as a Sunday school, Grange Hall, voting place and other public events. In 1969, the building was sold to a local rancher and used for hay and grain storage.
In 1976, the Criterion Schoolhouse began a new life and a 200-mile journey to the Oregon State Fairgrounds in time for the celebration of the bicentennial of the United States. The schoolhouse was chosen from more than 50 schools from around Oregon to serve as a tribute to Oregon public education. Today, it’s a must-see for fans of Oregon history.
The Future of the Criterion School
The Oregon Expo congratulates the Oregon Retired Educators Association (OREA) for its ongoing efforts to preserve, restore and enhance the Criterion Schoolhouse. Each year, OREA provides over 70 volunteers to host thousands of visitors to this historic treasure.
OREA has played an ongoing part in fundraising to replace the roof, refurbish the windows, install gutters and paint the building. Last summer, a siding workshop put on by the Historic Preservation and Restoration Program at Clatsop Community College addressed dry rot issues in the exterior walls of the building.
See the Criterion Schoolhouse During the Fair
The Criterion Schoolhouse typically opens each year during the Oregon State Fair, where visitors can learn about the Schoolhouse’s interesting history and see its artifacts. Children can color pictures of Oregon and see the books used at the time of Criterion School. Some date back to the 1800s.
Stay tuned for the Criterion School’s hours of operation during the 2024 Oregon State Fair.
Help Keep The Criterion Schoolhouse Alive and Well
Past donations and grants have helped us with upkeep and repairs on the school. Future restoration work includes a redesign of the ADA ramp, capping the chimney, reinforcing the floor, replacing dry rotted sill plate beams and installing a replica outhouse built from materials left over from the summer workshop.
We appreciate any help we can get! Checks are made out to:
Oregon State Fair Foundation (On the memo line of the check, write “Criterion School”)
2330 17th St. NE
Salem, OR 97304
CRITERION SCHOOLHOUSE PLACED ON NATIONAL SCHOOLHOUSE REGISTER
RECOGNITION CEREMONY ON AUGUST 10, 2023
The Criterion Schoolhouse, located in Salem on the Fairgrounds at the Oregon Expo, was placed on the National Schoolhouse Register by the Country School Association of America (CSAA) on December 2, 2022. The Oregon Retired Educators Association submitted the nomination through its Save the Criterion School Committee. CSAA lists former or current school buildings considered worthy of recognition on a national level for their preservation. The Criterion Schoolhouse is the first Oregon school building to receive this designation!
The Criterion Schoolhouse was the first school in Wasco County to be declared “standard” and was used as a school from 1912 – 1925. The Oregon Department of Education searched statewide for abandoned one-room schoolhouses from 1975 – 1976. Criterion was chosen out of 50 candidates to be moved 200 miles to the Oregon State Fairgrounds for the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration. The historical treasure still stands on the Oregon State Fairgrounds as a symbol and tribute to Oregon’s public education.
Placements on the CSAA registry are awarded to school buildings that are at least 50 years old, have been restored, renovated or reconstructed to retain the integrity of their original design, and are well maintained. The hope of CSAA is that this registry will identify the historical and architectural significance, recognize the preservation achievements, and encourage the continual care of the Criterion School.
Ceremonial Recognition Ceremony August 10th
This historic event was celebrated on August 10, 2023 at the Criterion Schoolhouse at the Oregon Expo. Dignitaries and Oregon State educationally involved stakeholders were invited alongside media outlets to cover this historic event.
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