Gloucester Township Elementary School was built in 1925. Its cornerstone indicates that construction was started in that year. The school opened its doors to students in 1926. Although it has had many interior renovations, the original building has never had an exterior addition added to it.

The original format had the building designated as a junior high school and holding students in grades 7 and 8. The building was called Blackwood Junior School when it first opened. Its original sign read “Blackwood School”. The school gymnasium was on the ground floor and the auditorium with permanent seating was on the second floor in the middle of the building.

Records and primary sources (former students) indicate that early grades were eventually housed in the building starting as early as the 40’s and through the 50’s. Former students will indicate that grades K through 8 were located in the school at one time. In 1958, it was renamed the Gloucester Township Junior School and even included 9th graders for a few years. During the 1950’s, the auditorium balcony was enclosed to be used for small group instruction. The auditorium itself had the permanent seating removed and was changed into a combination gymnasium/auditorium for dual purpose use. The original gymnasium on the ground floor was changed into a cafeteria. The converted gymnasium was considered one of the best grade school gyms in the area and hosted many junior high school county tournament basketball games during the 1950’s.

In 1964 it became Gloucester Township School. With redistricting taking place, GTS was designated to serve grades 4 and 5 from over half the township. Many larger and newer buildings (Blackwood Elementary & Chews Elementary) only served grades K to 3 during the mid 60’s and early 70’s. Fourth & fifth graders from those neighborhoods attended GTS for grades 4 & 5.

The school continued to serve grades 4 & 5 through 1974. 2 classes of third grade were added for one year (74-75) making GTS grades 3, 4, & 5.

In 1975-76, the district rezoned again and GTS joined all the other elementary schools to become a pure “neighborhood” school and hold grades K-4. Grade 5 was sent to the CW Lewis Middle School but returned to GTS in 1981-82, making the school a K-5 building. The K-5 format is the current level served by the school and all other township elementary schools at the present time.

Mascot & School Colors: Primary sources (former students) indicate the school’s original colors and mascot/nickname (red & white; Indians, Warriors, Chiefs) was transported to the CW Lewis Middle School when that building was opened in 1964. This left GTS without an official mascot or set of school colors of its own. In the mid 1970’s, GTS joined all the other elementary schools in the district in selecting a school mascot & colors to promote school spirit & identity. The school principal at that time (Donald M. Ulrich) chose the mascot & nickname Yellow Jackets with the mascot being a hornet. The name was chosen due to the many yellow jackets wasps found nesting around the school landscape and surrounding foliage. The official school colors of black & gold were chosen to coincide with the new mascot and because of the school’s location on Black Horse Pike.

The early 1990’s saw the building officially designated as Gloucester Township Elementary School so it could establish its own identity as an elementary building (the word “elementary” was added to avoid confusion with the district itself) . A new marquee sign containing the new name was erected by the EPC (Educators & Parents Committee) overlooking Black Horse Pike in 1995 and the current identity change was completed.

At the present time, GTES is an extremely successful Kindergarten to Grade 5 school which has established a reputation for high academic achievement. Its two foot thick concrete walls make it one of the safest structures in the area. The vintage architecture gives the school a traditional feel of family closeness & warmth that is coveted and closely guarded by its community.

The school’s famous Americanism Program has received national recognition, including: *The 2008 Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge - George Washington Honor Medal and *The AMVETS Silver Helmet Americanism Trophy as the nation’s top program, and is now celebrated in November near Veterans Day, Election Day, & Thanksgiving.

GTES has also received recognition in receiving the Camden County Women’s Center STAR Service Award in 2012 and then being a featured school in 2017 on NJTV’s Classroom Close-Ups television program.

GTES has had many interior renovations in the past 20 years with new doors & windows, climate control, interior & exterior appointments, a 30 terminal computer lab, SMART boards in all classrooms, new office space for staff, and state of the art wireless technology & communication throughout the building.

A loyal & highly dedicated neighborhood sends second and third generation family members to GTES, as former students move back into the community so their own children can also attend Gloucester Township Elementary School!

Written by: Joseph W. Gentile, Principal of GTES 1998-2022
Edited by: Jacob Lessman, Principal of GTES 2022-Present