The Area
Rose Hill Elementary's property, (approximately 9 acres), is bordered by 80th and 128th Avenue N.E. and was originally owned by the Snow family who leased it to a Japanese family (dates unknown).

The Japanese family turned the property into a truck farm that grew apples, cherries and strawberries. The land, at that time, was very hilly with a small house where the existing green house presently sits on N.E. 80th.

In 1928, the Snow's returned to the property to live and rebuilt the small house into the green house that still exists today.

In 1945 Douglas Benson bought the property from the Snow's, but not the house. The Bensons were in the greenhouse/florist business and excavated the property to grow baby's breath flowers. Douglas Benson was an active member on the Lake Washington School Board and wanted to contribute to the community. He sold the land to the school district to build a school in 1949.

The School
School construction began in 1953 and took one year to complete. Rose Hill Elementary opened in the fall of 1954, Mr. Kenneth Johnston was the principal and the enrollment was 390 students.

Today, 2005, Rose Hill Elementary houses 350 students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Our student population represents a rich diversity of ethnicities, cultures, languages and backgrounds.