The New Franklin R-1 School District covers over 100 square miles in southern Howard and northwestern Boone counties. The New Franklin area is rich in cultural history and is known as the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail. The original school, pictured here, was constructed of native gray limestone and built by the citizens of New Franklin as a WPA project in the 1930's. An elementary school was added in the 1960's and a middle school addition in the 1990's. All three schools are connected in a single campus.