20th Century School
The 1940s was the first decade when nearly everyone attended high school, providing a common experience and peer culture. While Fairfield’s early high school classes were very small, by the 1950s the town had to add a second high school in order to accommodate the growing population.
In Fairfield and around the country, high school became a major shaper of teenagers’ lives, socially as well as academically. As they educated more students, schools were expected to offer something for everyone, from clubs and dances to sports and vocational training. Students often formed identities as part of a “clique,” whether they were called jocks, nerds, preps, or greasers.
