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 One of the first concerns of the early pioneers coming into this area was for the education of their children. Mr. John W. Hodges, who arrived in Caney on April 3, 1870 became the first member of the school board. A one-room log cabin was provided by Berryman Smith. It was located on East Third Street near the present Methodist Church. The first teachers were Miss Billie Smith and Mrs. Omer M. Smith.
The furniture was 2 long wooden benches without backs, and hickory sticks were inserted for legs. A shelf was placed along one wall for pupils' books. Some of the first students who attended were James Ridgeway, Juni Ridgeway, Mary Hodges, Neil Hobert and Charles Badgley.
The first term of this school paved the way for organizing a school distsrict. There was a great deal of opposition to be met within the way of public opinion and hard times, and it was quite a bitter fight, but the pioneer fathers of Caney had a strong conviction of right and great stability of purpose.
On April 13, 1871 Mr. Nathan Bass, County Superintendent gave the order establishing Caney School District No. 34, Township 34; Range 13 and 14E. Under the direction of Dr. A.M. Taylor the citizens met April 28, 1871, in the small general store of O.M. Smith. The first District No. 34 school board was elected including Dr. A.M. Taylor, treasurer, C.H. Smith, clerk; and Sam Ridgeway, director.
On September 3, 1871 the bonds were sold to a banker at Independence for 90-cents on the dollar and construction began on the small rectangular frame building that would become known as the Little White School House. The land was donated by J. Hardin Smith on condition it should always be used for school purposes. The lumber used was transported by wagon from Chetopa, Kansas with the total building cost being $900.00. The fact that the Little White School House was at that time the only wooden frame building in Caney with a coat of white paint relates the value those fine people placed on their school building.
The Little White School House was ready for occupancy in 1872 with the first teacher being Mrs. Barrington. The sign on the front door was impressive and read:
School District #34 1871
"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER"
In 1885, a north wing was added to the school building making it appear "T" shaped. Miss Allie Cochrane was the next teacher followed by Miss Pettibone. S.H. Barr was also one of the early teachers.
The Little White School House served all grades until Lincoln School was built in 1891. It was then used as a grade school through 1908 when McKinley School was completed.
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 In 1891, at a cost of $6,000.00, the new school located on the northeast corner of First and High Streets was completed. It was a two-story structure with four classroms. It was built of native cut sandstone obtained from the J.A. Fleener farm north of Cheyenne Bridge. The original bell from the Little White School House was housed in an attractive belfry that was constructed atop the structure.
Four new teachers were employed including Professor Lewis as School Master, Lou Blair, Jappa Mason and Edna Stevens. Students were Pearl Cooper, Will Gray, Lillie Gray, Jessie Hodges, Zella Peterson, Wallace Smirl, Arthur Stone, Amy Taylor and Della Wood.
The students had the privilege of naming the school and Lincoln was unanimously chosen.
The school served well for many years but eventually became old and unsafe. On August 4, 1952, the Board of Education voted to abandon the building.
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 On April 25, 1905, the city Board of Education met and decided to plan for a new four-classroom school and appointed a building committee consisting of, J.L. Carinder, J.D. Booth and A.G. Winkler.
It was determined that the building, along with the grounds, furnishings and heating, would cost approximately $25,000.00. A resolution was passed that a bond election would be held as soon as the law would permit. On June 5, 1905, the school board voted approval to call the new school Washington School.
Population in Caney was 3,300 and growing with an increase of 1,000 from 1904. The school building program was promoted with the architect, E.A. Smith of George P. Washburn firm, Iola, Kansas, furnishing plans for four classrooms, an auditorium, foyers upstairs and down, two rest rooms on the bottom floor, heating and maintenance rooms, basement with concrete floors , belfry and bell. The building was to be located on a full city block between West Third and Second and North Fawn and North Foreman.
The bond election was successful and the school opened in March 1906. The building provided educational service until the early 1950's with the last principal being Ruth Dow. It was sold to the Assembly of God Church in Feburary 1956 and remodeled for Church assembly , Sunday School classrooms and an apartment. In May 1964 an unfortunate fire completely destroyed the building. The building site is now used for a communitiy playground and ball park.
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 In 1907 the city population had exceeded 4,000 and another school builidng was being considered. In February of 1907 the school board called a special meeting and took formal action on a bond election for another new school building to be located in the south part of Caney. The bond resolution was for $35,000.00 and and eight classroom school to be designed after the Washington School.
In March 1907 the school bonds carried. However, the community had only limited interest. There were only 147 votes cast with 114 for and 33 against. On May 15, 1907, the school board selected the L.B. Riney & L.H. Petty Company as general contractor with a low bid of $25,643.40. The building was completed for occupancy in 1908 and served the community well until 1952 when it was closed. Mrs. Inez Youngblood was the last principal.
The Board of Education determined the building should be disposed of and advertised it for bid. On October 26, 1953, Phillip Brooks of Caney provided a low bid of $2,222.22 and was awarded the building with the requirement that he remove all brick, lumber and refuse within an 18-month period. The building was removed as contracted.
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 Following the construction of McKinley our school system grew and prospered until 1913, when it became evident that our high school had outgrown its rooms and that practical courses must be established, equipment installed and all things made efficient and competent to fill the community's needs and to pave the way for educational advancement.
The Caney School Board discussed and approved a resoultion to call an election for $20,000.00 in bonds to build an educational structure for manual training, library and other educational purposes and benefits of public need. City population had leveled off at about 5,000 with the school population exceeding 1150.
The sructure was to be built on the same location then occupied by the Little White School House building which had been vacated by the school system in 1908 and rented to a local organization. The community was still feeling the effect of paying for both the Washington and McKinley buildings and was now being asked to support another major bond issue. While there was some opposition to another bond issue, there remained adequate support for the new educational facility. The Caney Chronicle reported in April, 1914 that the city voted its approval of the $20,000.00 bond issue.
In July the contract was awarded to general contractor Eugene Steadewn of Medford, Oklahoma. The building would have eight classrooms, manual training facilities, gymnasium-auditorium seating 1,000 patrons and a library. The building was to be constructed of brick and cap stone. Physical size was 83' by 97', 2-story with a basement and to be occupied in December 1914.
The building construction completion did not make the proposed December date but was completed in April 1915 and ready for occupancy.
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