TABLE showing the Number of Promotions made, and the Average Age of Pupils thus

Promoted.

TABLE showing the Amount of Tuition Received from Non-Resident Pupils.

The High School is recognised by the University as a preparatory school, and its graduates are admitted to the freshman class without examination. The present (Oct. 24, 1874) organization of the schools is as follows:

The public school library at present contains 2,050 volumes.

The teachers in the public schools, the pupils of the High School and Grammar schools have access to the library without special permit, and all residents of the district above the age of 21 years may draw books from the library upon obtaining a permit from a member of the Board.

W. H. PAYNE,

Superintendent.

BATTLE CREEK.

DESCRIPTION.

The Battle Creek central school building was erected in 1870-71. Ground was first broken in March, 1870, and the completed building was open for school purposes April 10, 1871.

It is three stories high, with a basement; is built of brick and cut stone, and is roofed with slate. The whole building, outside of walls, is 96 feet by 1194 feet. Measuring from the water table, it is 53 feet to the top of the wall plate, 124 to the top of the cupola, and 133 to the top of vane.

The building has three entrances; one, the main entrance, in front, and two in the rear. On the first floor are seven school rooms, three in each end of the building, and one behind the main entrance and between the two halls, running to the rear. These rooms are 25 by 35 feet, and altogether seat 400 primary scholars.

On the second floor are seven school rooms and the office of the Superintendent. The rooms are of the same size as those below, are appropriated to the intermediate and grammar school grades, and will each seat 42 scholars, or 294 in all.

The High School department is upon the third floor. On it are two schoolrooms, seating 142 scholars, three recitation rooms, a music room, a library, and a museum. The seating of the building at present is, therefore, 846; but can be easily increased to over 900.

In the basement are two dining rooms for the use of those pupils who, living at a distance, cannot go to their homes and return between the morning and afternoon sessions.

The building is warmed by steam, and thoroughly ventilated by a seemingly perfect arrangement of heated flues, which secure for all school-rooms a constant and rapid introduction of pure, and expulsion of impure air.

On each floor are ample cloak-rooms, in which are hooks for every scholar, numbered to correspond with the seats.

Water, both for washing and drinking purposes, is furnished in the rear halls, on each floor. The windows are furnished throughout with inside blinds.

The whole interior wood-work is finished without paint, showing the natural color and grain of the wood, which is ash, except the doors and blinds, which are pine.

In a word, the building in its arrangement, its adaptation and furnishing, is exceedingly convenient and beautiful.

The total cost, exclusive of the grounds, is $83,000.

Besides the central building there are three ward buildings in the city, all of brick, and costing from $8,000 to $16,000 each.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

The following facts and figures are taken from the report of the Secretary of the School Board for the year ending August 31, 1874:

The seating

The school buildings and grounds are in good condition. capacity of all the buildings is 1,600. Seats are provided for 1,300. The school census just completed shows that the whole number of children in the district between the ages of five and twenty is 1,546. This is an increase of 125 over the last census.

The Board commend to the fostering care of the citizens of the district the museum in the central building. Through the generous donations of many of our citizens, it has already grown to such proportions as to be very attractive to visitors. During the past year, through voluntary contributions and the energy of our efficient Janitor, Mr. Wm. Rhoades, at least forty per cent has been added to the the collection. No appropriations for the same have been made, except for articles necessary to preserve specimens contributed. It is to be expected that the collection will, at no distant day, be a pride to our city. The number of teachers employed for the year 1874-5 is 27. I. L. STONE, Superintendent.