This past week, the final remnants of the old Hillcrest Elementary School came down as construction crews knocked down the old building’s chimney, which stood as a landmark as the new building was built.

Neighborhood resident Michael Slater, who attended Hillcrest as a child, has spent some of the summer capturing the demolition of his old elementary school and shared his photos with the Renton Reporter.

The old Hillcrest Elementary School was built in 1953. It operated as a kindegrten-through-sixth grade elementary school until 1980 when it was closed due to low enrollment. For more than a decade, it has been used as an early childhood learning center.

The construction of the new Meadow Crest Early Learning Center is on time and on budget, according to the Renton School District.

The new school, approved by voters as part of the May 2008 construction bond measure, will open in September to nearly 600 preschool children from across the district.

The early childhood learning programs to be provided to preschool students will focus on early reading and writing skills, numeracy and math skills, motor development, communication, social skills and more.

Photos courtesy of Michael Slater