Originally a humble rural school, Escuela 23 Tomás Claramunt has grown into an important educational institution. Let’s delve into the captivating story of this school. It began its journey on February 1, 1877. At that time it was known as Escuela Rural N°32. It served both boys and girls in El Retiro. This location was near the Palacio Peñarol.
By 1882, the school was identified as Escuela Rural N°8 “Fermín Ferreira.” Later, it evolved into an urban school. It transitioned through various grades and numbers. The school was initially co-educational. Then, it became a school for boys only. Eventually, it became co-educational again.
Due to poor conditions, Escuela 23 Tomás Claramunt moved to Calle 19 de Abril. Later, it relocated to Calle Sierra 210. It shared the premises with Escuela N° 31. A decision by the Consejo de Enseñanza Primaria y Normal led to a fusion. It became Escuela de 2° grado N°23 for boys. The girls were transferred to another school.
Frequent relocation issues plagued the school. Finally in 1936, Escuela 23 Tomás Claramunt found a stable location. It was on Calle Miguelete 1625. It operated in two shifts and again welcomed both girls and boys. The morning shift had 263 boys. The afternoon shift had 336 students of both sexes.
In 1944, it became part of the Grupo Escolar Jacobo Varela. In 1947, former students and the Comision de Fomento decided to honor a former teacher. They wanted to name the school “Tomás Claramunt”. This was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. Law N°10.918 approved the name on July 31, 1947. Therefore, Escuela 23 was officially named after Tomás Claramunt.
In 1954, the Escuela 23 Tomás Claramunt moved to its current location. It is in Parque Bellán. It shared the building with Escuela N°114. An expansion project was inaugurated in 1971. The old wooden floors were replaced with tiles.
Escuela 23 Tomás Claramunt and Escuela N°114 merged in 1982. It retained the name Escuela N°23. It operated in two shifts. However, in 1985, it split into two separate schools again.
Interestingly in 2017, the schools merged once more. They adopted the number and name of the morning shift school. Thus, maintaining the identity of Escuela 23 Tomás Claramunt.
Today, Escuela 23 Tomás Claramunt stands as a testament to its rich history. It has adapted and evolved over the years. The school continues to serve the community. It provides education and opportunity for future generations. Its journey reflects the educational changes in Montevideo.