The McLean Elementary School was completed in September 1955 to serve a residential community of new homes. On the opening day of school 172 pupils were enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade. These pupils had attended Cloud Elementary School the previous year. McLean was built to serve the newly annexed areas of Benjamin Hills, located west of Amidon, and the Riverlawn Addition immediately east of Amidon. The community is bounded on the east by the Little Arkansas River, on the south and west by the Big Arkansas River, and on the north by 25th Street.
The school was named for Benjamin Franklin McLean, a pioneer lumberman and banker in Wichita. Mr McLean came to Wichita in 1895 at the age of 36 from Poughkeepsie, New York, and six years later was owner of six lumber yards in Kansas towns. He served on the City Commission and in 1901 began serving his first of three terms as mayor of Wichita. In 1909, he purchased the Naftzger interest in the Fourth National Bank and served as president until 1919 at which time he inteded to reitre. He returned to the bank presidency in 1924 and served until his death on October 30, 1930.
The site for the building and playground was acquired by the Wichita Board of Education on November 25, 1953 from Anna McLean, executor of the Julia C. McLean Estate. The cost of the transaction was $11,668 and included all of Lot 2 of Block 5 in Benjamin Hills Second Addition. The school is bounded on the north by Halstead, on the east by Marigold Lane, on the south by Dogwood, and on the west by Columbine Park.
The enrollment grew each year until a peak was reached in 1966 with a total enrollment of 502. It was necessary to construct eight portable classrooms during the 1958-1966 period to house the pupils. A gradual decline in enrollment occurred after 1966, finally stabilizing between 300 and 350.
In 1976, funds from the 1974 bond election financed an addition of two classrooms, a multipurpose room, a library, two restrooms, circulation space and expansion of office facilities. Charles F. McAfee was the architect for this construction. In 1991, the boiler was replaced.
One of the outstanding features of the McLean School site is its location, adjacent to Columbine Park, which provides an ideal play area for elementary age children.
At the beginning of the 1988-89 year, sixth grade students were incorporated into the middle school program. In 1990, McLean became a neighborhood science/technology magnet school.
In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.
With the help of architects Hanney & Associates, and Bauer and Son Construction Co., McLean received a new addition including four classrooms. The kitchen was also expanded and the student support area renovated.
The Bond project dedication ceremony was held August 22, 2003.