Mount Clinton school generally dates its origin back to 1902 with the closing of West Central Academy. The earliest school at Mt. Clinton was known as Muddy Creek. This two-room school was later (1890) incorporated into West Central Academy and operated a public elementary program in conjunction with the semi-private high school, college prep and teacher training program offered by the academy. The Academy, under the leadership of Professor I. S. Wampler went out of existence in 1902. Even though the school became officially known as Mt. Clinton High School starting with the 1902-03 session, local residents referred to the school as West Central Academy for many years after its closing. It was not until the completion of the new school at Mt. Clinton in 1926, that the West Central name was permanently retired. In 1926, after using the old academy building for 24 years, a new school at Mt. Clinton was built at a cost of $25,000. In order to save money on construction the county did the contracting and hired John I. Lee as foreman for the project. The school grew rapidly, particularly with the closing of smaller schools in the area, and a 4 classroom addition was built to the school in 1934 at a cost of $17,750. As high school programs expanded, an agriculture building was built in 1940 at a cost of $3000. The county provided materials for the building and a Federal NYA grant paid for the labor. In 1954, three additional classrooms and a storage room were built at Mt. Clinton at a cost of $25,000. The high school was discontinued in 1956 with the opening of Turner Ashby High School and Mt. Clinton became an elementary school. In 1967, a separate primary building, connected by a covered walkway, was constructed. Principals serving at Mt. Clinton since 1902 are:

1902-03 L. R. Dingus

1903-04 D. I. Suter

1904-05 (unknown)

1905-06 E. W. McMullen

1906-07 F. R. Crawford

1907-08 J. S. Cooley

1908-09 (unknown)

1909-11 (two sessions) G. A. Wilson

1911-12 G. W. Rolston

1912-13 W. S. Bertram

1913-14 D. I. Suter

1914-16 (two sessions) G. W. Rolston

1916-18 (two sessions) David R. Gillions

1918-19 H. C. Ruffrie

1919-22 (three sessions) Henry Rolston

1922-23 George Click

1923-27 (four sessions) H. Edward Shull

1927-28 Benjamin F. Good

1928-32 (four sessions) Paul G. Kline

1932-41 (nine sessions) Ralph G. Myers

1941-42 Cecil Hartman

1942-73 (twenty-nine sessions) Howard O. Lanham

1973-93 (twenty sessions) B. Franklin Emswiler

1993- Selah P. Sprinkel

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