History :

The Lakewood School District consists primarily of the former Clarksville, Lake Odessa, Sunfield and Woodland school districts. In 1956 the Woodland and Lake Odessa School Boards contacted each other relative to forming one school district. A citizen's meeting was held but very little interest was shown at that time.

On May 3, 1960, the Woodland and Lake Odessa School Boards again contacted each other. Both districts were faced with overcrowded classrooms and lack of facilities. Under the leadership of Mr. Eckstrom, Superintendent of Lake Odessa, and Mr. McKenzie, Superintendent of Woodland, a citizens committee was formed and authorized by both Boards of Education to make a study of the situation. The results of the study indicated a merger would be the most economical and educationally sound method of meeting the needs of both districts.

On May 2, 1961, the citizens of the Woodland and Lake Odessa school districts approved the merger. The new district became known as Lakewood Public Schools. The next fall, Woodland sophomores, juniors and seniors attended school in Lake Odessa and the Lake Odessa freshmen attended school at Woodland.

On May 9, 1962, the citizens of the new Lakewood District voted to bond the district for $1,655,000 to build a new high school. The year previous to the time of voting was devoted to planning the new high school. A citizens committee and a faculty committee cooperated with the Board of Education and Administration in developing the plan.

The Clarksville District voted to annex to the Lakewood District on November 10, 1961. Clarksville did not have its own high school and its high school students were attending either Lake Odessa or Saranac. In 1961, the Sunfield District had voted against a reorganization involving Vermontville and Nashville. On February 13, 1962, the Sunfield District voters chose to annex to Lakewood. In the spring of 1964, the first senior class, combining all the senior students in the district, was graduated. However, the Senior class of 1965 was the first class to graduate from the new High School.

The name "Lakewood" was selected to be the name of the new district by the student body in 1961-62.  The senior class of 1965 chose the colors of Navy Blue and White. In the spring of 1963, the high school students in the district voted on a nickname for Lakewood. They chose "VIKINGS" as the most popular and fitting. In the fall of 1963, "FIGHT FOR A VICTORY VIKINGS" became the official school song.