In 1838 the first school was constructed in Crystal Lake. It was a 200 square foot log structure with a wood shake roof and split log desks. Located on the corner of McHenry and Virginia streets, the school housed students of various ages who were often able to see deer grazing outside their schoolhouse windows.

The first teacher in this school was Hannah Beardsley, who had moved from Naperville with her family in the 1830s.
 
The Beardsleys and their friends built that log schoolhouse where Hannah taught until 1840 when she married Franklin Wallace. Unfortunately, Franklin died at an early age five years later.

Hannah then married Franklin’s brother, Columbus. She died in June 1894. Years later her children donated some of their property to the newly formed Crystal Lake High School District. Central High School now stands on that site.

Hannah Beardsley Middle School, which opened in the fall of 1996, was so named not only to honor Crystal Lake’s first teacher, but also to honor all Crystal Lake teachers since that time. A portrait of Hannah painted by local artist Don Johnson now hangs outside the media center as a reminder of the important role teachers have played in maintaining the fine educational tradition of Crystal Lake that began in 1838 when the first schoolhouse was built. 

When Beardsley Middle School opened in 1996, there were 774 students. Four years later an addition was built on the upper floor. Seven classrooms, an expanded tech lab and an office were part of that expansion. Today more than 1100 students attend Hannah Beardsley daily. 

The HBMS community will provide opportunities to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges.

HBMS -We Believe Statements

• We believe that students should maximize their feelings of self-worth.
• We believe in promoting respect and appreciation for cultural and individual differences.
• We believe that students should develop the ability to be self-motivated and responsible. 
• We believe that students should become responsible citizens. 
• We believe in the promotion of the physical well-being and lifetime fitness for all students. 
• We believe that we should enable students to develop appropriate social skills. 
• We believe that parents, students and teachers need to work together to promote the overall learning of the student.

In preparing students to be lifelong learners, we believe that all students should have the opportunity to experience a wide and varied curriculum for exploration and master the essential academic skills.

• We believe that all students should develop the capacity for active, engaged thinking.
• We believe that students should develop an appreciation and understanding of the complex and fragile nature of our environment

School Colors 
Orange and Blue

School Team Name
Hannah Beardsley Bears