The Jefferson School in the area south of Tracy moved at least two times before settling at its present site. The district was formed in June of 1878 and there was a schoolhouse near the town of Carbona until 1895. During this period, the district annexed the Corral Hollow School District that had small attendance but covered a large area in the foothills south of Tracy.

Sometime in 1895 the school moved to the southeast corner of the present day Tracy Airport. The following year the Trustees voted to spend $2,500 for the erection of a schoolhouse, water plant, out-buildings and furniture. This increased the residents tax by .70 cents for each $100 of assessed property. Five years later the female teacher was teaching 49 students in nine grades and the Trustees voted to spend $375 for improvements.

From time to time in the early 1920s, the school was temporarily suspended for lack of students. In 1928 there were so few students attending that the County sold the property to Herman Hilken, who tore down the building and built his home. A year later a school opened on the southeast corner of Linne and Chrisman roads. At this corner several buildings have housed the students. In 1954 the citizens voted for $50,000 bond to enlarge the structure because of the fast growing school population; less than 10 years later, bonds of $200,000 were sold for additions of classrooms and an auditorium. In 1966 the old brick building was structurally brought up to the Field Acts earthquake safety requirements, and new classrooms were added.