This paper aims to study the history and the present situation of elemetary schools in the US, focusing on school built after 1940's, open plan school, and contemporary suburban school. The study was based on the review of related literatures and the field researches done in various schools, different in size, age, type, education and system. Research methods used were interviews to staff, tour the building, observing and mapping of class activities. The findings are as follows. 1) Community involvement to school planning and management is important for supporting school for a long periods. 2) Successful open plan schools, old but unchanged or new type, are supported for its flexibility for individual learning, breaking down the size of spaces for privacy, experienced staff, and communication with community. 3) Successful schools are supported for downsizing for close relationship between staff and students, individual curriculum for student's interest. 4) Cluster plan is popular in contemporary suburban school for easy grouping students and flexiblity in learning unit.
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