Sasebo ES History
Opened: 2003
OPEN
Sasebo Elementary School was created when E. J. King Unit School was split in 2003. It began as a K–6 school.
There has been a DoDEA school located in the Sasebo community continuously since 1948. The first school was located in a Quonset hut, and there was a reported enrollment in grades one through twelve of forty-eight students. Most were dependents of Army personnel. In September 1945, the U.S. Marines landed on Sasebo and laid the foundations for the present U.S. Fleet Activities, Sasebo. The U.S. Navy arrived and slowly the base and the American community were established in the heart of Sasebo City.
The elementary school is located on the main base, or Dragon Glen housing area, adjacent to Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo. The elementary school shares the campus with E. J. King Middle/High School. The enrollment for the 2023 school year was 250 students from Sure Start to grade 5.
The residential areas were named Dragon Gulch, Dragon Vale, and Dragon Heights. The school was called the “Dragon School.” A sign with the picture of the Dragon and the name “Dragon School” was built by the Army Engineer Corps and placed on the front of the building.
In honor of the first DoDEA school in Sasebo, the current school adopted the Dragon as its mascot. The school colors are blue and lime green. A new construction project is planned. With this new school the Dragon Legacy will continue as a new building far beyond the scope of a Quonset hut.
The school principal for the 2022-23 school year is Hattie Phipps.