It was on March 28 1881 that the Rongotea School was first opened by its headmaster F Whitecombe. It was known as the Campbelltown School, the name being subsequently changed to Rongotea. On the opening day, the roll umber 11. A year later there were 58 pupils. The land for the school was cleared by W Hunt (two acres in all) and his son Warren, who was the first pupil enrolled at the school.