Swiss Memorial Elementary

Nestled into the wooded hills of Grundy County, Tennessee, stands a school that is more than just a place for learning—it’s a living monument to a journey that began across the Atlantic ocean nearly two centuries ago. Swiss Memorial Elementary School, located in the small mountain town of Gruetli-Laager, tells the story of grit, determination, and heritage. 

The story begins in 1869, when a group of Swiss immigrants set out to create a new life in America drawn by the promise of land and freedom. They created a Swiss Colony and set aside a 200 acre parcel of land with dreams that it would one day be the location of a school for the children and grandchildren of those Swiss pioneers.  That dream eventually came true in 1973 with the creation of Swiss Memorial Elementary School—named to honor the very people who carved this community from the wilderness of the Cumberland Plateau. From a small village in Switzerland to a newly formed colony in the mountains of Southeast Tennessee, Swiss Memorial Elementary is more than just a building. It’s a bridge between centuries, a place where past and present come together every day. 

Carved out of the wilderness, we are the 

Swiss Memorial Wildcats