The DeLand-Weldon Unit School District was formed by a majority vote of both communities during the latter part of 1947. The new district was to replace the DeLand High School District, the Nixon Township High School District, one rural school in the DeLand area, and four rural districts in the Weldon area. All other rural schools of the new unit had previously become a part of either the DeLand or Weldon consolidated districts.

After the vote to form the unit was carried, a meeting was called of the boards of education of the four schools and the boards of directors of the five rural schools for the purpose of selecting a slate of candidates for the new unit board. Four candidates were selected from the DeLand area and four from the Weldon area. In the election held during the last part of 1947, seven of these candidates were selected to form the first board of education for the unit.

One of the first duties of the Board was to determine the type of organization for the unit. The recommendation included a temporary plan as follows: a six-year high school (grades 7-12 inclusive) at DeLand; a six-year high school (grades 7-12 inclusive) at Weldon; a six-year elementary school in DeLand and a six-year elementary school in Weldon; the closing of Champion and White Pigeon rural schools, the other three rural schools to be continued in operation.

A long range plan suggested a modern six-year high school with a new building located near the geographical center of the district for grades 7-12 inclusive; the closing of all rural schools; a six-year grade school in each town, with full utilization of the present high school buildings for grade school purposes.

The Board of Education adopted the temporary plan for the school year beginning July 1, 1948. In a few weeks, however, it became evident to the Board that neither high school building was large enough to accomidate grades 7-12. A new temporary plan was put in place for the 1948-49 school year that utilized the DeLand building to house grades 10-12, 90 students and the Weldon building to house the junior high, grades 7-9, 130 students.

Then on December 7, 1957 the citizens of Unit #57 voted to build and equip a new high school on the county line midway between the two communities. The new building was erected at a cost of approximately $550,000, and provides for a four-year school, with provisions in the future to add four rooms to accommodate the seventh and eighth grades of both communities. Therefore, during the ten-year interim, the schools of DeLand-Weldon Unit #57 moved toward the original long range goal set in 1948.

In its continuing efforts to improve education, the board has made additional changes in the school organization since 1958. In 1966 the school was organized on a K-5; 6-8; 9-12 system. In 1967 further changes were made to upgrade the organization of the schools while keeping the above organization. The Weldon Grade School was composed of grades K-3 for students of both communities; the DeLand Grade School has grades 4-6, with the stipulation that when the new junior high school is completed the 6-8 arrangement will be resumed.

On Saturday, May 6, 1967, fire destroyed the junior high school including most all the contents. The junior high school students were moved to the high school building. The Board of Education made a decision to build new structure at the site of the high school and to move the kindergarten through six to this new location. The building cost approximately $500,000 which was recovered from the insurance on the junior high school. The move was made to the new building at Easter vacation time in 1969. The dedication of the building was May 18, 1969.

In the last thirty years the organization of Unit #57 has had few changes. The Board of Education authorized the writing of a Pre-Kindergarten Grant in the spring of 1996 for the 1996-97 school year. The grant was awarded and a half day, four day a week pre-kindergarten program began in the elementary/middle school building in September of 1996. In January of 1998 the pre-kindergarten program expanded to a full day program and then expanded further to five attendance days a week in January of 1999. The the Board of Education authorized the expansion of the kindergarten program to full day to take effect in the 1999-2000 school year.