March 4, 1908 Collinwood, Ohio, USA, Lakeview Elementary School: A fire at around 9:30 a.m. destroyed the wooden structure in Collinwood, a city of 8,000 people 7 miles northeast of Cleveland; 174 children and 2 teachers perished.

March 18, 1937 New London, Texas, USA: An explosion in London School, caused by a gas leak in the heating system, killed at least 280 children and 14 teachers.

December 1, 1958 Chicago, Illinois, USA, Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Elementary School: A fire starting just 1/2 hour before school let out claimed the lives of 92 pupils and 3 nuns.