Dr. John McIntyre was Superintendent of Schools when the Bond Referendum was passed in 1979 for the construction of two new schools in Washington Township; one being Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and a Middle School.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School was built on a 20-acre site. The total gross building was 72, 434 square feet. The cost of the project was $3,500,000.00.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School was the first two-story elementary school in Washington Township. It was considered a model school in South Jersey. At the time of opening the school consisted of 31 classrooms, a music room, an art room, science room, a large-group instruction room, and two small group instruction rooms, and a library along with a speech room and a reading center for instruction, and a cafeteria and gymnasium.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School opened its door in September 1980 housing students in grades K – 6. Mr. Joseph Indriso was Principal until 1994. In September 1994 Mrs. Winifred Powel became Principal and in August 2000, Mr. Jeffery Pollock assumed the leadership of Washington Township's largest elementary school.

In September 1989, the sixth grade students attended the new Orchard Valley Middle School and the kindergarten students went to the new Early Childhood Center.