Sato Elementary School opened as the District's 34^th elementary school in September 2017. Sato was designed as a prototype school by DLR Group Architects. Vose, Hazeldale and William Walker Elementaries all share the same design, part of a cost-saving measure by the District.

Sato has capacity for 750 students. The 87,200-square foot school includes 32 classrooms, nine additional teaching spaces, a stage, teaching area in the library and a dividable gym. It was built by Skanska USA.

The District originally planned to build the new school in the North Bethany area during the 2017-2018 school year but moved construction up a year due to growth and overcrowding.

The school's name pays tribute to the Satos, a Japanese-American family who came to the area in 1926 and farmed. Their four children graduated from Beaverton High School.

During World War II, the Sato family was sent to the Minidoka Internment Center for three years. Two sons, Shin and Roy, enlisted in the military. Shin died in combat in 1944. Roy was wounded twice and received the Purple Heart. The Sato family is buried in the Bethany Presbyterian Church cemetery on Kaiser Road.

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