About 500 people converged on the Roxburgh Area School at the weekend to mark the milestone.
Ex-pupils, former teachers and board members travelled from as far away as England and Australia, as well as from all over New Zealand.
''It was just fantastic. Everyone loved the weekend,'' jubilee convener Teresa Bennetts said.
''What summed it all up for us was the smiles on people's faces, the laughter, the exchanges of hugs and 'Oh my gosh' comments as people renewed their friendships. That energy and warmth of people coming together, people coming home again, to all of us on the committee, that was what made it all worthwhile.''
The celebrations began with a meet-and-greet event on Friday, followed by an assembly on Saturday afternoon. A performance by the school kapa haka group was followed by the cake-cutting and photos.
A gala dinner was held on Saturday night and the celebration finished on Sunday with a wreath-laying at the school's memorial gate.
Coal Creek, Roxburgh Hydro, Roxburgh District High and Roxburgh Area schools were all included in the jubilee. Ruth MacDonald (95), of Ranfurly, was given the honour of cutting the jubilee cake.
Mrs MacDonald (nee Heggie) was a pupil at the high school from 1936-1939 and taught there in the 1940s.
''I was straight out of teacher's college and ... I was sent to my home town of Roxburgh,'' she said. She taught a Standard 1-2 class and the 40 pupils were ''absolutely delightful.''
''I knew most of their parents already and they were all lovely kids.''
When she later got married at the church across the road from school, she recalled former pupils ''hanging over the stone wall at the front of the school, watching as I came out of the church''.
She said the school grounds had changed out of all recognition since her time and she was amazed at all the facilities. Her teaching time was during the war when basic supplies were difficult to get because of rationing.
''When I was teaching, we were past the slate stage. We had chalk and blackboards, but I still hate that sound chalk makes on the board - I can't stand it.''
