the district was originally known as the spencer school district. in the 1940s the district had one school; at that time officials from the federal government of the united states asked the ypsilanti city school district to annex the willow run area, which included the spencer district. a referendum was held for voters in the spencer school district, and spencer voters rejected the measure on a 3-1 basis despite messages of support for the merger from the spencer school district parent teacher organization (pta) and other area leaders. the district later changed its name to willow run community schools. it also annexed the territory that included planned sites for three elementary schools to be constructed by the u.s. federal government.