The Lionel School Set No. 961 was available only in 1959 and came with 36 pieces of Plasticville housed in a Type II box.

The set consisted of the following Plasticville items:

1. No. 1608 School House

2. No. 1075 Small Platform Fence 11 Fence Sections and 1 Gate

3. No. 12-A Road Signs 12 Road Signs

4. No. FP-5 Flag Pole

5. No. V-6 Vehicle Assortment 2 ORANGE buses only

6. No. 1030 Shrubs 6 KELLY GREEN shrubs

7. No. BC-9 Bench 2 Benches

Lionel included an instruction sheet numbered 961-10 that was dated 3-59 and this instruction sheet is illustrated below.

There are two variations:

Variation A: Came in a Type II box.

Variation B: Came in a WHITE cardboard box with a lift top lid and the number "961" stamped on both ends. This box is believed to have originated with Madison Hardware.