Ask the School More Than One Question
It's worth contacting the school, but avoid simply asking, "Do you still have my class photo?" That question is easy to answer with a quick "no." Instead, ask whether the school keeps old yearbooks, newsletters, anniversary books, class albums, or historical records.
If the school has closed or merged, ask where its materials were transferred. They may have been sent to another school, a local government archive, a library, or a historical society. A current employee may not know right away, so politely ask if a long-time staff member could help.
Former teachers, school secretaries, and members of the parent-teacher association may also have kept photographs. The school should not provide you with anyone’s private contact information, but it may be willing to forward your message. Include your name at the time, the approximate year, and the teacher you remember. Even if the school doesn’t have a photograph, it may know which company took the official pictures. That small clue can lead you directly to the original source.