Elementary Academy

Dear Elementary Academy Families:
 
On behalf of the 1,000 students and 150 staff members, I want to welcome you to Drew Charter School's Elementary Academy for the 2022 – 2023 school year. As a Drew parent and staff member, I feel honored to serve as the principal of such an awesome place filled with ideas, culture, and conversation. Our diverse school works diligently to embrace a mindset that promotes equity, innovation, and continuous improvement.

In 2017, Drew’s Elementary Academy became the first charter school in the state of Georgia to earn Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Certification, and this year we are embarking on the re-certification process. Additionally, as a Project-Based Learning (PBL) school, we offer various unique and engaging learning experiences that enrich the interactions between staff, students, parents, and our surrounding community. Our students have excelled in numerous educational endeavors this past school year. To name a few, the Elementary Academy hosted 3 virtual PBL showcases, became Regional Champions in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl (1st time in school history), earned #1 school in Atlanta Public Schools for logging the most Race2Read minutes, placed 4 winners in the Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS) Art Contest, and had several students place at the District level Science Fair with one who went on to win 1st place at the State level. We’ve also had some notable performances – our 5th grade Chorus students performed with the Junior Academy Chorus at the “Stronger Together” Mural installation ceremony & the Six Flags Southern Star Music Festival, where they earned 3 gold ratings. Our 3rd-5th grade dancers performed with Junior and Senior Academy dancers at the “Lights, Camera, Action” Spring Show. 

Each year, our students continue to demonstrate growth on both state and national assessments that underscore our focus on STEAM and PBL, our teachers' innovative instructional delivery practices, and the rigor of our work. I encourage you to learn more about us by exploring our website, viewing students' performances available on the Drew Fine Arts YouTube, or by visiting one of the many school events supported by our community. Please check the Elementary Academy calendar for dates and the Drew Charter School website for other helpful information.

We are tremendously excited to have you as a part of the Drew Charter School community.

#steamdreams

Monishae O'Neill
Elementary Academy Principal