About Claxton

 

Claxton Elementary School was built in 1924 and is located in Asheville, North Carolina, which is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Claxton was named in honor of Dr. Philander Priestly Claxton, who was a crusader of public education and former superintendent in Western North Carolina.

In 2004, the school was renovated extensively and a new cafeteria, office suite and primary grade wing was added. Asheville City Schools has five elementary schools, each with their own magnet theme. Claxton Elementary School of Arts and Humanities provides a curriculum which incorporates art, music, drama and physical education.

Serving students from Kindergarten through fifth grade, our curriculum follows the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and Essential Standards through the integration of the arts, humanities, the Fundations literacy program, and Investigations Math program. Students are practice their 21st Century skills through the integration of technology and making global connections through various tools.

 

    

    

 

Our staff uses a balanced literacy approach and the Fundations Program to build a strong foundation for literacy. Likewise, Math Investigations is used to help students to develop mathematical thinking skills to support their understanding of essential math topics. Once a week, our students attend art, music, drama, and physical education for 45 minutes. K-2 students also attend the media center once a week, while 3-5 students work complete a math intervention block once a week using iReady.

Students also have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and creativity through activities such as Student Lighthouse Team, Coding Club, Elementary Battle of the Books, Girls on the Run, the Claxton Flyers Boys Running Team and a PTO-sponsored After School Arts Program. Students in 4th or 5th grade can also participate in our annual school musical supported by our drama teacher, Ms. Rigsby, and music teacher, Mr. Butler.

Claxton students learn to be Attentive, Responsible, Thoughtful, and Safe through our ARTS Positive Behavior Incentive System (PBIS). Students are celebrated with ARTSIE awards through a monthly school-wide PBIS assembly. Since January 2017, Claxton has been implementing The Leader in Me program, which gives our staff and students common language through the use of the 7 habits. Through class meetings, students learn strategies for demonstrating ARTS behaviors throughout the course of the school day and while riding the school bus. In 2017-2018, we developed our first Student Lighthouse Team, where students applied and interviewed to be part of this leadership role.

Since 2014, our school has developed the Claxton Social Justice League to explore racial equity and structural racism. Through this work, we have identified disparities at our school and are working to make a more equitable learning community.

To learn more about the school's history from the National Register of Historic Places, visit History of Claxton Elementary.