Clifton Elementary School (Clifton, Virginia)
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| Clifton Elementary School | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| 7100 Clifton Road Clifton, VA 20124 |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public school |
| Motto | Believe and Achieve |
| Established | 1952 |
| Principal | Arthur Polton (2005-) |
| Enrollment | 366 (as of Sept 2009) |
| Color(s) | Red, Black, Gray |
| Nickname | Cardinals |
| Feeds Into | Robinson Secondary School |
| Website | http://www.fcps.edu/CliftonES |
Coordinates: 38°47′02″N 77°23′19″W / 38.7838°N 77.3885°W
Located to the north of the town of Clifton, Virginia, United States, Clifton Elementary School is one of many elementary schools part of Fairfax County Public Schools. The school is most famous because it is among the smallest public school in the county and occupies a wooded, hillside site in a historic village where the first Fairfax County public high-school,and one of the first racially integrated schools in the state of Virginia was located. About 70% of the graduates go to Robinson Secondary School, near Fairfax, Virginia, while about 30% go to Liberty Middle School near Centreville, Virginia. Since the 2006-2007 school year, its main colors have been red, black, and gray. The mascot is the cardinal. Currently the school has about 370 students enrolled.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Clifton schoolhouse
Since 1885 there have been many "Clifton Schools" that were located where the building still stands. The first building was a one room schoolhouse where about 35 students attended until 1912 when the construction of Clifton High School was completed.
[edit] Clifton High School
From 1912 to 1935 Clifton High School was the primary secondary school in Fairfax County; the building was two stories high, contained six class rooms and an auditorium.
[edit] Main building
The new Clifton Elementary School was built in 1952. It had four class rooms, a library and a auditorium. In 1954 two more class rooms were added. The upper play ground was built in 1955.
A significant addition in 1984 doubled the size of the school adding several classrooms and a gymnasium.
[edit] Outdoor fields
A playground was built in 1990 and an upper field for grades 3-6, where most of the students play kickball, basketball, soccer, and football. Prior to the 2002 school year, football was prohibited, due to pressure from community members and parents after a serious intramural football injury.[citation needed]
[edit] Clifton News Center
Since 1999, the morning announcements have been done by Clifton News Center often referred to as CNC. It is a five-minute show done by two teachers and five to seven 6th graders. The show has two anchors, one teleprompter operator, one cameraman, and one sound effect operator. The show airs to the whole school.
[edit] Possible Closing vs. Renovation
Due to uncertainty regarding overcrowding at nearby schools, and well-water issues which are currently under review for possible solutions, there is a possibility that Clifton Elementary School (CES) may be closed in coming years. CES Students would most likely be re-distributed to as many as four different schools. Community support for preserving the school, in its' current operational capacity, has been strong, drawing on a 100-year tradition of public schooling in this rural enclave amid suburban Northern Virginia. Despite its' age (the oldest wing is 57 years old - the newest is 25 years old) the school is maintained in decent condition and may instead be a candidate for renovations and possible additions to fix obvious problems, such as the incredible deficiencies in the water system, in which the water was not deemed drinkable for a long period of time due to health hazards.
As a result, the town has created a non-profit website aimed at drawing attention to this issue. The Website is Save Clifton Elementary. (http://www.savecliftonelementary.org).
