ABOUT US

Mission Statement

The mission of Claxton Elementary School of Arts and Humanities is to provide a safe learning environment so that each student can thrive in an arts and humanities based education that recognizes students as individuals and creates life-long learners.

Vision Statement

We the staff of Claxton Elementary School of Arts and Humanities will celebrate our diverse learners by utilizing a variety of teaching methods that integrate the arts so that each student will develop his or her skills, knowledge, and character.

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. Claxton Elementary is also on the National Registry for Historical Buildings.

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 movement.

Serving students from Kindergarten through fifth grade, our curriculum includes Common Core and Essential standards through the integration of the arts, humanities, Fundations literacy program, and Investigations Math program. Students are exposed to 21st Century skills through the integration of technology, which the use of laptop carts, a flex lab and iPads.

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, computer lab, and physical education for 45 minutes. Students in grades third through fifth are taught Spanish twice a week.

Moreover, students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and creativity through activities such as Student Government, Claxton AM news, Girls Scouts, Girls on the Run, ORFF and Chorus Morning Music Groups, participating in the annual school musical, the First Lego League, and a PTO-sponsored After School Arts Program.

Claxton students learn to be Attentive, Responsible, Thoughtful, and Safe through our ARTS Positive Behavior Incentive System (PBIS). Through PBIS assemblies and class meetings, students learn strategies for demonstrating ARTS behaviors throughout the course of the school day and while riding the school bus. Individual students may earn 'Purple Tickets' for exemplary ARTS behavior and whole classes may earn 'Golden Tickets.' Golden Ticket winners are announced daily, and Purple Ticket winners are entered into a weekly drawing. Our top ARTS winners in the cafeteria, on the bus, and in the classroom receive a special party at the end of the month.