Brookwood Elementary opened in August of 1985 with 960 students and a staff of 80 under the leadership of Principal Hal Beaver. The name was chosen because of the school’s proximity to Brookwood High School, which got its name from being at the intersection of Hollybrook and Dogwood roads. The land on which Brookwood Elementary sits was originally farmland. The school was built to relieve overcrowding at R.D. Head, Gwin Oaks, Britt, and Lawrenceville elementary schools. Over the past 30-plus years, four additions have added needed classrooms to the facility. 

Hal Beaver continued to lead the school until 1989 when Maxine Rithmire took over as principal. She remained the principal until November 2005, leading the school through many of the initiatives that have made Brookwood a place of academic excellence. Karen Head took the leadership post in December of 2005 and remained the principal until May of 2014. Cheri Carter, an assistant principal at the school, became the principal in June 2014. After Mrs. Carter’s retirement in 2019, Karen Lillard was named the new principal of the school. 

Mr. Beaver and the school’s first PTA had the vision of having a computer in every classroom and began making that vision a reality by purchasing 25 computers the first year. By 1989, that vision was realized. Today, Brookwood Elementary has one computer labs, a laptop for every teacher, ten or more student devices per classroom as well as as well as an additional eight device carts for teacher check-out. The school added two interactive whiteboards to enhance student learning, as well as mimios for all classrooms. Teachers and students have embraced the school district’s eCLASS initiative as well other online collaboration tools such as G Suite for Education. 

Brookwood’s focus continues to be on “teaching and learning” and the support of the community has not changed over the 30-plus years of our existence. Brookwood continues to be made up of a “family” of committed students, parents, and staff that work hard to provide a top-notch educational environment in which children thrive.

Mascot: Colts        Colors: Maroon & Gold