Lilburn Elementary School

On any school day, you can hear 45 languages in the halls of Lilburn Elementary. The school, of which 77 percent of the student population speaks a language other than English, celebrates its diversity, honoring its students’ cultural backgrounds.

The school’s recognition as a 2006 School of Excellence is a tribute to its hard-working staff and students. Thanks to their commitment, over 87% of all Lilburn students in all five academic areas met or exceeded state standards.

Over the years, Lilburn’s Local School Plan for Improvement has provided a process for continual gains in student learning. The plan served as a vehicle for staff to help close the achievement gap between targeted benchmarks and actual student assessment scores. A collaborative school-based improvement team focused on grade level and standard specific professional learning activities designed to address student needs. School staff implemented instructional strategies based on careful and ongoing review of student achievement data.

The result was that strategic use of these tools, in the hands of dedicated and skilled professionals, produced great gains in student learning. Lilburn elementary has endeavored to create a community of learners – students, parents, and staff alike – all of whom believe that through persistence and commitment, success is possible for all. Through the local school council and the dedication of staff members, parents, students, and community, Lilburn Elementary has developed into a learning community that reflects the mission of Gwinnett County Public Schools. The school focuses on its students’ needs to enable them to reach their full learning potential. The goal at Lilburn Elementary is to provide a learning environment that will maximize achievement with an emphasis on individual potential.

Located on property which once belonged to Lilburn’s first settlers, the McDaniel family, Lilburn Elementary was established in 1970 in the southern end of Gwinnett County. The school’s population has changed rapidly during recent years. Lilburn has transitioned from a rural to a suburban community, to its current mobile/urban/ suburban mix. The school is the community center for ore than 1,500 students and their families. Students and their families speak languages from nearly 50 different countries. During a five-year period beginning in 2000, the school’s minority population increased from 56% to 80%. The school’s largest minority ethnic group is Hispanic followed by African American. Another one- third of the school is Asian and White. The school’s free and reduced lunch participation has risen from 39% to over 89%. In addition, the school’s mobility rate is 28% and English Learners make up 59% of the student population.

Fostering active parent and community support is an ongoing goal and is addressed through continuous efforts and initiatives. The school partners with social services personnel who work in the community. Its afterschool program serves approximately 300 students, providing a safe haven, nutritious snack, tutoring, and exploratory activities for students. Lilburn’s parent liaisons translate and communicate with the school’s diverse community. In addition, school leaders work with businesses and service agencies in partnership to plan and provide activities for students, families, and teachers. Throughout the years, Lilburn Elementary students have given back to the community, participating in community service through food drives, and raising funds for United Way , the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and Relay for Life.

The quality of the school lies within the children, community, and staff of Lilburn Elementary School. The school’s success lies with its partnership with parents, the enthusiasm of students, and the motivation and dedication of the faculty... all of which combine to make the school a place where teachers can teach and children can learn. The school’s emphasis on, and belief in, individual success and learning provides for constancy of purpose while learning through diversity.