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Gwinnett County Public Schools

Arcado Elementary School

Principal: Dr. Paula Thompson

5150 Arcado Road, Lilburn, GA, 30047

Board District IV

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School Highlights

The following school highlights showcase how Arcado Elementary School is fulfilling Gwinnett County Public School's four strategic priorities of Empathy, Equity, Effectiveness, and Excellence. Visit the School Profile Dashboard to find more detailed data on our school.     

  • Arcado has a strong student leadership program that offers students a variety of opportunities to participate in student leadership programs such as Student Council, Peer Leaders, Student Ambassadors, No Place For Hate, and School Store Customer Service Representatives. These opportunities are crucial in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and supported. Students are immersed in several school-wide events that are charged with inspiring and supporting fellow students.

  • Arcado works to create future-ready students while exposing them to future-ready initiatives. Students launched their first Podcast this year, regularly participate in STEM-embedded activities, and learn the elements of coding and AI. Students also visited Lilburn City Hall to meet the Mayor and participated in the GCPS School Leadership Retreat.

  • Arcado hosts clubs allowing students to express themselves and engage in new experiences. Arcado sponsored two Odyssey of the Mind Clubs, one advancing to the State Competition. Several clubs offered included Percussion, Photography, Running Club, Chess, Coding, Readers, Rally, Science Club, Strong Girls, Girl Scouts, Dance/Step Team, Lego League, Little Legos, and Chorus.

  • Arcado's WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is a volunteer program designed to help fathers and other father figures become involved in the school and provide positive male role models for our students. Arcado welcomed a record number of fathers' participation with over 120 father volunteers this year. Watch D.O.G.S. select one or more days to volunteer. When they arrive on campus, Watch D.O.G.S. receive a detailed schedule that includes patrolling the campus, assisting with procedures, working in classrooms, and engaging with students. Watch D.O.G.S. also participate in school-wide events. This year, we added a program for Mom’s (M.O.M.S.) of Marvelous Students to volunteer and support our students. These two programs are vital to our mission and success.

  • Arcado has a robust PTA that plans engaging activities for families. Back-to-School Bounce Houses, Movies on the Lawn, and a Glow Dance bring out families in large numbers as they enjoy a school community connection. Arcado's PTA supports teachers during early release conferences and Teacher Appreciation Week with snacks and lunches. The PTA purchased new benches to be placed in the front of the school and will work to provide Sunscreens for teachers and students at Recess. Arcado’s Boosterthon fundraiser provided brand new soccer goals for our students, garden tools, and new welcome mats.

  • According to Niche.com, Arcado is the 3rd most diverse public elementary school in Georgia out of 1,327 schools. Our multicultural community includes families from 25 countries with over 37 spoken languages. Arcado's students and staff are curious about one another's cultures and strive to create a sense of belonging for everyone who enters our doors. Each year, we host an Empathy Panel for our 5th-grade students, where students can engage in a peer panel discussion to ask questions centered around culture, religion, traditions, and family norms and expectations.

  • Class Meetings are embedded into Arcado's daily schedule, allowing students and teachers to build strong relationships. All grades participate in Joyful learning each morning upon entering the classroom. Joyful learning allows students to connect and develop classroom relationships. Creating a sense of belonging for students helps to embrace the traditions and experiences of Arcado's diverse community.

  • Arcado teachers and students participated and won several awards this year. Several students from various grade levels participated in the GCPS Science Fair. One student won top honors in Movement and Motion. Arcado honored a student who was recognized as the Young Georgia Author GCPS district-level winner for 5th grade. Arcado was also recognized by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement for Exhibiting High Growth in Student Achievement in Math.  Principal Thompson was named Gifted Administrator of the Year for Outstanding Service and Contributions to the GCPS Gifted Program.

  • Arcado is a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school. PBIS encourages positive behaviors with recognition for students who exhibit appropriate school conduct. Each month, students are recognized as the Pawsitive Panda of the Month, and yard signs are placed at each student's home. Students are also rewarded for positive bus behavior with the BOB award (Best on the Bus). Arcado received Operational Status from the GDOE for its efforts in creating a safe and positive school environment for its students.

  • Arcado works to build strong relationships with our families and community. We welcome families to visit our Parent Center to check out materials to help support their children or get information to navigate society. We host several English classes for parents and have expanded our P2L (Play to Learn) program for families with children from Birth to 5 years old. We continue hosting events in Spanish and Vietnamese to build a robust school-home partnership. Arcado’s International Night is our biggest event where families showcase their culture and engage in diverse experiences.
     

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