Duncan Creek Elementary School
Principal: Sheri Tolar
4500 Braselton Highway (Highway 124), Hoschton, GA 30548
School Highlights
The following school highlights showcase how Duncan Creek 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.
- Duncan Creek Elementary is proud to be recognized as a 2026 Georgia Honors School for Greatest Gains, a prestigious distinction awarded through Georgia’s Single Statewide Accountability System. This recognition celebrates schools where students are demonstrating some of the highest rates of academic growth in the state. The award is based on a three-year average of progress scores from 2022–2025, highlighting sustained student achievement and continuous improvement over time. This honor reflects the dedication of our students, teachers, staff, and families who work together each day to ensure every child grows and succeeds. Duncan Creek Elementary was one of only 22 schools in Gwinnett County to receive this distinction and earned the Bronze Greatest Gains Award from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. We are proud of this accomplishment and remain committed to providing high-quality instruction, meaningful learning experiences, and a culture that helps every student reach their full potential.
- This year, Duncan Creek Elementary launched the Student Ambassadors Program to support and welcome families who are new to our school community. The program is made up of bilingual students who are eager to use their language skills to serve others. Our Student Ambassadors play an important role in helping new students and families feel comfortable and connected as they transition to Duncan Creek. By greeting families in their native language, answering questions, and serving as friendly faces throughout the school, these student leaders help create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. This program not only supports our new families but also empowers our ambassadors to develop leadership skills while celebrating the rich linguistic and cultural diversity that makes our school community so special.
- Our 4th-grade students and teachers led an incredible service-learning project connected directly to their language arts curriculum, demonstrating the power of learning in action. As part of this meaningful experience, students partnered with The Pantry at Hamilton Mill to support families in need within our local community. Students set an ambitious goal for their food collection drive and went above and beyond, gathering nearly 900 donated items, doubling their original target. They took ownership of every part of the project, from creating promotional signs and producing videos to advertise the drive, to organizing and sorting all collected items upon completion. This impactful project not only strengthened students’ literacy and communication skills but also deepened their understanding of empathy, service, and community responsibility.
- This year, Duncan Creek Elementary introduced our monthly “Monday Morning Musicians,” a joyful way to begin the school week. Organized by our talented music teachers, students had the opportunity to perform using musical instruments in the hallways as classmates arrived at school. These performances created an uplifting and celebratory atmosphere each month, filling our building with music and school spirit. In addition, our music teachers also organized two different grade-level musicals throughout the year, showcasing the incredible talents of our students. These performances brought together students, staff, and families for engaging productions that highlighted creativity, confidence, and collaboration. Both initiatives reflect our commitment to the arts and the powerful role music plays in enriching the school experience.
- Thanks to the creativity and dedication of our two talented art teachers, Duncan Creek Elementary students were proudly represented in several prestigious art showcases this year. Their guidance and encouragement helped students develop their artistic skills and share their work beyond the classroom. Our students had artwork featured in the Mill Creek Arts Cluster Art Show, the annual Tapestry Art Exhibit, and the Capitol Art Exhibit in downtown Atlanta. These incredible opportunities allowed our young artists to celebrate their creativity on both local and state levels, highlighting the strength of our visual arts program and the amazing talent of our students.
- Throughout the year, Duncan Creek Elementary students and staff enjoyed learning about the rich cultures and heritages that make up our school community. Students explored traditions, languages, foods, and celebrations from around the world, fostering curiosity, understanding, and appreciation for one another. These learning experiences culminated in our exciting International Day celebration, where students and families came together to share and showcase their unique backgrounds. In addition, students and families had the opportunity to teach the entire school through our morning announcements, sharing cultural facts, traditions, and personal stories with the broader school community. From cultural displays to presentations and activities, the event highlighted the diversity that makes Duncan Creek such a vibrant and inclusive place to learn.
- Duncan Creek Elementary was selected by the Georgia United Credit Union School Crashers Program to receive a generous $25,000 grant to completely transform our Sensory Room. This exciting milestone is a direct result of our dedicated PTA Co-Presidents, who advocated for our community and championed the application process. The renovated Sensory Room will offer a safe, calming, and supportive environment designed to meet students' sensory needs, enhance self-regulation, and build effective coping strategies, ensuring they return to the classroom ready to succeed. We are incredibly grateful to Georgia United Credit Union and our PTA leadership for investing so deeply in the well-being of our students.
- Duncan Creek Elementary proudly launched a chapter of the All Pro Dads Program with the support and leadership of two dedicated Duncan Creek dads. Their commitment to strengthening family engagement helped establish a meaningful opportunity for fathers and father figures to connect with their children and our school community. Throughout the year, our All Pro Dads chapter met monthly, providing a welcoming space for students and their dads or special adult role models to spend quality time together while discussing important topics such as character, leadership, responsibility, and perseverance. These gatherings fostered stronger relationships between home and school and reinforced the importance of positive role models in the lives of our students. We are grateful to our volunteer leaders for making this program such a valuable addition to Duncan Creek Elementary.
- Duncan Creek Elementary proudly hosted our very first Booster-Thon Fun Run, organized by our PTA. This exciting event brought together students, staff, families, and community members for a fun-filled day focused on fitness, school spirit, and giving back. Through the incredible generosity and support of our school community, the Fun Run raised money that was able to directly benefit our students. Proceeds from the event were used to support school projects, classroom initiatives, and teacher grants that enhanced learning experiences across our campus. We are grateful to our PTA and all who contributed to making this inaugural event a tremendous success, and look forward to continuing this new tradition for years to come.
- Our Kindness Club proudly hosted Duncan Creek Elementary’s first Veterans Day Breakfast, a heartfelt event dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of our local veterans. In addition, we were also honored to host a First Responder Breakfast to recognize the dedication and bravery of those who serve our community every day. Students, staff, and families came together for both events to express gratitude and appreciation to these important community members. Guests were welcomed with a warm breakfast and treated to student performances of poems and music, along with thoughtful goody bags as a token of thanks. These meaningful celebrations provided our students with powerful opportunities to learn about service, respect, and gratitude while building connections with the heroes in our community.
- Duncan Creek has students from 43 different countries and students who speak 42 different languages.