Louise Archer Elementary School

Located in the west of the town of Vienna, Virginia, United States, Louise Archer Elementary School is one of many elementary schools part of Fairfax County Public Schools. It is notable for its history and for its designation as a one of several elementary school centers for advanced academic programs in Fairfax County.[1]

Louise Archer Elementary School
Location
324 Nutley Street N.W.
Vienna, VA 22180
Information
TypePublic school
MottoWhere The Sun Always Shines
Established1939
PrincipalMichelle Makrigiorgos
Enrollment825
Color(s)Yellow and Blue
PyramidJames Madison High School
Previous nameVienna Colored School (until 1950)
Websitehttp://www.fcps.edu/LouiseArcherES/

Currently the school has an enrollment of 642 students.

History

The school was originally established in 1867 as Vienna Colored School, a school for African-American children.[2] The school moved to its current location, then a black neighborhood, in 1939.[3] Mrs. Louise Archer served as the school's principal[4] and taught students with two other teachers. She taught and fed all of the students. In the early 1940s, the only water was from the Salisbury Spring a mile away. Boys had to go and fetch water, and Mrs. Archer fed the children meals she cooked on a pot-bellied stove. The old school building is what is now part of the northern section of the school near the cafeteria.[5]

In 1948, Mrs. Louise Archer died of a heart attack; the school was renamed in her honor in 1950.[6]

In the late 1960s, Duke Ellington and his trio played at the school, at the invitation of the band teacher at that time, Philmore Hall, who had once been Ellington's trumpet teacher.[7]

AAP program

Louise Archer has a level 4 Advanced Academics Program (AAP).

Chess Club

In the 2009 school year, the Louise Archer Chess Club won seven trophies and awards. The school won 3rd place in the country in a tournament in spring 2009, and not far behind in another National Chess Competition. The school has won the Kent Gardens Cup last year and for seven years straight from 2005-2012.

WLATV

The morning announcements and school news are transmitted on WLATV closed-circuit television that is run by select 5th and 6th grade students.

Notable attendees

See also

References
  1. "Advanced Academic Programs." Fairfax County Public Schools site Archived 2010-09-24 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 18 Sept 2011)
  2. http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2006/feb/08/rediscovering-history/
  3. "Remembering Segregation in McLean and Vienna," The Connection, 12 March 2014
  4. "Louise A. Reeves Archer," Virginia Women in History
  5. Baker, Peter (16 March 1989). "School Born of Struggle Honors Proud Past". Washington Post.
  6. Commonwealth of Virginia, HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 365 Commending Louise Archer Elementary School. Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 28, 2014. Agreed to by the Senate, March 5, 2014
  7. "The Tuesday Conversation: Jamie Broumas," Gazette.net, 23 November 2010
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