New Doraville United Elementary School Celebrates With Ribbon Cutting

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — DeKalb County School District (DCSD) officials, staff, students, and families celebrated the new Doraville United Elementary School Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Doraville United Elementary is one of DCSD’s newest state-of-the-art facilities, according to a news release. The district said the 118,911-square-foot building, located at 3630 Shallowford Road NE, was built to relieve the overcrowded Carey Reynolds, Hightower, and Dresden Elementary schools.

“This indeed is an exciting day for your scholars, staff and stakeholders in the Doraville community,” said DeKalb County Board of Education Chair Vickie B. Turner in the release. “On behalf of our Board of Education, I am proud to share in such a momentous occasion.

“It is our hope that the students and staff enjoy all of the benefits that this new school building will afford them. Our commitment remains strong as we endeavor to provide a quality environment, along with an excellent education for those who attend Doraville United Elementary.”

The school building features a full health clinic, which will serve students and the community, the release stated. The school partnered with MedCura Health and the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University to operate the clinic. Doraville United Elementary will also contain the newest educational technology and other resources.

“The ultimate aim of school-based health centers (SBHCs) is to enhance academic achievement through improving the physical and emotional health of students,” said Dr. Veda Johnson, Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University in the release. “Students learn best when they are healthy, present, and have socio-emotional connections to the school. SBHCs promote those principles.”

Doraville United Elementary was formally known as Doraville Elementary, which was founded in 1866, according to the release. Doraville Elementary closed in 1964.

Historically, African American students living within the Doraville community attended Lynwood Park Elementary and High School, according to the release. After the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 landmark decision in Brown Vs. Board of Education, Lynwood Park was closed, and students went to their zoned schools during integration, including Doraville Elementary and other North DeKalb County Public Schools.

Since that time, Doraville Elementary has served as an essential cornerstone within the Doraville community, district officials said.

To symbolize the connection to the past, school officials installed the original Doraville Elementary school bell on the new campus during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Doraville United Elementary School is the cornerstone of learning within the community,” said Principal Jesse Berger in the release. “We are a student-centered institution focused on academic success and culturally responsive attributes daily, along with care and support for students, teachers, families, and all stakeholders.”