Clark Elementary School
Dr. Daphne Keiser, Principal
1000 Belmont Ave
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Assistant Principal:
Ms. Jill Dahl
Ph: 434-245-2414
Fax: 434-245-2614
Home of the Five Bees!
• Be Kind
• Be Safe
• Be Respectful
• Be Responsible
• Be a Thinker
School Profile (PDF)
Clark Elementary
Clark Elementary School opened in 1931 in Belmont, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Charlottesville. The classic three-story brick school is named for American frontiersman George Rogers Clark and it serves as a focal point for the surrounding community.
Clark provides a consistently safe, friendly, and caring environment, conducive to learning academic and effective life skills. From, their first moments at Clark, students learn the “Five Bees,” named for the Clark Bee mascot. All staff members and students share a common language about expectations for academic success and behavior.
Learning at Clark centers around a responsive classroom model that incorporates research-based strategies for engaging students. The school employs two reading specialists, one math specialist, and one gifted coordinator who work with students in classrooms or in small groups to reinforce learning and challenge deeper thinking. Additionally, Clark offers Supplemental Educational Services (SES) to students.
Technology is a cornerstone of our classrooms. All teachers have access to SmartBoards and online learning tools. There is a wireless laptop lab and an “Ipod Cafe” featuring educational podcasts. Technology even finds its way into gym classes with a Wii fitness game and a giant projection screen that serves as a personal trainer tool in developing proper form and postures.
The Clark Parent-Teacher Organization sponsors monthly events such as the school Fun Fair and a Soul Feast. The group was instrumental in developing a nutrition program that introduces more fruits and whole grains while decreasing sugar intake.
The Clark 5K Community Fun Run/Walk is a popular local event that raises funds for the Clark Educational Opportunity Fund. The Fund supports fourth-grade scholarships for Clark students and classroom grants for Clark teachers.
Clark regularly invites the community into the school to tutor, mentor, or celebrate successes.
What Parents Say about Clark Elementary
“Our family is having a wonderful experience at Clark.. We love the fact that we can walk to school. The school provides so many things that we could not find elsewhere, a chance to go to school with your neighbors and to be a part of a smaller community within the broader city of Charlottesville.”
“My child has had a wonderful year at Clark. I particularly appreciate the teachers' creative efforts to differentiate curriculum according to each child's needs.”