Henderson Mill Elementary School Foundation Inc

As the first Georgia Department of Education STEAM-Certified School, Henderson Mill Elementary School prioritizes a blending of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through our immersive curriculum, using Project-Based Learning and the Fine Arts Integration as a central focus for our entire approach. 

Our students come from an economically and racially diverse neighborhood around the school, with many nationalities and backgrounds represented in our student body.  The HMES student population is 45% Hispanic; 24% African-American; 19% White; 6% Asian/Pacific Islander; 3% Multi-Racial; 2% Native American. In our student body of just under 500 students, we represent 55 countries and speak 13 languages. HMES is more than a haven for educational development; it is special place that teaches children to be compassionate citizens of the world. 

HMES is a Title 1 school, with 66% of our students categorized as economically disadvantaged and eligible for free and reduced lunch. 47% of our students speak a second language at home, and 29% receive ESOL instruction.  9% of our students are gifted-identified.  11% of our students are identified as students with disabilities, with several groups in self-contained classrooms.   Additionally, HMES has the privilege of housing the DCSD Oral Deaf-Ed (DHH) program, including the county’s only DHH PreK program.  

With such an incredibly diverse student body, access for all students is a priority for everything we do at HMES.  Our cross-curricular, integrated approach allows for ALL students, regardless of any differentiation, including learning style, ability, or primary language to be actively engaged in learning through the lens of collaborative and creative work.  

With Project-Based Learning, each grade level is challenged with a year-long project aimed to solve a real-world problem, such as erosion.  By integrating hands-on Project-Based Learning and the Arts into our daily work, we have removed the language-learning barrier for a significant part of our school population, giving everyone a universal language that can be used in many ways to learn and demonstrate learning.  For example, second graders at HMES might be found creating a mixed media map while learning about topography; Kindergarteners create a song about community helpers; First Graders act out the water cycle through use of tableau.  

HMES works hard to extend our STEAM programming as far as we can, seeking out partnerships to benefit our entire student body.  Our partnership with the Alliance Theatre Arts Education Institute brings teaching artists to visit every class multiple times a year and integrates the Arts into the standards for all subjects, equipping teachers with theatrical concepts to use in the classroom, like script writing, creative movement, music, tableau, costuming, and more.  Additionally, all HMES students have a field trip to a production at the Alliance Theatre every year, giving many their first live theatre experience.  Several grade levels attend a performance at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra each year, and many others attend the High Museum of Art.

In addition to core subjects, all students at HMES receive Arts Education in Music and Visual Art at least once per week.  Our Art and Music teachers have weekly collaborative planning to make authentic interdisciplinary connections for all core subject areas in every grade.  Students in 4th and 5th Grade are offered the opportunity to learn about the media arts as part of our student-run morning news team, producing the in-house news broadcast every day. Additionally, Students in 5th grade are all invited and encouraged to join band or orchestra, which meet several times a week during the school day. 

Our Science, Technology, and Math integration focuses on ways to capture the creativity and enthusiasm of our students through hands-on experiences, bringing science alive. The Small Fry to Go program provides students with trout eggs to nurture and grow, and culminates in a release-day field trip to the Chattahoochee River.  Hands-on engineering and math lessons abound with our LEGO build program. The HMES garden classroom and pollinator garden provides an outdoor educational experience for all the children. Students plant and tend, measure and taste, journal and draw - engaging all the senses - and cultivating a love and appreciation for science and the environment.

These amazing programs are funded thanks to the generosity and support of our community, allowing our Title 1 school to provide inspiring and engaging opportunities beyond what state-funding can support. For many of our students, it is their first opportunity to act in a play, dig in the dirt, design a car, and fall in love with the arts and science.

As with everything we do for all our students, Henderson Mill is committed to providing Arts, Engineering, Science and Math integration, to complement their core curriculum and foster a lifetime love of learning.