Roxboro Elementary School is nestled on the corner of a very quiet street in southwest Cleveland Heights. For those who do not come our way often, you may miss us. However, once you enter our school, you will be greeted with an engaging atmosphere that focuses solely on the success of our students. Our school offers a variety of engaging activities and a strong learning environment for our approximately 350 students. There are great things happening here at Roxboro and we invite you to learn more about us.

History

The 1901-02 school year was the first for Cleveland Heights’ Roxboro Elementary students, attending in a small, two-room frame building on Fairmount Road near Cedar Avenue. By 1905, our students had a new home on the property where we now come to learn: new construction cost $11,266.94. By 1916, Roxboro had gone from its original 2 teachers to 5 teachers and a principal for 1st through 8th grades. With the student body growing annually, the building had to be added on to and finally re-built on its current location in 1921. In 1923, the Junior High building was erected and 7th and 8th grades moved away from Roxboro Elementary. In the 1940’s the school’s enrollment swelled to over 500 and then shrank to about 250, as area residents wrestled with the Great Depression, pulling their students from expensive, private schools and then returning them as economic times improved. After WWII, Roxboro grew to over 600 as baby-boomers started school. During the late 80’s, the district created magnet schools which specialized in particular areas; communication, language, etc. Roxboro was the “Arts” magnetic school. As a result, even after the magnet school concept was dropped, we continue to have a very strong arts program, feeding many talented students to Roxboro Middle School and CHHS.

Roxboro Elementary’s PTA

The first Parent-Teacher Association for our school formed in late fall of 1921. The organization’s emphasis has changed over the years, based on our students’ needs. Focus has included underweight children in the 20’s; free supplies, clothing and lunches for needy students during the Great Depression; improvement to playground equipment and civil defense in the ‘50’s; elegant morning coffees to encourage parent involvement which years later changed to Sunday dinners in neighborhood homes. One of the most beneficial organizations to come out of our PTA was in 1981 with REAP (Roxboro Enrichment Arts Program), now RoxArts. This is a non-profit, 501-C3 organization that uses its fundraising capital to promote artistic experiences for Roxboro Elementary and Middle Schools. RoxArts continues today, nearly 30 years later, to fund artist-in-residence programs, field trips, assemblies and arts projects for Roxboro’s K-8 grade students. It’s a very special program and unique to Roxboro schools

The Village

Our PTA re-assessed its programs in 2003-04 and is now focused on three primary goals. Community Building is a continuation of the parent involvement programs of the original 1921 PTA. These volunteers sponsor social and recreational events and educational and discussion programs. The 2nd set of goals are centered around School Growth and Public Relations, providing preschool events, parent coffees and outreach to local realtors and others who will assist in maintaining a balanced and diversified student body at Roxboro. The 3rd and most ambitious program is “The Village”. Inspired by the success of Gov. Robert Taft’s “Ohio Reads” program of 2000-2004, Village volunteers are recruited from PTA to work in the classrooms and hallways one-on-one with students on the verge of success but needing a little extra attention. Three to ten volunteers work daily for an hour helping students at all grade levels improve in reading, math and learning in general. The program was enlarged in 2006 to include student volunteers from John Carroll University visiting our school every Monday and Wednesday to tutor our students.

Technology

Roxboro has a computer lab in the media center with multiple systems and specialized software for reading and math at all grade levels used weekly by every student. All fifth grade teachers have a Smart Board in their rooms. In 2010, six Smart Boards give each grade level access to an enormous interactive touchscreen for truly engaging learning in every subject area, especially math and science. There is also a Smart Board in our Media Center for the use of all students.

EFFECTIVE

The continued success of these programs, this equipment, our excellent staff and our many parent volunteers are evidenced annually by our “Effective” rating from the Ohio Department of Education. We feel our goal of rating “Excellent” in the very near future is well in hand. We hope our community will continue to support us in achieving success – Every Student, Every Day!