Fred A. Toomer Elementary School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. It is a traditional public school serving students from Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. Toomer Elementary is open to all students who live in the Atlanta neighborhoods of Kirkwood, Edgewood, and East Lake:
A majority of students come from low-income families, though families from a broad socioeconomic spectrum make up the school community. Importantly, Toomer is distinctively inclusive of the diverse families it serves. These families come together regularly through monthly Family Engagement Nights, Cougar Pride Celebrations, and Parent Coffees, and other school-wide events.
Led by Principal Caroline Brown, Assistant Principal Dr. Teruko Dobashi-Taylor, and a devoted and experienced administrative team, Toomer Elementary fosters social emotional learning in an environment that values a multi-cultural perspective. This is reflected in the school’s inclusive culture, as well as its IB curriculum. In 2022, the school earned the title of Equity Champion School in the district and our assistant principal, Dr. Dobashi-Taylor, was selected as an Equity Champion.
Toomer Elementary received its authorization as an IB World School in 2022. IB World Schools share a common philosophy — a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education. The IB curriculum and the learning philosophy behind it shine throughout the school, as all aspects of the students’ learning focus on the interconnectedness of the students to their communities — be it their school, families and friends, neighborhoods, and even global communities. The IB curriculum emphasizes 10 IB “learner profiles.” At Toomer Elementary, students are Inquirers, Thinkers, Communicators, Risk Takers, Knowledgeable, Principled, Open-Minded, Caring, Balanced, and Reflective.
Features that make Toomer Elementary a unique and welcoming community include curious and enthusiastic students, passionate and involved parents, strong community partnerships, and a campus retrofitted to accommodate students with a range of physical differences. The school will be undergoing a capital improvement project during the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, wherein many renovations will be made to enhance the facilities.