Chestnut Mountain Elementary School

Principal - Sabrina May
Assistant Principal - Ann Murphey
Counselor - Sydney Holmes
Secretary - Jan Williams

Chestnut Mountain Elementary School
4670 Winder Highway
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
Telephone # 770-967-3121
FAX: 770-967-4891

Chestnut Mountain Elementary History

Chestnut Mountain Elementary School is located on Winder Highway in southern Hall County. The first school building was built in the 1800's. It was a tall, wooden, two-story building, with a rock chimney at each end. The pupils sat around a fire and studied. The first floor was a classroom and the upper was a Masonic Hall. The pupils wrote on slates, and they had very few books. One of the books used was the Blue Back Speller.

The faculty consisted of one teacher who taught all subjects for all ages. The school term was five to seven months each year. Some of the students walked as far as six miles to school.

One winter night after the children had gone home, the school burned. The school was then taught in Chestnut Mountain Baptist and Presbyterian Churches. A few years later, another schoolhouse was built. It had four classrooms and an auditorium. Students had patent desks for the first time. This building burned while school was in session, but most of the books and equipment were saved. The neighboring churches were once again used as classrooms until a new brick building was built.

The new building contained six classrooms, an office, library, and an auditorium. In 1967-68, an addition was built which contained six classrooms, teachers' lounge, and bookroom. In 1971, the school received a new library, audio-visual room, principal's office, conference room, reception room, and lunchroom. Thirty classrooms were added between 1971 and 1996.

Chestnut Mountain's current enrollment is 532 with a staff of 67. While in the 1800's students studied around a fire, in the 21st century Chestnut Mountain students participate in art, music, and physical education classes. The special needs of students are addressed with classes for limited English proficient students and classes for challenged and gifted students. Each teacher is trained in specific areas of development in order to better serve students. Students practice individualized lessons in a computer lab.