Cradle-to-College and Career Education
High-quality, neighborhood-serving continuum for student growth, learning, and achievement at every level starting at birth and through college and beyond.
The Cox Pre-K Program
The Cox Pre-K Program, since its inception in 2007, has developed into a key model of early learning within East Lake’s cradle-to-college pipeline. Beginning with just 20 students, the program now nurtures 88 children across four classrooms, in partnership with the James M. Cox Foundation. As the research and demonstration site for the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy, Cox Pre-K prioritizes robust language development and reading foundations. Its core attributes encompass highly-skilled educators, low student-teacher ratios, project-based learning intertwined with STEAM, and continuous formative and summative assessments. The program ensures children are fully equipped for the journey into kindergarten, creating a solid foundation for their future academic success.
EAST LAKE EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY
The East Lake Early Learning Academy (ELELA) offers daycare and early learning services for young children. ELELA’s Creative Curriculum is used to deliver age-appropriate lessons in preparation for Kindergarten.
With a child-centered, holistic approach to early learning, the Creative Curriculum focuses on 8 core content areas (including STEAM project-based learning): Arts, Character Development, Healthy Habits, Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Technology. Programming includes arts & crafts, circle time, group play, holiday celebrations and outdoor activities.
SHELTERING ARMS EAST LAKE
Sheltering Arms is the standard in early childhood education—offering high-quality childcare, early education, and comprehensive family support to 3,500 children annually across 13 locations in metropolitan Atlanta, including East Lake.
On average, children at Sheltering Arms score in the 90th percentile for language and literacy, surpassing kindergarten readiness benchmarks. With a mission to bridge opportunity gaps resulting from systemic racism, Sheltering Arms leverages quality, equitable early childhood education to transform lives. The organization envisions thriving communities where every family has the power to shape their own and their children’s future.
CHARLES R. DREW CHARTER SCHOOL
Charles R. Drew Charter School (Drew) serves more than 1,900 students in Pre-K through 12th grade with an innovative Project-Based Learning approach centered around a STEAM curriculum. Drew Senior, Junior, and Elementary Academies each rank in the Top 10 in all of Atlanta Public Schools (APS). Drew consistently ranks in the top 10% in APS and top 20% in the State of Georgia.
Drew’s mission is to serve as a key component of the cradle-to-college/career continuum within East Lake. Drew offers several programs to bolster the excellence of education within the neighborhood:
