About Us

History

When B.B. Harris Elementary School opened in the fall of 1966, it was considered to be one of the most contemporary and modern facilities in the state. Mr. B.B. Harris, who at that time was Gwinnett County School Superintendent, believed that the individual needs of students were not being met. His belief was that a school building should be designed to adapt to the curriculum instead of adapting the curriculum to the building. Located on Claiborne Drive in Duluth, the school was built with few inner walls and presented a new concept of freedom and open movement for students and teachers. Harris soon became a model for many buildings in this area. It was “not by accident or happenstance” that the school was named to honor Mr. Harris. He served  

School Highlights

• A 2018 Georgia Department of Education Reward School: Harris Elementary was recognitioned as in the “Highest Performance” category. The award honors high-performing schools among the top 5% of Title I schools in the state with the highest performance over three years for the “all students” group on statewide assessments.
• Harris ES implemented PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) school-wide: Students focused on being safe, being respectful, and being responsible.
• Partnership with the American Heart Association: the students and staff at Harris raised almost $5000 through the Jump Rope for Heart program. The school also participated in fundraisers for United Way and Relay for Life. 

• A 2023 National Blue Ribbon School: A  United States Department of Education’s award program honoring high-performing schools and schools that are making great strides in closing achievement gaps.

• PBIS Recognition Program: As a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school, we promoted positive student behavior through school-wide expectations: Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. Students earned Paw Points for meeting expectations and redeemed them for rewards, including books from our Book Vending Machine, Game Day, PBIS trolley, and our inaugural PBIS Prom! 

• Reader’s Rally Champions: Our Reader’s Rally team earned 1st place in the GCPS county-wide competition, becoming the Elementary School Champions!

• Vision to Learn Partnership:  All students received free vision screenings through our Vision to Learn partnership. Those in need of further care received were able to opt in free eye exams and glasses at no cost to families

• Celebrating Diversity:  We hosted two new school wide events including our Holidays Around the World where students explored cultural traditions and holidays and our International Night where families shared cultural displays, foods, and performances.

• STEM & Robotics:  Our students participated in  three First Lego League (FLL) clubs: FLL Discover (K–1),FLL Explore (Grades 2–3), and FLL Challenge (Grades 4–5).  The Challenge team competed in the District Robotics Tournament, and the Discover and Explore teams showcased their work at Duluth STEAM Night.

• Clubs & Extracurriculars:  Students had opportunities to participate in a wide range of clubs and activities, including: Chorus, First Lego League Robotics, Drawing Club, Music Club, Broadcast Team, Safety Patrol, Reader’s Rally, and Read, Deed, and Run

• Staff Wellness Support:  B.B. Harris received a Wellness Center grant to support staff social and emotional learning. We purchased two adult massage chairs and updated our staff wellness space.

• Community Fundraising:  Our families raised funds through Boosterthon, which help fund our new digital marquee.

• PTA & Family Engagement:  In collaboration with the PTA, we hosted many successful events: Kindergarten Parents’ “Tears and Cheers”, Campus Beautification Day,  Glow Dance, BINGO Night, Movie Night

• Literacy Initiatives:  Literacy remained a top priority at B.B. Harris Elementary this year. All classrooms implemented a structured literacy model to support students’ reading development. Throughout the year, students engaged in a variety of activities that fostered a love of reading. They earned books from our Book Vending Machine using PBIS Paw Points and received a free book during the visit from the GCPS Book Mobile. Students also participated in Book Character Day and Parade, Read Across America Week, Drop Everything and Read time, and our annual Literacy Day celebration.