Roberts Elementary School

Roberts Elementary School opened in August 2010 in the city of Suwanee, joining the North Gwinnett Cluster. In naming the school, the Gwinnett County Board of Education honored a prominent family in early Gwinnett County— the Roberts family. Historical Society records, dating back to 1822, indicate that James and Sarah (Sallie) Roberts were among the “First Families” in Gwinnett County.

Family lore holds that Sallie Wisdom was the daughter of a wealthy Virginia planter. When she and James married in 1818, her dowry included four slaves. As James objected to slavery, he did not accept the dowry. He moved his new bride to North Carolina where the couple started their family. A few years later, James, Sallie, and their two small children left North Carolina in a two-wheeled cart. They headed toward a new home, saying they would stop “where the grass hits the horse’s belly.” That apparently happened just north of Suwanee in Gwinnett County where the family put down roots.

Looking at today’s map, the old homeplace where James and Sallie raised their children was located one- quarter mile east of Highway 23 on Roberts Road. In fact, Roberts Elementary School is built on land that was once part of the Roberts’ estate, previously owned by descendant John Henry Roberts (seated far left in the photo to the right).

James and Sallie Roberts are buried in the Old Suwanee Baptist Church Cemetery. Their legacy lives on as they were the forebears of a long line of descendants who would reside in Gwinnett County over the next 180 years. Many generations of the Roberts family lineage have contributed to the community as teachers and local business owners. A number of their descendants extended their contributions beyond Gwinnett County, serving our nation during World War I and in later conflicts, fighting for American freedoms and liberty. The Roberts’ descendants continue to make Gwinnett County their home today, carrying on a long tradition of commitment and dedication to the communities they serve.

Roberts Elementary School’s stated mission is to encourage staff and students to continuously seek knowledge, develop leadership skills, and learn to lead others while providing service to our school and community. And in its brief history, the school has made strides in these areas.

In addition to its focus on academics, the school offers students a number of ways to be involved. Clubs include ART, Music, Girls and Boys running clubs, Dance, Sports, Guitar, Orchestra, Readers Rally, Witzzle Pro Math, Environmental, Chess, Robotics, and the Good News Club. In addition, students participate in the Kids to College program. Surrounded by college themes, our students are exposed to college options. Toward the end of their 5th grade year, students do college research, and fill out an abbreviated college application to learn the process and requirements for college entrance. Fifth graders also take part in a college/career fair held in May, and students attend a college field trip to a local college or university.

Students and staff members give back to the community in a number of ways. The school earned the American heart Association Award for raising more than $6,000 in 2015–16. Roberts choral students participated in performances at Suwanee Tree Lighting, Annandale Village, and an Atlanta Gladiators game. The Roberts school community generously supported the Toys for Tots program and our Relay For Life fundraising campaign.

In the area of environmental education and good stewardship, Roberts Elementary earned the designation as a THREE STARClean Air School, an award achieved for the sixth consecutive year. The school also has earned multiple recognitions from Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful for the school’s commitment to environmental excellence.

The students and staff members of Roberts Elementary embrace excellence... Excellence is not just an attitude, but a way of life at the school.