Established in 1951, Maplewood Elementary is the local public elementary school for Cherrywood and parts of Mueller. It is also open to transfer students from anywhere in Austin. Maplewood is a diverse community of learners in Pre-K through 5th grade. Pre-K students must be four and students enrolling in Kindergarten must be five by September 1st. The school day runs from 7:40 a.m.-3:10 p.m. On-site after school care is available until 6 p.m. from a variety of vendors including Creative Action. In spring 2022, there are approximately 420 students enrolled at Maplewood. Parent volunteer support on campus is welcomed and encouraged.
Maplewood teachers are a mix of veterans and new educators. While 15 teachers and teaching assistants are in their first five years at our school, 10 have been teaching more than 5 years, and 15 have been at our campus for more than 10 years, including six leaders who have been with Maplewood for more than 20 years. About 25% of our students are enrolled in the dual-language program (Spanish). Our Special Areas Team (music, art, physical education, and library) is phenomenal. Students are presented with an engaging and challenging arts curriculum and participate in school-wide arts events celebrating cultural diversity (e.g. Latinx Heritage Night and Black History Month). Our P.E. coach leads our students in an innovative fitness program including units like cardio drumming; she was just named one of five finalists for 2022 National Teacher of the Year for Elementary Physical Education.
Maplewood boasts a school-wide Social Emotional Learning and “Increase the Peace” program led by our fabulous school counselor. We have been recognized as a longstanding No Place for Hate campus. In 2020, our school counselor started a Reading Against Racism Program for both students and parents. Our parent community shows up and is not afraid to talk about hard things! The theme of increasing the peace is embedded in the fabric of our school. Maplewood has a Peace Pole garden in the back and a Peace sign sculpture at our front entrance. Individual students are nominated by staff and recognized as “Peace Makers” each week. All of our Kindergarten and Pre-K students participate in a Mindfulness program with a certified yoga/mindfulness instructor who is a former Maplewood classroom teacher.
Maplewood values outdoor education and environmental stewardship. Many of our students eat lunch outdoors every day or learn in one of our “outdoor classroom” areas on campus. The National Wildlife Federation has recognized Maplewood as an Eco Rise School and a Monarch Heroes School. In addition to our Pollinator Gardens, each classroom has its own vegetable garden and we have a school orchard. We have been the recipients of several Bright Green Futures Grants, most recently a 2021 grant to support composting and recycling at outdoor lunch. Two new playscapes were installed by AISD this winter and we also just received a grant from Austin Public Health to enhance our recess spaces with new blacktop and sidewalk activity paint and new soccer goals.
We would love to show you our beautiful campus and answer any questions you may have about sending your child to your local neighborhood public school. Tours are happening on February 18 and on March 4 @ 9:00. Please call the front office to reserve your tour spot or click here to sign up. You are welcome to explore our Maplewood School Community Facebook page to connect with current parents directly.
Already know that Maplewood is for your family? Enroll or transfer today!
Questions? Call the Maplewood office at 512-414-4402.