Founded in 2017 Elm Community Charter School is an independent inquiry based public charter school located in one of NYC’s most overcrowded school districts . Elm was the first elementary charter school to open in District 24 and remains one of the few public charter schools serving district 24 families . In 2015, along with fellow neighbors and educators, Principal Walton had the dream of creating an innovative school model for her neighborhood that cultivates students’ capacity to form their own identity, seize any opportunity, and shape the world around them . After a three year collaboration with members of the Elmhurst community, Elm Community Charter School was born !
Elm’s Founder and Principal, Priscilla Walton, is a Queens native who grew up in Queens, attended Queens public schools, and spent most of her days playing handball in Grand Ave Park. Priscilla has over a dozen years of experience as a teacher, curriculum writer, and school leader in independent charters, district schools, and charter networks, which equips her to lead a uniquely designed for the children of Queens. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Goucher College, a Masters of Education in At-Risk Students from Goucher College, and a Masters of Education in School Leadership from Teachers College in Columbia University.
Now fully grown, Elm Community Charter School is not only home to over 400 Queens children, but is also attended by Ms. Walton’s own daughter as well as the children of other Elm Staff Members.
