Stone Primary School was established in 1917 as Greenville’s first elementary school and moved to its current downtown location in 1923. Over the course of its history, Stone has evolved from struggling, underachieving school in danger of closing to a sought-after magnet academy with an annual extensive waiting list foradmission. In 1995 the school was renamed Stone Academy of Communication Arts and was designated as a K5-5th grade arts magnet school. The surrounding neighborhood is a diverse mix of low-income housing, modest homes, and stately historic homes and businesses. The majority of students at Stone come from the surrounding neighborhood, with approximately 30 percent coming from further away as magnet students. Stone has demonstrated a record of high achievement, which can be largely attributed to our focus on the arts. In addition to general music and visual art, Stone also offers dance, drama, and strings as well as an array of arts classes after school. All teachers work collaboratively to effectively integrate the arts into the traditional curriculum, engaging students in critical thinking and inspiring students to be creative. As a neighborhood school, we welcome students with diverse backgrounds and learning styles, and teachers work diligently to lead all students to a higher level through active teaching and immersing them in the arts. When asked what makes Stone unique, one teacher responded, “There is no place like Stone. The school climate is warm and inviting, and Stone is a school brimming with creative people – both staff and students. The atmosphere is filled with energy and the freedom to play, laugh, move, and learn, and our students are excited to grow through the arts.”