ATLANTA — Children deserve to feel safe at school. However, that fundamental right is not guaranteed in a neighborhood with one of the highest crime rates in Atlanta.
Cleveland Avenue Elementary averages 25 lockdowns a year because of crime just outside its doors – that's nearly once a week for those children.
11Alive went behind-the-scenes to show how the elementary school is defying the odds to make the kids feel safe.
The story of Cleveland Avenue Elementary is changing
"We are trying to make sure they are achieving and excelling, despite what may be on the news, what's in the newspaper," said educator Jerry Woodfork.
The headlines about crime and violence outside these school walls will not define the children who learn within them.
"You're not just a citizen of Atlanta, you're a global citizen. And it starts here in elementary school," he said.
Woodfork is back in class for his 24th year because he sees potential in the elementary students.
"When I look at my kids, I see a seed. A seed that needs to be watered. A seed that needs sunlight, a seed that needs the nurture and care of staff members," he said.
Story continues below gallery.
Photos | Students at Cleveland Avenue Elementary School
Inside the garden at Cleveland Elementary School
That care is taken inside the classroom and in the yard.
The school is in the middle of a food desert, so the kids grow fresh fruits and vegetables for the neighborhood – growing the community with each harvest.
A word from the school's principal
Cleveland Elementary School Principal Dr. Enrique Ralls shares the children's roots.
"We actually got a chance to put our educators on a bus to ride the actual school route. We thought that it was important for our educators to embrace the community we serve. It was about context," said Ralls.
Dr. Ralls says understanding where the children come from helps them grow where they are.
"One thing I want the world to know about Cleveland Avenue is that we have high expectations. We are pushing scholars to do great things because your circumstance doesn't limit your success," he said.
A look at the neighborhood crime data
The circumstances in this neighborhood can be challenging.
The kids were on lockdown after a triple shooting just down the street on their second day of school.
Crime statistics in the neighborhood tell one story: more than a dozen homicides, hundreds of burglaries, and 269 aggravated assaults this year alone.
Although serious crimes surround children of Cleveland Elementary, APD Zone 3 data since 2022 shows improvement. Check out the table below for specific crime data below:
Cleveland Avenue Elementary's story is limitless
However, it's the impact of these types of crimes that lasts a lifetime. But Dr. Ralls says to look to the kids for the full story of growth.
Fourth-grade reading is up 4%, fifth-grade reading is up 9%, and fifth-grade science is growing by 6%.
"So when I see them every day, I see it as an opportunity to pour a little sunshine, pour a little light, pour a little excitement into their day," said Woodfork.
Changing the story of the school, one student at a time. Their story is limitless.
For more information about Cleveland Avenue Elementary and the school's initiatives, click here: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/cleveland.