CCSD Celebrates New Free Home Elementary School

See more photos online here.

When one door closes, another opens, and today the Cherokee County School District celebrated the opening of its newest elementary school with an open house event for the community.

The new home of Free Home Elementary School was christened today with its first student visits, as current Free Home Rockets, their families, teachers and staff, alumni and neighbors toured the new campus in anticipation of its official opening on Aug. 1 for the first day of school.

The open house at the new campus, which is just up Ball Ground Road from the current building, followed a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by School Board members, Cherokee County leaders, current and past Principals and teachers, and current and former students.  Other special guests included Betty Wallace, the oldest living former student; the Cochran family, whose former family farm is the site of the new campus; and past Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower, who recommended the school’s construction to the School Board.

Remarks shared as part of the ceremony centered on the ideas of history, heritage, and home.

“It’s more than just a school -- it’s the heart of the community, it’s a living piece of heritage,” said School Board Vice Chair Patsy Jordan, whose post includes Free Home.  “It stands as a testament to what a community can do when it comes together for its future.”

The oldest elementary school campus in the community, the current Free Home building borders the expanding Highway 20, making the move to the new site important for safety and future growth.  The new building, with 53 classrooms, is large enough to not only accommodate the current 275 students, but also up to 850 total as east Cherokee County’s population rises.  

During the open house, students were quick to try out the new playground, and explore the gym, cafeteria, classrooms and more.  The campus was designed by Croft & Associates and built by Carroll Daniel Construction.

School Board Chair Janet Read Welch thanked the community for its “faithfulness and flexibility” in awaiting the new school, likening residents to stockholders in the school system now seeing the valuable dividends of their investment.

Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis and Principal Julie Peppers made remarks celebrating the occasion and thanking everyone who played a role in the construction of the new school.

“As we have expressed throughout the year,” Principal Peppers said, “when one door closes, another opens, and that door is going to be wide open today.”

If you were unable to attend today’s open house, you can watch a video tour at https://tinyurl.com/freehometour created by Creekview High School teacher Dr. Ashley Pruitt, who leads the school’s Career Pathway program for Audio, Video, Technology & Film, her students and Assistant Principal Lisa Funderburk.  

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