| Louise Archer Elementary School | |
| Established: | 1867 |
| Type: | Public school |
| Principal: | Michelle Makrigiorgos |
| Ratio: | 14.84 |
| Location: | 324 Nutley Street N.W. Vienna, Virginia 22180, U.S. |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Virginia Northern#USA Virginia#USA |
| District: | Fairfax County Public Schools |
| Enrollment: | 587 |
| Motto: | Where The Sun Always Shines |
| Colors: | Yellow and Blue |
| Free Label: | Pyramid |
| Free Text: | James Madison High School |
| Homepage: | http://www.fcps.edu/LouiseArcherES/ |
| Free Label1: | Previous name |
| Free Text1: | Vienna Colored School (until 1950) |
Louise Archer Elementary School is an elementary school in Vienna, Virginia, United States, and is part of Fairfax County Public Schools. It was founded in 1867 as a school for African-American children. It is designated by Fairfax County as an elementary school center for advanced academic programs.[1]
The school was originally established in 1867 as Vienna Colored School, It was the first school for African-American children.[2] Before Louise Archer, African-Americans had to walk all the way to Washington D.C. every day. The school moved to its current location, then a black neighborhood, in 1939.[3] Mrs. Louise Archer served as the school's principal[4] and taught students with two other teachers. She taught and fed all of the students. In the early 1940s, the only water was from the Salisbury Spring a mile away. Boys had to go and fetch water, and Mrs. Archer fed the children meals she cooked on a pot-bellied stove. The old school building is what is now part of the northern section of the school near the cafeteria.[5]
In 1950 the school was renamed Louise Archer Elementary School.[6]
In the late 1960s, Duke Ellington and his trio played at the school, at the invitation of the band teacher at that time, Philmore Hall, who had once been Ellington's trumpet teacher.[7]
Louise Archer has a level 4 Advanced Academics Program (AAP) starting at third grade.
In the 2009 school year, the Louise Archer Chess Club won seven trophies and awards. The school won 3rd place in the country in a tournament in spring 2009, and not far behind in another National Chess Competition. The school has won the Kent Gardens Cup last year and for seven years straight from 2005-2012.
The morning announcements and school news are transmitted on WLATV closed-circuit television that is run by select 5th and 6th grade students.