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Tall Oaks Elementary School

All About Tall Oaks

ALL ABOUT TALL OAKS: HOME OF THE LEOPARDS

Meet Your Administrators

A professional headshot of a smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a white blazer over a navy top.

Principal Courney Kraus Saunders joined Charlottesville City Schools in 2021 as an assistant principal of Buford Middle School. Previously, she taught history and Dual Enrollment intro to teach at Orange County High School. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from James Madison University. 

 

Assistant Principal Maelys Chambers has been a long-time teacher at Tall Oaks and has taught every grade level from Kindergarten through 5th grade, giving her a wealth of hands-on experience across the board. Ms. Chambers also holds a Reading Specialist endorsement and possesses extensive expertise in curriculum and instruction.

Uniquely Tall Oaks

Tall Oaks Elementary School is located on the edge of Johnson Village, serving kindergarten through grade 5. At Tall Oaks Elementary, we are family!

We use nature as our classroom!

In unstructured play or lessons, we spend a lot of time on our playgrounds, fields, track, active garden classroom, and 13 acres of woods.

We are connected to our community!

Choose Charlottesville City Schools for Elementary

The elementary schools of Charlottesville City Schools support children to develop independence, curiosity, and confidence. Teachers and staff work closely with families to help each child reach their full potential.

Students receive a strong foundation in literacy, math, science, and social studies.

Equally important, they cultivate a love of music, art, movement, engineering, and digital literacy through our specials curriculum.

Small schools, small classes

With an enrollment of between 250-350 students, each of our six neighborhood elementary schools quickly becomes a place where everyone knows your name. Most classes have 20 or fewer students.

A reflection of Charlottesville’s diversity

Our students come from all backgrounds and cultures, and we celebrate how we’re alike and the ways we’re unique. We’re committed to creating a sense of welcome and belonging for every child.

Strong school community

Our elementary schools truly are a home away from home for our students. Each school builds pride with a fun mascot, school song, and a school pledge. Monthly school-wide morning meetings, annual concerts, and PTO-supported events are special opportunities to celebrate together.

Commitment to arts and sciences

Students begin taking music, art, and iSTEM “specials” classes in kindergarten, preparing them for more advanced opportunities down the road at Charlottesville Middle School and Charlottesville High School.

Dedicated teachers

We’re proud to attract top talent—our staff includes National Board Certified Teachers, grant winners, and innovative educators at all levels. With an average of 12 years of experience in the classroom, our educators help students build a strong foundation.

Special experiences are routine!

The city of Charlottesville is our classroom: Elementary students have the opportunity to take field trips to Carter’s Mountain for apple-picking, the YMCA for swimming, UVA Fralin Art Museum, the Paramount, Camp Albemarle, and many more. In addition, every year our schools host guest visits from world-class artists, musicians, authors, athletes, and more.

Extra supports for student well-being

Charlottesville City Schools values students’ physical and mental health, which is why every elementary has a full-time nurse and school counselor, plus an additional mental health professional, as well as a school psychologist available part-time. In addition, our special education and related services are staffed at robust levels to ensure all students with disabilities have the support they need to succeed in school.

Each year students also expand their horizons with special field trips to museums, outdoor excursions, and cultural events, plus special guest visits to schools from world-renowned artists, musicians and authors.

 

Our students leave elementary school prepared and excited for new opportunities at Charlottesville Middle School, Charlottesville High School, and beyond.

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SCHOOL HISTORY

Tall Oaks Elementary (originally named Johnson Elementary) opened in 1955. In 2025, the school was renamed Tall Oaks, a nod to the school’s wooded landscape with trails and outdoor learning spaces. The campus prominently contains a large, historic oak among many other oaks across the grounds. The name “Tall Oaks” also took inspiration from the expression, “From little acorns come mighty oaks.”