Welcome to Poe!

  • Welcome to Poe GT/AIG Basics Magnet Elementary School, a Certified Demonstration Magnet School and 2025 Magnet School of Excellence! We are thrilled to begin the 2025-26 school year!

     
    Who we are: Teachers and learners who take joy in our work. Talented, creative people who hone and share our gifts. Kind and respectful citizens. 
     
    What we do: Nurture the growth of the whole child: academic, physical, social, emotional and artistic. Cultivate the interests and passions of every student. We offer more than 100 electives, from architecture to robotics to zoology. K-2 electives. Grade 3-5 Electives.
     
    How we do it: By infusing our magnet theme of Gifted & Talented/Academically and Intellectually Gifted in everything we do. Learn more.
     
    Why you should visit: To see the exciting new things that are happening in our school building. Schedule a tour.
     
     

    Background and Fun Facts 

    Pieces of Gold
     
    Poe Magnet Elementary is a small GT/AIG Basics school just outside of downtown Raleigh. With only about 300 students, we are able to provide a close-knit family environment where each child builds positive relationships with caring adults. Our core values guide our mission to inspire and cultivate confident learners prepared to embrace the challenges of the future. We serve students from all areas of Wake County and love to have visitors tour our school

    School Mascot:  Panda Bear

    School Colors:  Green, Black, and White

    School Song:  “A Child of this World”, Teresa Jennings, 2005

    School Motto: Grow at Poe!

     

    Poe GT/AIG Basics Magnet School History
    The 13 acres of land for Poe were purchased in 1952 for $19,000. Poe was constructed in 1955 as a public school and officially named Clarence Poe Elementary School. It was designated as an International Magnet school in 1982. In 1995, Poe became a Montessori Magnet, with the International/Technology Magnet program being slowly phased out. The school year began with four Primary (PK/K) classrooms with the remainder of the school (grades 1-5) continuing in the International/Technology Magnet. By 1998, Poe was exclusively a Montessori Magnet. In 2008-2009, the school was fully renovated, including updates to all classrooms. In 2013-2014, Poe became a GT/AIG Basics Magnet.

     

    GT/AIG Basics
    The Gifted and Talented (GT) program is rooted in the belief that every student has gifts and talents to be valued and nurtured. The GT Program offers an extensive elective menu for exploration, acceleration, and rich, in-depth study in all subject areas to enhance the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Parents and students select courses from a diverse menu of elective offerings each quarter. For example, a child who is gifted in math may be challenged in an academically gifted math elective, while a child who is passionate about the arts may choose to take dance or music electives. Expanded opportunities in visual arts, performing arts, and world languages are available. Students in the Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Basics Program are grouped with other AIG-identified students for daily instruction in language arts and/or math, according to their individual qualifications.