About Us

Welcome to Swift Creek Elementary School!

Mission Statement

Wake County School System will provide relevant and engaging education and will graduate students who are collaborative, creative, effective communicators, and critical thinkers.

Vision Statement

Students at Swift Creek Elementary will become college and career-ready citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in an ever-changing world.

Core Beliefs

• Every student is uniquely capable and deserves to be challenged and engaged in relevant, rigorous, and meaningful learning each day.
• Every student is expected to learn, grow, and succeed while we will eliminate the ability to predict achievement based on socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity.
• Well-supported, highly effective, and dedicated principals, teachers, and staff are essential to success for all students.
• The Board of Education, superintendent, and all staff, while sustaining best practices, will promote and support a culture of continuous improvement, risk-taking, and innovation that results in a high-performing organization focused on student achievement.
• The Board of Education, superintendent, and all staff value a diverse school community that is inviting, respectful, inclusive, flexible, and supportive.
• The Wake County residents value a strong public school system and will partner to provide the support and resources to fully realize our shared vision, accomplish the mission, and sustain our core beliefs.

Value Statements

• We will provide meaningful learning experiences through differentiated instruction with challenging and engaging activities.
• We will have high expectations for all members of the school community.
• We will collaborate and communicate to create a positive professional learning environment.
• We will apply instructional practices that are relevant, creative and rigorous based on student achievement.
• We will build positive relationships within our diverse community and seek partnerships that will support our success.

History of Swift Creek

Swift Creek School operated as Enterprise School in 1929, before the state took over public school operations in 1932.

John Stephens (Stevens) was the Chairman of the School Board for the Enterprise School District and was the Justice of the Peace and Sheriff in Swift Creek Township. Swift Creek School was formed from the consolidation of four schools in the area: Enterprise, on Yates Mill Road; Fairview, where the Fairview Club House now stands; Oak Hill, near Piney Plains Church; and J.Y. Joyner, on Highway 401 South of Raleigh.

In 1930, maps were drawn showing the boundaries of the school district. The referendum to consolidate the four schools in the Swift Creek District was held on June 24, 1930, along with a tax referendum for the school. It passed, in large part, due to John Stephens (Stevens), along with John Lockhart (Wake County School Superintendent), the Board of Education, and the Wake County Commissioners.

Swift Creek opened in 1932 with a parade. The flag was carried by Howard Horton and Dorothy Jones, who later married and, as recently as 2014, resided in the community.

A gym was added in 1956 and is still used today.  At the same time, seven acres of land were purchased from Mr. Clifford Elledge, and the playground was built on the property.

During the 1960’s, the school changed from being a first through seventh grade school to a first through sixth grade school. In the mid-1980’s, the sixth grade was dropped, and Swift Creek is currently a K-5 school serving over 300 students.

In 1958, another classroom building was added. The last building was added in 1972. This building was added with larger spacious open classrooms and housed our Kindergarten classrooms.

In 1972, the first Student Council was born, and the motto was selected – “Work Together to be Better.” The cougar was adopted as the mascot along with the colors blue and gold.

At the end of the 1990-1991 school year, Swift Creek was closed for one year and moved to a new school while the old buildings were torn down. The new structure houses students in grades 1-5.  When the student body returned for the 1992-1993 school year, there were 600 students enrolled.

In 2024, students moved to a temporary school location in Garner while a new building was erected on the Swift Creek grounds.

Swift Creek Elementary School has a long and proud history in the Swift Creek community.  We enjoy a lot of local support from the surrounding community. Thanks for joining us as we work to make Swift Creek Elementary School the number one choice for base students and families.