Aldridge Elementary School

Achievements

• Aldridge 50^th Anniversary (2018)
• A complete renovation of Aldridge took place in 2007-08, under the leadership of Marilyn Carruthers.
• 2019-2020 Campus Recognitions:
• Best of Richardson Awards for Elementary School 2020
• Qualify for the Richardson Business Hall of Fame 2020
• 2^nd place 2020 Spring Market Game Competition (PACE participants)
• Math Competition @ Plano Senior High
  • Building Challenge Category (1^st place—5^th grader)
  • Amazing Race Category (2^nd place—5^th grader)
  • General Math Category (4^th place—5^th grader)
• Blue Division of the ​WordMasters Challenge (five 5^th graders)
• WordMasters Challenge​ (fifth in the nation –3^rd grade)
• Hoop Shoot (5^th grade—1st place winner)
• 2020 Spring 5th Grade Boys Rock & Bowl Champions
• First Lego League Competition (Aldridge Robotics)
• PTA Chess Club Dive Classic 2019 (2^nd Place)
• PTA PSL Chess Winter White Classic 2019 (3^rd place)
• PTA PSL Chess School Spirit Show Down 2019 (1^st place)
• PTA PSL Chess Big Heart Classic 2019 (1^st place)
• 2017-2018 Campus Recognitions:
• 1st Place Winner in Regional Stock Market Games (two Fifth graders)
• Regional Science Fair Participants (Third & Fourth grader)
• 3rd Place Winner in District Elk’s Hoop Shoot Competition (Fifth grader)
• Award of Excellence (literary submission) in PTA Reflections Program

Campus Programs

This year Aldridge has added a few new programs in addition to the many that continue make Aldridge strong:

• New programs: AVID (Advancement via Individualized Determination), Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students), Aldridge Mentor Program, PAL Mentors, Campus Collaborative Team Enrichment Programs
• Continued Programs: English as a Second Language (ESL); inclusive special education; portfolio assessment (kindergarten - second grade); safety patrol; student council; choir; Plano Academic Creative Education (PACE) for identified gifted and talented students; Collin County Adventure camp (fifth grade); science fair; field day; broadcast/tech crew; history fair; Spelling Bee; academic tutor/mentor program; PASAR after-school childcare; fine arts field trips/programs, and PTA sponsored after-school enrichment programs.

Parent Involvement Opportunities

• New programs: Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) and Aldridge Mentor Program
• Continued Programs: Award winning Parent/Teacher Association (PTA); School-Based Improvement Committee (SBIC); family nights; yearbook; Collin County Adventure camp volunteers (fifth grade), PTA Reflections Art contest; PTA book fair; campus beautification; library and class volunteers; Dad's Den; field day; science fair and history fair judges; Key Communicators; field trips; student directory; ELMS group
  (English Language Made Simple); PTA; fundraisers, hospitality committee, literacy library, ways and means, and youth safety.

Community/Business Partnerships

Canyon Creek Homeowner's Association; General Mills Box Tops; UT-Dallas, North Dallas Adventist Academy, Amazon Smile, Tom Thumb, Chick-Fa-La, Taco Cabana

History of Aldridge

Mr. William Penn Aldridge was born in Plano, Texas, on January 31, 1870. He was one of nine children of James Kennon and Mariah Lively Aldridge. James Kennon was born in Tennessee and came to north Texas in 1858, lured by the promise of a better climate for farming and fertile black soil. He married Kentucky-born Mariah Lively in Plano shortly after his arrival and began farming south of town. James Kennon and neighbors Jacob Routh and R.W. Campbell were the main contributors to the building of a school on the Campbell farm. James Kennon served in the Civil War as a Captain, returning home to his family farm after the war. W.P. Aldridge joined his family in farming and married Alice Cochran, daughter of early Dallas settlers. They had one son, Charles, who was born in 1897. Mr. Aldridge raised cotton, grain crops and livestock on his farm, which was located where Aldridge Elementary School now stands.

The Aldridge family members were very active and involved in the community and were deeply committed to education. W.P.’s success as a farmer enabled him to spend time in community affairs. He was on the board of directors of the First Guaranty State Bank of Plano when it was chartered in 1910.

He was elected to the Plano Board of Education and served faithfully for 25 years from 1921-45. He was president of the Board for 16 years. William Penn Aldridge died on October 13, 1946, and is buried in Plano Mutual Cemetery.
Aldridge Elementary School opened November 25, 1968. We are honored to be named for a man who gave such long and dedicated service to the Plano Schools.