About Us

Partnership Magnet Elementary is a hidden gem in the heart of Raleigh where our small size, just over 300 students, allows us to truly know and teach every child as an individual. We use a unique team-teaching approach in an open-classroom environment to meet students exactly where they are. Because we’re just a short walk from downtown, our students don't just stay in the classroom; they regularly explore the city to learn from local experts and neighbors. It’s a tight-knit, collaborative community where every student is empowered to be who they are and make a real-world impact.

Mission Statement

We pledge to foster a climate of instructional excellence, intellectual development, individual growth, and community partnerships.

Vision Statement

Partnership Magnet Elementary nurtures positive relationships within our community, empowers diverse learners, and provides equitable access to educational opportunities that foster connection through community citizenship.

Core Value and Beliefs

The Partnership Community believes in...

• Providing an inclusive environment where all students are respected and encouraged
• Creating challenging and differentiated instruction
• Working collaboratively within our school community
• Inspiring global citizens
• Encouraging family involvement in the learning process
• Investing in the whole child through a community of supports

Our History

Did you know our building is over 100 years old? In 1916, The Lewis School, named after school board member Dr. Richard H. Lewis, was constructed as a fireproof building (previous local schools burned down) and contained five large classrooms. The building was only a portion of what it is today and the entrance of the school was in a different position. If you look out the window of our current Counselor's room, you can still see the R.H. Lewis inscription above what was once the entrance of the school. 

Over the next few years, additional classrooms, a library, and a multipurpose room were added to the school building before closing in the 1950's. In the 1960's, the site became the Raleigh City Schools Central Office. After the Raleigh City and Wake County Schools merger in the 1970's, the building served as an administrative site. An addition was made to the building and years later in 1998, the building reopened as Partnership Elementary as the brainchild of Superintendent Dr. Jim Surratt as the Wake County Public School's System answer to charter schools.

At the time, Partnership was the only school of "choice" available to all students in Wake County. Partnership’s name reflected its vision: the school was led by three “Senior Partners” who served as co-principals. Flexibility, collaboration and, yes – partnerships - among students, faculty, families and the community were the founding principles. The school fostered a strong sense of community right from the start. Families were required to perform an average of at least four hours of volunteer activities each month. Every child had a Personalized Education Plan which listed each student’s strengths and goals for improvement. Teachers and parents worked together to modify the plans throughout the school year as students progressed in meeting them.

For the 2017 school year, Partnership Elementary was officially designated a magnet school with the addition of a new theme - Interactive Community. This theme was inspired by and began with the founding core principles of the school.