Up and over the rainbow! Reaching for new heights!
Our Mission
To provide a positive, safe, supportive environment where students succeed in learning. Engaging lessons will enable our students to become life-long problem solvers.
About Our School
Powell Elementary will provide a positive, safe, and secure environment that will empower students to learn while building self-esteem. Students will be afforded the opportunity to experience success and mutual respect which will prepare them to be life-long learners. The Powell community will cooperate to produce responsible individuals who are able to adapt to an ever-changing society.
About Colin Powell
Colin Powell Elementary is an Exemplary TEA accredited school, which opened its doors to students in 1997. Our school’s namesake is after 4-star General Colin L. Powell (retired), and former Secretary of State, who visited our school on May 4, 1998.
In a school-wide assembly Colin Powell talked to students, parents, administrators, board members, faculty, and staff about his public school experiences in the South Bronx. He joked with students, answered questions and received their gifts. He was quoted as saying to the students, “I didn’t have a school like this. All the adults who gave you this school believe in you because they love you and have expectations for you. This Grand Prairie school exists to get you ready for the future.” Although he joked about no one asking his permission to name a school after him, he said, “Of all the awards I’ve gotten, I don’t think I’m prouder of anything than having this school named after me.” Colin Powell said, “When I reach the end of my life, it’s going to be wonderful to know that in Texas, in a place called Grand Prairie, there is a Colin Powell school.”
On December 16, 2000, Powell was sworn in as the 65th Secretary of State by President Bush. Secretary Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years, during which time he held myriad command and staff positions and rose to the rank of 4-star General. His last assignment was as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense. During this time, he oversaw 28 crises, including Operation Desert Storm in the victorious 1991 Persian Gulf War.