$2.5 Million for Drew Charter's Pre-K Program

The James M. Cox Foundation is giving $2.5 million to over the next five years.

The money is earmarked to support the East Lake-based school's Cox Pre-K program.

Drew's Pre-K program was launched in 2007 with 20 students and now has 66 youngsters.

It aims to prepare children with the tools necessary to succeed in the critical early learning years of elementary school and is part of Drew's overall philosophy of pushing its students to excel.

"Before founding our company and serving as Governor of Ohio, James M. Cox was a teacher and always valued the importance of education," James Cox Kennedy, chairman of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises, said in a statement.

"Today, it is vital that we give our children the opportunity to learn. Early childhood education is a great way to put children on the pathway to success. The James M. Cox Foundation is proud to support the Pre-K program at the Charles R. Drew Charter School."

Each of the three Pre-K classes at Drew has three teaching professionals, including a teaching assistant. In addition, a literacy coach floats among the three classes, Barbara Preuss, principal of Drew's elementary grades, told East Atlanta Patch. The program is so popular, there's waiting list of nearly 70 children who seek admittance, Preuss said.

It's different than the traditional Pre-K model, but it has proven to be successful as Drew is the best-performing elementary school — as ranked by academic performance — among the ones that serve the communities of East Atlanta Patch.

Ranked citywide against other elementary schools in the Atlanta Public Schools system, Drew is No. 4 in the district.