About Our School

At Swaney Elementary School, we are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment where students are encouraged to learn, grow, and thrive. We believe that strong relationships among students, staff, families, and the community are the foundation of a successful school experience, and we work every day to ensure that all students feel connected, supported, and valued.

This school year is especially meaningful as Swaney Elementary celebrates its 70th anniversary. Opening its doors in November 1956, Swaney began with eight teachers, 224 students, and Principal Charles W. Hubbard leading the school. Like the rest of the Derby community during that time, Swaney experienced rapid growth, quickly becoming an important part of the community and a place where generations of Derby families have learned, grown, and built lasting memories.

From its earliest years, Swaney focused on supporting the needs of all learners while building strong relationships between school and home. The school provided innovative supports and services for students and established strong family partnerships through active parent involvement and collaboration. Those same values continue to guide our work today.

Throughout the 2026–2027 school year, Swaney will celebrate this important milestone by recognizing the traditions, people, accomplishments, and memories that have shaped our school over the past seven decades. We are proud of our history and excited to honor the students, staff, families, and community members who have made Swaney such a special place.

Today, Swaney serves students from Early Childhood through fifth grade and provides engaging learning experiences designed to support the whole child academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. Our dedicated staff is passionate about helping students build confidence, independence, resilience, and a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom.

Our mission at Swaney is to provide a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment that builds positive relationships and supports learning and growth for all students.

Our vision is to encourage students to be kind, positive, and productive lifelong learners.

At Swaney, we also focus on developing strong learner characteristics that help students succeed in both school and life. We encourage students to:

• Be curious and ask questions
• Take ownership and responsibility
• Persevere through challenges
• Build independence and confidence
• Work cooperatively with others

Swaney offers a variety of programs and supports to meet the diverse needs of students, including the Early Childhood program, Special Education services, English Language Learner (ELL) support, and reading and math intervention services. Students also benefit from meaningful technology integration and access to digital learning tools that support collaboration, creativity, engagement, and problem-solving throughout the learning process.

In addition, Swaney is proud to provide innovative STEM learning opportunities and hands-on experiences that encourage creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Our school community takes pride in creating an environment where students are empowered to explore, grow, and succeed.

Most importantly, Swaney is a family. Our staff, students, families, and community partners work together to create a welcoming school culture where every student is encouraged to reach their full potential.