About Us

School History

The school was dedicated to the late congresswoman, Gladys Noon Spellman, a teacher, activist, and politician in the Cheverly, MD community.  In 1991 Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary was constructed on the former grounds of Happy Acres Elementary, a K-3 school.  The new school combined Cheverly Tuxedo Elementary, grades 4-6, with Happy Acres Elementary.  The new site was able to house students from both schools in one building.  Upon opening, GNS boasted a computer lab, science lab, an art room, and a foreign language component.  The school opened as a Model Comprehensive School.  In its second year of existence, an ESOL program was added to the existing programs.  The school has experienced rapid growth in enrollment and achievement.  Starting in the late 1990’s the school has enjoyed numerous awards and recognition for its high scores on the MSPAP and other standardized tests.  The school was cited by the Department of Education from data gathered by the University of Texas as being a high achieving high poverty school.  In 2000, the school was selected by the Maryland Department of Education as a Peer Mentoring School to work with other high poverty schools in order to raise their academic achievement.