In February of 1980, Willie and Mae Moon, a local farm family, sold a 15-acre tract of their farm to the Gwinnett County School System on which to build the new school. Mr. And Mrs. Moon had only two requests: that the big oak tree be left standing and that a fence separate the children from the cow pasture adjoining the school property. Mr. Moon died in January, 1987. The oak tree is still located on the school property, but the cow pasture and corn fields have been replaced by houses.

The school was completed in August of 1981. The name Arcado was taken from the name of the road that runs in front of the school. When the road was first graded and paved, it was named for three Gwinnett County commissioners who were serving at that time: Weldon Archer, O.D. Cain, and Paul Dover. The first two letters from each last name were combined to form the word Arcado.

Students were rezoned from Camp Creek Elementary, Knight Elementary and Lilburn Elementary to form Arcado’s student body of 830 students. The staff consisted of teachers from schools all over Gwinnett, as well as teachers who moved from out-of-state.

The students decided to call themselves the Arcado Astros, because students at Arcado always strive to "reach for the stars." A second mascot, a panda named Bamboo, has been unofficially adopted by the student body. A school-wide vote by students selected royal blue and gold as the school colors.

Jean Murphy was appointed as the first principal of Arcado Elementary School in 1981 and served until her retirement in 1993. The front driveway of the school is named Jean Murphy Lane in her honor.

Linda Anderson was appointed principal in the summer of 1993 after serving as an assistant principal at Trickum Middle School. She continued in her role as principal until June, 2004.

Joe Ahrens is Arcado's current principal. He took over in July, 2004 after having served as an assistant principal at McKendree Elementary School in Gwinnett. Mr. Ahrens' hometown is Hannibal, Missouri, boyhood home of Mark Twain.

Arcado is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the year 2005-2006.