Education Answer Book 2018

2018 An Appen Media Group Publication

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Publishers Ray & Christina Appen General Manager Hans Appen

Editor Kathleen Sturgeon kathleen@appenmediagroup.com Editorial Patrick Fox Julia Grochowski Joe Parker Kathleen Sturgeon Candy Waylock Production David Brown AJ McNaughton Suzanne Pacey Advertising Adam Darby Mike Dorman Paul Flowers Wendy Goddard Susan Hernandez Dean Larkin June Michaels Steve Neese Reproduction of the content of the Answer Book— including all maps and photos — is prohibited without expressed written permission. The Answer Book is a trademarked title.

All efforts have been made to verify content. Appen Media Group publishes the Education Answer Book, Relocation Answer Book, Medical Answer Book and Seniors Answer Book. Online versions are accessible on NorthFulton. com on the home page. Contact us at 770-442-3278 or email advertising@ appenmediagroup.com.

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Welcome to your 2018 Education Answer Book W

elcome to the 2018 Education Answer Book from Appen Media Group.

Much of the information in our Answer Books is unique and original because our reporters wrote it. We are especially proud of being able to provide in -the-know articles in the Education Answer Book written by our award-winning veteran education reporter, Candy Waylock, named one of the best education reporters in the state.

Our reporters hit the streets to find the most interesting and inspiring school news. Check out the cover spread on page 37 of Woodward North. I was able to take a small glimpse into the school’s daily schedule, and it was inspiring, to say the least. Those students truly will be bright leaders in our community one day.

Additionally, we have our usual additions of letters from the Forsyth and Fulton superintendents, updates on local colleges and a directory of Forsyth and Fulton schools. We have divided our sections into categories: general Georgia school information, Fulton County Schools, Forsyth County Schools and higher education.

We think there is something in here for everyone interested in preschool, colleges and everything in between.

Because of the great information on our pages, over 90 percent of each edition of the Answer Book’s 40,000 circulations is home-delivered to the most affluent households across the North Atlanta market. This includes many of the exclusive gated estate and country club communities.

After many years, we have built up a large base of other users who rely on our Answer Books as handouts to their clients. This includes large numbers of Realtors, chambers, visitors’ bureaus and human resource departments of major corporations that count on our Answer Books for relocating clients.

If you are a business that needs to reach anyone in the North Atlanta area, make sure you don’t miss advertising in our Answer Books. Our partners and clients advertise in all four because they offer long-lasting marketing in print and online all year long at affordable advertising rates.

If you wish to advertise in the next Answer Book or need copies of an already published edition to give out to your customers, new employees or to keep for yourself, give us a call and we will be more than happy to get them to you. Call our office at 770-442-3278 or email advertising@AppenMediaGroup.com.

If you have any story ideas you think we need to know about, contact me at kathleen@appenmediagroup.com and I’ll be happy to chat about it with you.

Also, visit NorthFutlon.com to view a link to the most current edition of each of our publications that you can peruse page by digital page.

And, lastly, thank you to you, our readers, for all these years of reading all of Appen’s publications. From everyone at Appen Media Group, thank you so much.

Education Answer Book 2018 by section: Georgia schools and other resources: Pages 6 – 15 Fulton County Schools: Pages 16 – 34 Woodward North cover story: Pages 37 – 39 Forsyth County Schools: Pages 42 – 55 Higher Education: Pages 56 – 64 Sponsored section: Pages 66 – 78

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Georgia school chief: Focus on child, not tests

By KATHLEEN STURGEON

G

eorgia School Superintendent Richard Woods is focusing on educating the entire child, not just concentrating on testing for the nearly two million students in public education in the state.

“That has to come first and foremost,” Woods said.

“There needs to be a paradigm shift in how we address education. Everything used to always be about the test. At the end of the day, our conversation has to be about the child. That’s something I’m relentless at. We need to begin to work and fight for them to make sure we give them the very best education opportunity they can receive in Georgia.”

He spoke about testing and more at a recent media symposium on the state of public schools in Georgia.

“Since I came on board, standardized testing was kind of a big issue,” Woods said. “We over tested on high stakes exams and had an overemphasis on testing during instruction time. Testing is a part of the process of education, but it is not the whole process of education. I looked at the purpose of why we test, how we test and how the test was used.”

In the future, the state will be pursuing flexibility testing, he said. To do that, he said a taskforce is being created to look at testing and to figure out what options are best for the state moving forward.

He doesn’t think testing should go completely away.

Rather the focus should be on test quality instead of quantity. Testing can be a good indicator of how the child is doing during the year, measure growth and allow teachers to address learning as it’s going on, he said.

“It’ll be an uphill struggle,” he said. “As long as I’ve been in education, roughly 25 years, even as a student this end-of-the-year type testing has been the norm. I think we’ve reached the saturation point with that and hopefully will see the process move forward quickly.”

He suggests giving a diagnostic assessment to give feedback that’s useful.

“Testing should be a tool not a habit and not a punishment for teachers in schools,” Woods said. “We have to move away from it. I assure people we will be accountable as it’s a part of what we do but it has to be fair. We must appropriately use tests in a manner that improves education for the student.”

However, not all students learn the same way at the same level or time frame, he said.

“We have students who struggle with education,” Woods said. “The challenge is to try to move all 6 | Education Answer Book 2018

Richard Woods, Georgia School Superintendent students at the same level and same time. A strong growth component will help that.”

But testing is still a good indication of performance.

In Georgia, 61 schools have left the state’s priority and focus list in December 2017 and 74 left in April 2017.

Of the 104 schools on the turnaround-eligible list, 85 improved their College and Career Ready Performance Index score, with most seeing an increase by five points. Across the board those scores also increased.

For the sixth straight year, the state’s graduation rate is up and above 80 percent with 50 district’s topping 90 percent.

On the ACT, the state outperforms the nation in all content areas. For the SAT, the state tops the nation in reading and writing.

“I don’t take credit for this,” Woods said. “I see teachers, educators and community members coming together. I give credit to those at the school level and our teachers spending time with these individuals.”

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Education legislation heads toward finish line 2018 Legislative Session to conclude at end of March

By CANDY WAYLOCK

A

t the midpoint of the 2018 Legislation Session, Georgia lawmakers are debating and finalizing legislation that has a reasonable shot at passage during the 40-day session.

Crossover Day was Feb. 28 – the last day bills have to pass out of their original chamber and “cross over” to the other aisle. The session is tentatively scheduled to adjourn on March 31.

Education issues which are normally hot topics are taking a backseat to more pressing issues, such as transportation and health care. But still hundreds of bills – from vouchers to recess to religious freedom – have been filed.

One education bill receiving attention is House Bill 482 (the Georgia Education Scholarship Act). Under this legislation, the state portion of K-12 funding would be handed over to parents to use as they wish – including for private schools, home school needs, tutors, etc. Up to half of the fund could rollover annually, and be used until the child reaches age 22.

The Georgia School Boards Association has come out against the bill, noting it “is opposed to vouchers, tuition tax credits, k-12 education savings plans, or scholarships whose purpose is to allocate public funds to private schools or home study.”

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) also opposes the legislation, noting the program could take more than $20 million each year from already under-funded public schools. On average, Georgia provides about $5,000 per student, with local tax revenues funding the remaining per-pupil cost.

Here is a look at education bills under consideration this session and which may be coming to a school near you in July.

• HB 273 - Requires daily recess for students in grades K-5 of at least 30 minutes of supervised unstructured activity time, preferably outdoors.

vision/hearing screening and speech-language assessment before expelling/suspending a student in K-3 grades, unless the student had weapons, drugs, or displayed behavior dangerous to others.

• HB 763 – Requires each county to set up a student attendance and school climate committee to reduce the number of unexcused absences, especially during required testing times.

• HB 778 – Transfer the CTAE (career, technical, and agricultural education) program from the Department of Education to the Technical Colleges System of Georgia (TCSG); along with all state and federal funding.

• HB 788 – Allows an individual to authorize use of their address to a parent or guardian to allow the child to enroll in a school outside the student’s assigned attendance zone.

• HB 852 – Allows a student to complete the school year at the currently-attended school even after moving out of the attendance zone (under certain circumstances) • HB 853 – Would prevent a school system from charging tuition to students who are in a psychiatric residential treatment facility under a physician’s order. Currently the law applies only to medical centers.

• HB 874 - Would require a charter school to give parents notice any time a process starts to potentially close or restructure the school.

• HB 936 – Prohibits a school start date prior to the third week of August.

• HB 217 – Raises the $58 million cap on income tax credits for those who donate to student scholarship organizations (SSOs), which are used to provide private school vouchers. The cap was not set, but discussion ranges from 10 percent increase each year to $180 million max.

• SB 315 – Makes unauthorized computer access a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

• HB 740 – Requires school systems to conduct a

• SB 361/HB 922 – (Coach Small Religious Pro-

8 | Education Answer Book 2018

• HR 354 – Mandates the Department of Education develop training materials to increase awareness of mental health and disabilities.

tection Act) Allows freedom of religious speech in public schools for students and faculty members, as well as for students to express their religious beliefs in homework, artwork, etc. without fear of discrimination or repercussions.

• SB 401 – Requires students in grade 6-8 receive career awareness and interest inventories to help evaluate their academic skills and career oriented aptitudes. Counseling for high school students will also include career oriented aptitudes.

• SB 362 – Requires the State Board of Education to pilot a program looking at alternate assessments, such as the ACT and SAT, for accountability purposes. The pilot program could include up to 10 local school systems.

• HB 781 – Allows a school district to use a portion of SPLOST funds for maintenance and operations.

Would require a constitutional amendment.

• SB 384/HB 905 – (The Tim Tebow Act) – Requires homeschoolers be given access to extracurricular activities and interscholastic sports at the school to which they are zoned.

• SR 613 – Proposes the state Constitution be amended to make English the official language of the state. Currently it is a state law so it is uncertain how passage of the resolution would impact schools.

Education Answer Book 2018 | 9

Feds approve Georgia’s plan for school improvement

By CANDY WAYLOCK

N

ow that the federal government has green-lighted Georgia’s plans for school accountability and improvement, the hard work of getting results – and bringing competing interests together – begins for the state’s 1.8 million public schoolkids.

In January, the Georgia Department of Education learned its Every Students Succeeds Act was approved by the U.S. Department of Education, freeing the state from the remaining federal barriers under the now-defunct No Child Left Behind law.

Georgia’s plan was one of six state plans approved in January by the U.S. Department of Education; bringing the total to 35 ESSA plans approved so far.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Education allowed states more local flexibility from federal mandates, provided each developed a plan to “best offer educational opportunities to meet the needs of the state and its students.”

In approving Georgia’s plan, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos lauded the state’s focus on “closing the gap” between lower and higher performing students, and the state-developed College & Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), which measures student and school achievement across a broad spectrum of benchmarks.

The approval of the plan was a victory of sorts for Georgia Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods who submitted the plan without the approval, or signature, of Gov. Nathan Deal.

While the governor’s signature was not required, it signals a growing rift between the two powerful entities on the best ways to improve public schools.

The disagreements for the most part are tied to accountability and local control. Deal pushed for more targeted, mandated testing, beginning in kindergarten.

Woods maintains he is acquiescing to local districts which are demanding fewer required tests and more options to gauge success.

Disagreement also revolves around Georgia’s annual school “report card”– the CCRPI – which was first implemented in 2012. The approved ESSA plan puts more emphasis on performance and achievement on the CCRPR, and less emphasis on non-tangible goals for underperforming student groups.

For example, the revised CCRPI gives more points to the academic performance of students in rigorous classes, such as Advanced Placement, and less on simply the number of students enrolled. Anecdotally, the points received on the CCRPR for Advanced 10 | Education Answer Book 2018

Placement participation may have caused schools to push unprepared students into rigorous courses.

Woods said he wanted to minimize “point chasing” by districts to increase their CCRPI grade. He noted the ESSA plan is the product of the people, not just his department or politicians.

“Thousands of Georgians – parents, students, educators, policymakers, members of the business community – gave us their feedback as we worked to create our state’s ESSA plan,” said Woods. “We listened and heard. This plan is a direct response to that feedback, and reflects our continued focus on expanding opportunities for Georgia’s students.”

The Georgia Department of Education is now working to immediately implement key provisions of the ESSA plan, with that work continuing into the 2018-19 school year.

To review the approved ESSA plan, visit the Georgia Department of Education website at www.gadoe.org and follow the links.

Education Answer Book 2018 | 11

Georgia schools and GAfutures.org Formerly known as GAcollege411, GAfutures provides a vast amount of information on many subjects for high school students, college students, parents and educators. The website contains resources to guide upcoming college students through the process of planning their collegiate choice and future career. The site is home to scholarship information, grant applications, financial aid planning and loan program information. For those looking to attend college or current college students, GAfutures is an invaluable resource.

GreatSchools.org GreatSchools is a searchable K-12 school database.

Users can find information such as parent reviews, staff, school clubs, enrollment, state test scores and other useful information regarding schools in the area.

GreatSchools links with Zillow, a real estate website, to show parents homes for sale in the area of each school searched on the website. Public, private and charter schools are all included. The website has also a free app, GreatSchools Finder and a map-based version of the provided information.

FultonSchools.org Fulton County Board of Education’s website. The site provides news about the school district, school calendars, a list of county schools, information about the Fulton County charter plan. Each school in Fulton County has a website linked to the Fulton website and can be found there. www.Forsyth.k12.ga.us The Forsyth County Schools website provides a list of all schools in the county, which includes the county’s three Academies of Creative Education. The site also provides a live feed from Forsyth County School’s District News, which encourages every parent to participate in their community.

Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools www.aaais.org The AAAIS is an organization that connects all Atlanta area independent schools so that educators from independent schools may collaborate.

A list of schools within the association can be found on their website. www.doe.k12.ga.us The Georgia Department of Education’s website is a crucial resource to all students, teachers, and parents in Georgia. The website provides state standards, state mandated testing information, curriculum plans for all 12 | Education Answer Book 2018

grades and data such as spending, student enrollment, as well as many other statistics. gacs.org The Georgia Association of Christian Schools is a community of Christian Schools which aims to connect students and staff from different Christian schools to participate in sports, fine arts and writing competitions in order to create a community feel for independent Christian schools across Georgia. Their website, Gacs. org provides information for joining the association. gapsec.org The Georgia Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children serves as a coordinating point between Georgia private and independent schools with specialized programs catering to special needs children. The schools within this organization must be accredited by notable Georgia accreditation organi-

information links

zations and must be equipped with teachers who will work well with special needs children. Their code of ethics and requirements for membership as well as a list of participating schools can be found on their website.

GA Charter School Association gacharters.org Provides resources for locating and enrolling in local charter schools.

GA Independent School Association www.gisaschools.org – This website contains information about Georgia independent schools, as well as information about coordinating interaction between independent schools. A list of participating schools can be found on their website.

a list of member schools on their website. The purpose of the National Christian School Association is to promote Christian education. www.nationalchristian.org Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is an organization that accredits top colleges and schools in the southern United States, however, there is no list of accredited schools on the commission’s website. www.sacs.org The Association of Boarding Schools The Association of Boarding School’s website provides a database of boarding schools that is sortable by boy to girl ratio, student body size, distance, and the number of boarding students on campus. www. boardingschools.com

National Christian School Association The National Christian School Association maintains Education Answer Book 2018 | 13

Emergency + Community

Resource Table ORGANIZATION

PURPOSE

PHONE #

Website

United Way

To find help

211 or 404-614-1000

211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/

North Fulton Community Charities

Help in Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton

770-640-0399

nfcchelp.org

Community Assistance Center

Help in Sandy Springs/Dunwoody

770-552-4015

ourcac.org

DFACS

Food Stamps/TANF/Medicaid

404-252-2180

dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov

FACAA/LIHEAP

Energy Assistance

404-320-0166

facaa.org

St. Vincent de Paul

Financial Assistance

770-458-9607

svdpatl.org

Housing Authority of Fulton Co.

Section 8 and Public Housing

404-730-5841

hafc.org

Homestretch/Housing Initiative

Transitional Housing

770-642-9185

homestretch.org

Roswell Public Housing

Public Housing

770-993-6226

roswellhousing.org

The Drake House

Emergency housing women with children

770-587-4712

thedrakehouse.org

Metro Fair Housing

Housing Discrimination

404-524-0000

metrofairhousing.com

Salvation Army

General Assistance

404-352-3597

salvationarmy.org

Gateway Center

Emergency Shelter

404-215-6600

gatewayctr.org

Travelers Aid/Hope Atlanta

Homeless prevention, newcomers

404-817-7070

hopeatlanta.org/

EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Com)

Employment Discrimination

800-669-4000

eeoc.gov/field/atlanta

Department of Labor

Unemployment Office

866-873-5676

dol.state.ga.us

Pregnancy Counseling

678-893-5290

abeaconofhope.com

Housing & Homeless

Employment

Family & Childrens Services A Beacon of Hope Child Abuse and Neglect

To report abuse

404-699-4399

dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/ child-abuse-neglect

GA Council on Child Abuse

Info, resources

800-532-3208

preventchildabusega.org

Child Support Assistance

Child Support Enforcement

877-423-4746

dcss.dhs.georgia.gov/

Families First

Counseling

404-853-2844

familiesfirst.org

Fulton County Schools

General Information

404-678-3600

fultonschools.org

Fulton Co. School Social Workers

Information

404-763-6774

fultonschools.org

G.E.D.

Enrollment Opportunities at NFCC

678-387-4458

nfcchelp.org/education

Head Start

3-4 Year Olds

678-585-9100

georgiaheadstart.org

Child Dev. Center North Fulton

Child Care

770-992-4006

cdakids.org

Family Haven (NF & Forsyth)

24 Hour Hotline-Domestic Violence

770-887-1121

forsythcountyfamilyhaven.info

PADV (Partnership Against Domestic Violence)

24 Hour Hotline-Domestic Violence

404-873-1766

padv.org/

Jewish Family and Career Services

Family and Career Counseling

770-677-9300

yourtoolsforliving.org

Senior Services North Fulton

Meals on Wheels, Transportation

770-993-1906

ssnorthfulton.org

14 | Education Answer Book 2018

ORGANIZATION

PURPOSE

PHONE #

Website

Credit Counseling/ Legal/ Police CredAbility

Consumer Credit Counseling

404-527-7630

credability.org

NID Housing Counseling Agency

Foreclosure Information/ assistance

404-612-0405

atlhca.com

HOPE

Foreclosure assistance

888-995-4673

995hope.org

Atlanta Legal Aid

Legal Assistance

404-524-5811

atlantalegalaid.org

Anonymous Police Tip Hotline

Roswell – Crime/Drugs

770-641-3959

roswellgov.com

City of Alpharetta

Alpharetta – Crime/Drugs

678-297-6307

alpharetta.ga.us

City of Johns Creek

Johns Creek – Crime/Drugs

678-474-1610

johnscreekga.gov/services/ police.aspx

City of Milton

Milton Police Department General

678-242-2570

cityofmiltonga.us

Rape Hotline

24 Hour Hotline

770-887-1121

fultoncountyga.gov/contact-ussolicitor

Grady Rape Crisis Center

Crisis line

404-616-4861

gnesa.org/content/grady-rapecrisis-center

Fulton County Records

Birth/Death Records

404-613-1260

fultoncountyga.gov/dhw-vitalrecords

Social Security

Social Security, Disability, SSI

800-772-1213

ssa.gov

Tags/Titles

Fulton County Office

404-730-6100

motor.etax.dor.ga.gov

Veterans Administration

VA Health, Housing, Benefits

800-827-1000

va.gov

Fulton County Housing & Human Services

Info on County programs

404-613-7944

fultoncountyga.gov/divisionsand-programs

MARTA

bus, rail schedules, fares

404-848-4711

itsmarta.com

Georgia Crisis & Access Line

24 hour -mental health, addiction & crisis service

800-715-4225

bhlweb.com/tabform/ fultoncountyga.gov

Government

Health

North Fulton Regional Health Center

Public Health (in Alpharetta)

404-332-1958

North Fulton Service Center

Common Ground (co-located svcs)

404-612-3917 or 404-6126372

North Fulton Health Center Grady

Primary Care clinic in NF (Sandy Springs)

404-616-1550

gradyhealthsystem.org/

Northside Behavioral Health

Mental Health

404-851-8960

northside.com/medical_ services

Children’s at NorthPoint (Mansell Rd)

pediatric primary care

770-643-1792

choa.org/About-Childrens/ Locations-and-Directions

Good Samaritan Atlanta

primary care clinic downtown

404-523-6571

goodsamatlanta.org/

Georgia Highlands

primary care clinic serving North GA

678-887-1668

georgia highlandsmedical.org

North Fulton Hospital

Hospital - Roswell

770-751-2500

nfultonhospital.com

Grady Memorial Hospital

Hospital

404-616-1000

gradyhealth.org/

Scottish Rite (Childrens Hospital)

Pediatric Hospital

404-785-5252

choa.org/

Emory Johns Creek

Hospital - Johns Creek

678-474-7000

emoryjohnscreek.com/

Northside Hospital

Hospital - Sandy Springs or Forsyth

404-851-8000

northside.com/

St. Joseph Hospital of Atlanta

Hospital - Sandy Springs

404-581-7001

stjosephsatlanta.org

Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth

Hospital

678-312-6800

gwinnettmedical center.org Education Answer Book 2018 | 15

State of our schools:

Fulton County

O

n January 30, members of the Fulton County Schools community gathered at JA BizTown in the Georgia World Congress Center for our annual update on the school system. Called “State of Our Schools,” I used this event as an opportunity to present our new strategic plan to an audience of civic, community and school leaders.

To say that the occasion went well is an understatement – it was incredible! We packed the house, and performances by our students were as inspiring as they were entertaining.

The construction class at Elkins Pointe Middle School created a nine-foot-tall model of the strategic plan graphic that emphasized its elements – Student Achievement, People and Culture, Community Collaboration and Fiscal Responsibility, with Effective Communication as the foundation. As our speakers presented, the strategic plan graphic served as a visual backdrop to remind us of our focus.

A highlight for me that evening was getting to tell the story of our students – their needs and how our school district aims to meet them through the new strategic plan. I placed a chair in the middle of the stage and asked everyone to imagine a child sitting there. It could be their child or a student they once taught, but I wanted the audience to be reminded of our district’s motto, “Where Students Come First.”

I wanted this child to be foremost in their mind as we talked about the four pillars of the strategic plan: Student Achievement, People and Culture, Community Collaboration and Fiscal Responsibility. At the end of the program, students from our high schools asked for the audience’s commitment in supporting the strategic plan so that the child – the one they imagined in that chair – will be successful. It was a beautiful sound to hear so many voices shout “We will!” when asked for their support.

The phrase, “It takes a village,” is sometimes overused, but at the State of Our Schools event, we were surrounded by a village that embraces our students and is fully committed to their future. As we continue through our strategic plan, will I hear your voice added to the chorus? When our students ask for your commitment, will you answer the call with a resounding “I will!”?

I hope you will join us as we take these important steps to prepare our students for their future.

Sincerely, Jeff Rose, Ed.D. Superintendent, Fulton County Schools

16 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

Jeff Rose, Ed.D. Superintendent, Fulton County Schools

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Education Answer Book 2018 | 17

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First/Last Day of Semester

Teacher Work Day (Students Off)

18 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

Holiday/School Closed

Preplanning/Post Planning Day

Meet the superintendent and the board of education Superintendent Jeff Rose, Ph.D. Dr. Jeff Rose joined Fulton County Schools as superintendent of schools in June 2016. He is responsible for the leadership, administration and management of the state’s fourth largest school system.

Prior to joining Fulton Schools, Rose served for five years as superintendent of Beaverton School District, Oregon’s third largest school system located near Portland. During his two decades in education, Rose has been an educational assistant, classroom teacher, principal, director of school improvement and the superintendent of schools in Canby School District (Oregon).

He earned his Doctorate and Master of Education degrees from Lewis and Clark College and holds an undergraduate degree in education from Long Beach State.

Rose and his wife, Lisa, have two school-aged children who attend Fulton County Schools.

(North) Fulton County Board of Education Vice President Linda McCain • District 5 mccainl@fultonschools.org; Board member since January 2011; current term expires Dec. 31, 2018 Linda McCain represents the Johns Creek and Alpharetta areas and currently serves as the board’s vice president. She was first elected to the school board in 2010 and was re-elected to her second term in 2014.

She was a member of the board of directors of the Fulton County Schools Employees’ Pension Fund and is a current board member of the Fulton Education Foundation. In December 2014, she was appointed to serve on Gov. Nathan Deal’s Education Advisory Board.

Katha Stuart • District 1 stuartk@fultonschools.org; Board member since October 2015; term expires Dec. 31, 2020 A 20-year resident of District 1, Katha Stuart has been involved in Fulton County Schools since her children started kindergarten at Mountain Park Elementary.

Over the years she has served in various PTA and School Governance Council roles at Mountain Park Elementary, Crabapple Middle School and Roswell High School. She also has been a part of the Superintendent’s Community Advisory Committee since 2009. At the local and state PTA level, she has served as a vice president of programs for the North Fulton Council PTA and as a committee member for the Georgia PTA. ​​ Katie Reeves • District 2 reevesk@fultonschools.org Board member since 1999; current term expires Dec.

31, 2018 Reeves is the longest-serving member of the North Fulton board representatives. She served on the Alpharetta Planning Commission for four years prior to the school board in 1999. She represents the Alpharetta and Milton areas, served as the school board president from 2003-05, and also served as vice president. Reeves was a Local School Advisory Committee member and PTA legislative chair at Lake Windward Elementary School.

Gail Dean • District 3 deang@fultonschools.org; Board member since 2001; current term expires Dec. 31, 2020 Gail Dean represents Sandy Springs, College Park, East Point and Hapeville. She served as board president from 2005-07. Dean’s background includes serving as president of the Atlanta Homebuilders Association-Inner Atlanta Chapter, owning a real estate brokerage and two construction firms, and consulting for financial institutions. She served on the boards of the Sandy Springs/North Fulton Clean and Beautiful, the Fulton County School Employees’ Charitable Fund and Fulton Education Foundation.

Julia Bernath - District 7 bernath@fultonschools.org; Board member since 2000; current term expires Dec. 31, 2018 Julia Bernath represents Sandy Springs and parts of Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Roswell. She has represented the school board on the Fulton Education Foundation’s board of directors. She is a past member of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Bernath is a past president of the Georgia School Boards Association and a graduate of Leadership GSBA. She is also on staff for the Center for Reform of School Systems and is a mentor for school board members nationally. Bernath is past chair of the Sandy Springs Education Force and serves on the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education’s Advisory Committee.

(South) Fulton County Board of Education Members President Linda Bryant • District 4 bryantlp@fultonschools.org; Board member since 1993; current term expires Dec. 31, 2020 Kimberly Dove • District 6 dovek@fultonschools.org; Appointed to the Board in May 2017; current term expires Dec. 31, 2018 Fulton County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 19

Public School Bios: FULTON The CCRPI (College and Career Readiness Performance Index) assesses public schools annually on a 100-point scale based on achievement, progress and closing the achievement gap.

Elementary Schools Abbotts Hill 470-254-2860 Principal Roytunda Stabler 5575 Abbotts Bridge Road Johns Creek 30097 Year Opened: 2000 Enrollment: 630 2017 CCRPI Score: 91.5 school.fultonschools.org/es/abbottshill/Pages/default.aspx Alpharetta 470-254-7015 Principal Coretta Stewart 192 Mayfield Road Alpharetta 30009 Year Opened: 1956 Enrollment: 549 2017 CCRPI Score: 95.8 school.fultonschools.org/es/alpharetta/Pages/default.aspx Amana Academy Charter (K-5) (6-8) 678-624-0989 Principal Cherrise Campbell 285 South Main Street Alpharetta 30009 Year Opened: 2007 Enrollment: 490/221 2017 CCRPI Score: 81.9/92.2 www.amanaacademy.org Barnwell 470-254-4960 Principal Martin Neuhaus 9425 Barnwell Road Johns Creek 30022 Year Opened: 1987 Enrollment: 751 2017 CCRPI Score: 86.4 school.fultonschools.org/es/barnwell/Pages/default.aspx

Birmingham Falls 470- 254-2820 Principal Don Webb 14865 Birmingham Highway Milton 30004

Year Opened: August 2009 Enrollment: 732 2017 CCRPI Score: 93.8 school.fultonschools.org/es/birminghamfalls/Pages/default.aspx Cogburn Woods 470-254-2845 Principal Lisa Garosi 13080 Cogburn Road Milton 30004 Year Opened: 2004 Enrollment: 868 2017 CCRPI Score: 89.4 school.fultonschools.org/es/cogburnwoods/Pages/default.aspx

Crabapple Crossing 470-254-7055 Principal Rachel Williams 12775 Birmingham Hwy Milton 30004 Year Opened: 1992 Enrollment: 772 2017 CCRPI Score: 97.1 school.fultonschools.org/es/crabapplecrossing/Pages/default.aspx

Creek View 470-254-2932 Principal Monica In 3995 Webb Bridge Road Alpharetta 30005 Year Opened: 2001 Enrollment: 903 2017 CCRPI Score: 95 school.fultonschools.org/es/ creekview/Pages/default.aspx

Dolvin 470-254-7020 Principal Laura Zoll 10495 Jones Bridge Road Johns Creek 30022 Year Opened: 1979 Enrollment: 836 2017 CCRPI Score: 97.9 school.fultonschools.org/es/dolvin/ Pages/default.aspx

20 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

Esther Jackson 470-254-5290 Principal Jennifer Cassidy 1400 Martin Road Roswell 30076 Year Opened: 1975 New Building: 2016 Enrollment: 648 2017 CCRPI Score: 73.2 school.fultonschools.org/es/estherjackson/Pages/default.aspx Fulton Academy of Science and Technology (FAST) (K-5) (6-8) 678-321-1100 Principal Annette Higgins 11365 Crabapple Road Roswell 30075 Year Opened: 2016 Enrollment: 428/138 2017 CCRPI: 87.3/79.1 www.fastk8.org Findley Oaks 470-254-3800 Principal Lacey Andrews 5880 Findley Chase Drive Johns Creek 30097 Year Opened: 1994 Enrollment: 626 2017 CCRPI Score: 99.9 school.fultonschools.org/es/findleyoaks/Pages/default.aspx Hembree Springs 470-254-2902 Principal Laurie Woodruff 815 Hembree Road Roswell 30076 Year Opened: 2001 Enrollment: 635 2017 CCRPI Score: 78.8 school.fultonschools.org/es/hembreesprings/Pages/default.aspx

Hillside 470-254-6362 Principal Maisha Otway

READ MORE, PAGE 22

Education Answer Book 2018 | 21

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20: 9250 Scott Road Roswell 30076 Year Opened: 2001 Enrollment: 522 2017 CCRPI Score: 89.3 school.fultonschools.org/es/hillside/Pages/default.aspx

Lake Windward 470-254-7050 Principal Julie Morris 11470 East Fox Court Alpharetta 30005 Year Opened: 1989 Enrollment: 739 2017 CCRPI Score: 104.5 school.fultonschools.org/es/lakewindward/Pages/default.aspx

Manning Oaks 470-254-2912 Principal Debbie Pernice (interim) 405 Cumming Street Alpharetta 30004 Year Opened: 1998 Enrollment: 863 2017 CCRPI Score: 80.1 school.fultonschools.org/es/manningoaks/Pages/default.aspx Medlock Bridge 470-254-2980 Principal Matthew Vance 10215 Medlock Bridge Parkway Johns Creek 30022 Year Opened: 1990 Enrollment: 629 2017 CCRPI Score: 93.9 school.fultonschools.org/es/medlockbridge/Pages/default.aspx

Mimosa 470-254-4540 Principal Ariane Holcombe 1550 Warsaw Road Roswell 30076 Year Opened: 1968 Enrollment: 791 2017 CCRPI Score: 67 school.fultonschools.org/es/mimosa/Pages/default.aspx

Mountain Park 470-254-4530 Principal Stacy Perlman 11895 Mountain Park Road

Roswell 30075 Enrollment: 778 2017 CCRPI Score: 97.1 school.fultonschools.org/es/mountainpark/Pages/default.aspx

New Prospect 470-254-2800 Principal Amy Booms-Lemons 3055 Kimball Bridge Road Alpharetta 30022 Year Opened: 1994 Enrollment: 578 2017 CCRPI Score: 89 school.fultonschools.org/es/newprospect/Pages/default.aspx

Northwood 470-254-6390 Principal Ritu Ahuja 10200 Wooten Road Roswell 30076 Year Opened: 1996 Enrollment: 708 2017 CCRPI Score: 91.9 school.fultonschools.org/es/northwood/Pages/default.aspx

Ocee 470-254-2960 Principal Ryan Moore 4375 Kimball Bridge Road Johns Creek 30022 Year Opened: 2000 Enrollment: 703 2017 CCRPI Score: 95.6 school.fultonschools.org/es/ocee/ Pages/default.aspx

River Eves 470-254-4550 Principal Neil Pinnock 9000 Eves Road Roswell 30076 Year Opened: 1996 Enrollment: 617 2017 CCRPI Score: 88 school.fultonschools.org/es/rivereves/Pages/default.aspx

Roswell North 470-254-6320 Principal Maureen Lilly 10525 Woodstock Road Roswell 30075 Year Opened: 1960 Enrollment: 877

22 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

2017 CCRPI Score: 88.9 school.fultonschools.org/es/roswellnorth/Pages/default.aspx

Shakerag 470-254-3880 Principal Christine Lemerond 10885 Rogers Circle Johns Creek 30097 Year Opened: 1997 Enrollment: 688 2017 CCRPI Score: 98 school.fultonschools.org/es/shakerag/Pages/default.aspx

State Bridge Crossing 470-254-3850 Principal Bridgette Marques 5530 State Bridge Road Johns Creek 30022 Year Opened: 1996 Enrollment: 773 2017 CCRPI Score: 82.9 school.fultonschools.org/es/statebridgecrossing/Pages/default.aspx

Summit Hill 470-254-2830 Principal Latoya Gray 13855 Providence Road Milton 30004 Year Opened: 1999 Enrollment: 698 2017 CCRPI Score: 89.1 school.fultonschools.org/es/summithill/Pages/default.aspx

Sweet Apple 470-254-3310 Principal Andy Allison 12025 Etris Road Roswell 30075 Year Opened: 1997 Enrollment: 786 2017 CCRPI Score: 93.3 school.fultonschools.org/es/sweetapple/Pages/default.aspx Vickery Mill 470-254-2400 Principal Adam Maroney 1201 Alpharetta Street Roswell 30075 Year Opened: 2015 Enrollment: 494

READ MORE, PAGES 24 – 25

SETTING A NEW STANDARD IN EDUCATION Our students excel in academics, flourish in the arts and receive an education that prepares them in a unique way for a successful college career.

90th Percentile in math and reading batteries on standardized exams.

74% Of the 4th through 8th grade students are eligible for Duke TIP.

92nd Percentile in the nation on the PSAT, among students with at least 8 years in attendance at Lyndon.

Education Answer Book 2018 | 23

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22: 2017 CCRPI Score: 66.7 school.fultonschools.org/es/vickerymill/Pages/default.aspx

Wilson Creek 470-254-3811 Principal Andrea Cushing 6155 Wilson Road Johns Creek 30097 Year Opened: 2004 Enrollment: 823 2017 CCRPI Score: 94.9 school.fultonschools.org/es/wilsoncreek/Pages/default.aspx Middle Schools

Autrey Mill Middle 470-254-7622 Principal Trey Martin 4110 Old Alabama Road Johns Creek 30022 Year Opened: 2003 Enrollment: 1444 2017 CCRPI Score: 94 school.fultonschools.org/ms/ autreymill/Pages/default.aspx Crabapple 470-254-4520 Principal Rako Morrissey 10700 Crabapple Road Roswell 30075 Year Opened: 1983 Enrollment: 954 2017 CCRPI Score: 83.2 school.fultonschools.org/ms/crabapple/Pages/default.aspx

Elkins Pointe 470-254-2892 Principal Kindra Smith 11290 Elkins Road Roswell 30076 Year Opened: 2001 Enrollment: 1041 2017 CCRPI Score: 71.3 school.fultonschools.org/ms/elkinspointe/Pages/default.aspx

Haynes Bridge 470-254-7030 Principal Lauren Seidman 10665 Haynes Bridge Road Alpharetta 30022 Year Opened: 1983

Enrollment: 748 2017 CCRPI Score: 73.9 school.fultonschools.org/ms/ haynesbridge/Pages/default.aspx

Holcomb Bridge 470-254-5280 Principal Christopher Shearer 2700 Holcomb Bridge Road Alpharetta 30022 Year Opened: 1983 Enrollment: 715 2017 CCRPI Score: 71.1 school.fultonschools.org/ms/holcombbridge/Pages/default.aspx

Hopewell 678-254-3240 Principal Michael LeMoyne 13060 Cogburn Road Milton 30004 Year Opened: 2004 Enrollment: 1503 2017 CCRPI Score: 86.1 school.fultonschools.org/ms/hopewell/Pages/default.aspx Northwestern 470-254-2870 Principal Charles Chester 12805 Birmingham Highway Milton 30004 Year Opened: 1996 Enrollment: 1316 2017 CCRPI Score: 87.9 school.fultonschools.org/ms/northwestern/Pages/default.aspx

River Trail 470-254-3860 Principal Dawn Melin 10795 Rogers Circle Johns Creek 30097 Year Opened: 2001 Enrollment: 1219 2017 CCRPI Score: 99.5 school.fultonschools.org/ms/rivertrail/Pages/default.aspx

Taylor Road 470-254-7090 Principal Ed Williamson 5150 Taylor Road Johns Creek 30022 Year Opened: 1990 Enrollment: 1338 2017 CCRPI Score: 87.2

24 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

school.fultonschools.org/ms/taylorroad/Pages/default.aspx

Webb Bridge 470-254-2940 Principal Rebecca Perkins 4455 Webb Bridge Road Alpharetta 30005 Year Opened: 1996 Enrollment: 1190 2017 CCRPI Score: 98.2 school.fultonschools.org/ms/webbbridge/Pages/default.aspx

High Schools

Alpharetta High School 470-254-7640 Principal Shannon Kersey 3595 Webb Bridge Rd. Alpharetta 30005 Year Opened: 2004 Enrollment: 2241 2017 SAT Score: 1157 2017 ACT Score: 25.2 school.fultonschools.org/hs/alpharetta/pages/default.aspx

Cambridge 470-254-2883 Principal Ed Spurka 2845 Bethany Road Milton 30004 Year Opened: 2012 Enrollment: 1994 2017 SAT Score: 1155 2017 ACT Score: 24.9 school.fultonschools.org/hs/cambridge/pages/default.aspx Centennial 470-254-4230 Principal Kibbey Crumbley 9310 Scott Road Roswell 30076 Year Opened: 1997 Enrollment: 1942 2017 SAT Score: 1109 2017 ACT Score: 24.0 school.fultonschools.org/hs/centennial/pages/default.aspx Chattahoochee 470-254-7600 Principal Tim Corrigan 5230 Taylor Road Johns Creek 30022

Year Opened: 1991 Enrollment: 1959 2017 SAT Score: 1191; 2017 ACT Score: 26.3 school.fultonschools.org/hs/chattahoochee/pages/ default.aspx Independence 470-254-7611 Principal Tabatha Taylor 86 School Drive, Alpharetta 30009 Year Opened: 1991 Enrollment: 212 2017 SAT Score: 977 school.fultonschools.org/hs/independence/pages/ default.aspx Johns Creek 470-254-2138 Principal Ron Tesch (interim) 5575 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek 30022 Year Opened: 2009 Enrollment: 2141 2017 SAT Score: 1183; 2017 ACT Score: 26.6 school.fultonschools.org/hs/johnscreek/pages/default.aspx Milton 470-254-7000 Principal Brian Jones

13025 Birmingham Hwy., Milton 30004 Year Opened: 1921 Current Location: 2005 Enrollment: 2381 2017 SAT Score: 1162 2017 ACT Score: 25.2 school.fultonschools.org/hs/milton/pages/default.aspx

Northview 470-254-3828 Principal Brian Downey 10625 Parsons Road, Johns Creek 30097 Year Opened: 2002 Enrollment: 1809 2017 SAT Score: 1227 2017 ACT Score: 27.6 school.fultonschools.org/hs/northview/pages/default. aspx Roswell 470-254-4500 Principal Robert Shaw 11595 King Road, Roswell 30075 Year Opened: 1949 New Building: 1990 Enrollment: 2237 2017 SAT Score: 1157; 2017 ACT Score: 24.5 school.fultonschools.org/hs/roswell/pages/default.aspx

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Fulton County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 25

Fulton’s graduation rate climbs

By CANDY WAYLOCK

T

he graduation rate for Fulton County Schools continues its upward trend, with the Class of 2017 posting a graduation rate of nearly 87 percent.

That puts the system at the top among large systems in metro Atlanta. The Fulton School System is the state’s fourth largest system, behind only Gwinnett, Cobb and DeKalb county school systems.

All eight North Fulton traditional high schools met the system’s strategic goal of a 90 percent graduation rate.

“While the district did not reach the 90 percent goal for all schools [in 2017], overall we experienced extraordinary progress in all areas of the county,” said Susan Hale, spokeswoman for Fulton Schools. “Over five years, the district’s graduation rate increased more than 11 percent – from 75.5 percent to 87 – and in North Fulton, nearly every high school improved and exceeded the 90 percent goal.”

Cambridge and Chattahoochee high schools posted the system’s highest graduation rates of just over 98 percent for the Class of 2017. Following close behind were Northview (96.8 percent), Johns Creek (96.5 percent), Milton (94.5 percent), Alpharetta (94 percent), Centennial (92 percent) and Roswell (91 percent) high schools.

Statewide, the push to increase Georgia’s graduation rates seems to be working. In the past five years, statewide rates have gone from just under 70 percent to nearly 81 percent this year, the first time in Georgia’s history that graduation rates have exceeded 80 percent.

This is the seventh year Georgia school system have calculated the graduation rate using a formula that tracks each student when they first enter high school as freshman, and whether they graduate within four years.

In the past, graduation rates included students who took more than four years to graduate, and did not account for transfers and dropouts.

Graduation trends in North Fulton School

2017 (%)

2013 (%)

Change (%)

Alpharetta High School

94.1

89.2

+4.9

Cambridge High School

98.2

84.3

+13.9

Centennial High School

92.3

79.9

+12.4

Chattahoochee High School

98.3

93.8

+4.5

Independence High School

49.3

40.4

+8.9

Johns Creek High School

96.5

96.4

+0.1

Milton High School

94.5

96.0

-1.5

Northview High School

96.8

94.2

+2.6

Roswell High School

90.7

86.5

+4.2

North Fulton

90.1

84.5

+5.6

District

86.8

75.5

+11.3

State

80.6

71.8

+8.9

26 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

CCRPI scores show improvement in Fulton County Schools Local schools exceed state, county averages

By CANDY WAYLOCK

T

he 105 schools in the Fulton County School System earned a “C+” average on the state’s annual report card in 2017, but progress is being made in the number of schools deemed “chronically failing” and subject to state intervention.

Last November, the Georgia Department of Education released results for the College and Career Ready Performance Index, the annual evaluation tool for public schools across the state.

First implemented in 2012, the CCRPI is designed to provide a broader view of school achievement and progress than the assessment it replaced — the Adequate Yearly Progress measurement mandated by No Child Left Behind.

Schools are evaluated on a 100 point scale based on a number of factors, and they have the ability to earn additional points for “exceeding the bar” progress.

Overall, Fulton increased its average to 78; more than three points higher than last year, and above the state average of 75.

Fulton Superintendent Jeff Rose noted he was particularly pleased with the achievement of the district’s lowest-performing schools. The number of Fulton schools scoring below the passing score of 60 dropped from 14 schools in 2016, to eight schools this year.

Plans on how to help the 104 schools considered “chronically failing” will be made public in January by the newly-appointed State Turnaround Officer, Eric Thomas.

“We are encouraged by the progress that was made last year,” said Rose, noting Fulton has directed significant efforts to underperforming schools. “[But] there is much more work ahead of us.”

Each level of Fulton schools saw increases on the 2017 CCRPI. Elementary schools’ scores rose 4.3 points to 77.6, middle schools increased 2 points to 72.8, and high schools improved by 2.9 points to 82.4.

Comparatively, the state scores were 72.9 for elementary schools, 73 for middle schools, and 77 for high schools.

Among North Fulton schools, the nine area high schools had the greatest performance averaging nearly 93 points. The region’s 29 elementary school were close behind at just under 90 points, with the 11 middle schools posting a solid “B” rating at 86 points.

Two North Fulton schools – Lake Windward Elementary and Northview High – scored over 100 points for a second consecutive year, with the extra points given for “exceeding the bar.”

Three other areas schools had near perfect scores – Findley Oaks Elementary (99.9), River Trail Middle (99.5), and Cambridge High School (99.0).

Other high achievers in North Fulton included schools with double-digit gains from last year, including Hillside Elementary (+24.7), Mountain Park Elementary (+18.1), Roswell North (+15.2).

Changes will likely be coming to the CCRPI next year under the new education mandates now in effect under the U.S. Department of Education. A draft of the Georgia plan submitted to the federal government for approval includes revisions to the current calculations.

Those include placing more emphasis on year-toyear progress, student attendance, “closing the gap” between low and high performing students, and customized performance improvement targets.

Fulton County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 27

The North STEM High School is scheduled to open in August 2020 on the campus of the former Milton High in downtown Alpharetta.

Alpharetta STEM campus begins to take shape

By CANDY WAYLOCK

D

emolition of the old Milton High School campus began in January as construction on the new STEM campus prepares to rise in its place.

The Science, Technology Engineering and Science school is set to open in downtown Alpharetta in August of 2020, providing a unique academic option for area students as well as enrollment relief for the other eight high schools in North Fulton.

The Alpharetta site is one of two STEM campuses approved by voters last year as part of the continuation of the one-cent Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. The second school will open in 2021 in South Fulton.

The STEM school will focus on a curriculum that places students on a career pathway to high-demand, high-paying jobs in information technology, health care sciences and engineering, Fulton School officials say.

Yalanda Bell, executive director of Career and Technical Education, said the goal of the STEM campuses is to offer students a “relevant and applicable curriculum so that they leave our district with college and work-ready skills they can instantly use.”

She said the district looked at three aspects for success: partnerships with business and industry,

28 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

workforce trends data and student interest.

The North Fulton Chamber of Commerce assisted in providing workforce trends in Fulton County to determine career fields where demand for workers is high and supply is low. The data shows the county has robust opportunities in health care sciences, primarily nursing, engineering and information technology. Data from ACT reports also showed high student interests in these fields.

The STEM schools will have a curriculum allowing students to transition directly into the workforce, receive industry certification credentials, and/or obtain college credit while still in high school.

Students will take all state-required core academic courses along with directed STEM classes, which will include biotechnology, nursing, pre-med, megatronics, robotics, information technology, networking and computer programming.

The move to include a STEM curriculum reverses a course the state has pushed for years which assumed all students would benefit from a “straight to college” pathway.

More information about schedules, curriculum and enrollment will roll out this spring and fall as the system prepares to welcome the first class of students in 2020.

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Education Answer Book 2018 | 31

Area schools top list for SAT scores

By CANDY WAYLOCK

T

he list of high-performing schools on the 2017 SAT includes seven Fulton County Schools in the state’s top 20, including three in the top 10. That is more than any other district in Georgia, according to information released by the College Board which administers the national exam used for college admission.

Northview High School retained its hold as the top-performing school in Fulton, and placed third overall in the state with an average score of 1227 (out of a max 1600). Northview’s score was behind only The Gwinnett School of Mathematics (1315) and Walton High School (1242) in Cobb County.

Overall, Fulton’s average on the 2017 SAT was 1051, just ahead of the state average of 1050 and the

national average of 1044.

Other Fulton high schools in the state’s top 20 included: • Chattahoochee High School – 1191 (No. 6) • Johns Creek High School – 1183 (No. 10) • Milton High School – 1162 (No. 16) • Roswell High School – 1157 (No. 17, tied) • Alpharetta High School – 1157 (No. 17, tied) • Cambridge High School – 1155 (No. 21) High scores for Fulton Schools were even more impressive because the district had the second-highest participation rate in the state. Approximately 75 percent of all 2017 Fulton graduates took the SAT, compared to 62 percent statewide, and 46 percent of graduates nationally.

ACT scores continue to rise

By CANDY WAYLOCK

L

ocal students in the class of 2017 posted among the highest scores in the state on the 2017 ACT, led by Northview High with an average of 27.6 out of a perfect score of 36. There were also strong performances from students at Johns Creek (26.6) and Chattahoochee (26.3).

The remaining four high schools in North Fulton also posted among the state’s top averages, including Alpharetta and Milton high schools (25.2), Roswell 24.5, and Centennial (24).

32 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

As a system, Fulton County Schools raised its average to 23.8, an increase from 23.2 in 2016, and well above the state average of 21.4. The national ACT average for the class of 2017 was 21.

The system also had a record-high 44 percent of students taking the 2017 ACT who met the College Readiness Benchmarks in all four subject areas – indicating they are well prepared for the rigors of college.

In North Fulton, that average jumped to 56 percent of all test takers deemed college ready.

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Fulton school buses roll cleaner and safer

By CANDY WAYLOCK

T

he Fulton County School System rolled out its fleet of nearly 865 school buses last August which includes 90 propane-powered vehicles – more than any other school system in Georgia. As an added bonus, these new buses will also have seat belts, providing students an additional level of safety.

The new buses were part of the 125 new buses added to the bus fleet this school year as part of Fulton Schools’ program to replace aging vehicles, noted Sam Ham, transportation director for the school system.

“These Blue Bird buses have the cleanest propane engine available for school buses,” Ham said. “The [new engines] will reduce emissions by thousands of pounds each year compared with the diesel buses being replaced.”

While the environment benefits from the change to propane, Ham said taxpayers are the bigger winners.

Propane-powered buses will save $3,500 in fuel annually per bus. The engines are also easier to maintain than diesel engines, saving even more on parts and labor.

“If you look at the numbers through the next five years of replacing 70 buses each year, you are looking at $5.5 million going back to the classroom over that period,” Ham noted.

The school system transports approximately 79,000 students daily.

The new buses, which cost about $6,000 to $8,000 more than diesel-powered buses, are being funded through the one-penny sales tax for education.

While school buses are already the safest – and most regulated - vehicles on the road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the addition of seat belts makes them even safer, Ham said.

“Fulton County will be the first district in Georgia to begin placing three-point safety belts – similar to what are found in passenger cars – on their [standard] school buses,” he said.

The seat belts will be adjustable to accommodate two or three students per seat.

Currently only six states require seat belts on school buses. Most states adhere to regulations focused on the safe design of buses.

For many years, the NHTSA determined the best way to ensure safety for school children is through “compartmentalization,” where children are protected from crashes by closely-spaced seats with energy-ab-

34 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Fulton County Schools

sorbing seat backs.

But in 2015 the NHTSA shocked many school leaders when it recommended seat belts in school buses. Ham said that recommendation prompted Fulton Schools to lead the way in school bus safety in Georgia.

While Georgia lawmakers have not made seat belts on school buses a legislative priority, Ham said he knows many parents have concerns.

“Every year, especially after the kindergarten roundup, I am asked by parents why we don’t have seat belts on our buses,” said Ham, who has been with Fulton Schools for 21 years. “I get calls every year about it.”

The risk is low. According to the NHTSA, an average of five children die each year in school transportation accidents out of 26 million children who ride school buses. But high profile accidents, like the deaths of six children who died last year on a school bus in Tennessee, bring the focus back to a need for seat belts, Ham said.

He noted Fulton bus drivers will not “refuse to move” until every child is buckled up, but will strongly urge riders to do so.

“Since it is not a state law, or even school board policy, to wear a seatbelt we’ve instructed our drivers to encourage the kids to buckle up when they greet them in the morning and afternoon,” Ham said.

Moving forward, all new buses for Fulton Schools will have seat belts and propane-powered engines.

Ham anticipates 70 percent of all school buses will have both features within the next five years based on the replacement schedule.

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www.saintfrancisschools.com Education Answer Book 2018 | 35

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Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | Forsyth Herald Johns Creek Herald | Milton Herald Northside Woman | Answer Book | NorthFulton.com ForsythHerald.com | NorthsideWoman.com 36 | Education Answer Book 2018

A Woodward North student and Principal Beth Marien take in the playground sights.

Inclusivity guides students to success at Woodward North

By KATHLEEN STURGEON

A

t Woodward North, every one of the more than 250 students enrolled flourishes through their unique strengths and talents.

The elementary school in Johns Creek is the north campus of Woodward Academy, which has its main campus in College Park.

Set on 33 acres, Woodward North focuses on innovative practices in the classroom with a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking. With a student-teacher ratio average of 6-to-1, students receive guidance at

every step, discover their greatest strengths, and build life-shaping qualities of good character.

The school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade with an aim to have the students matriculate to the College Park campus for middle and high school, according to Principal Beth Marien, who has been with Woodward North for more than two decades.

READ MORE, PAGES 38 – 39 Education Answer Book 2018 | 37

The Woodward North curriculum integrates STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math, skills with art projects.

Students learn to work individually and to collaborate in small groups.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37: “Our set up provides our older students the opportunity to mentor our younger students, and our younger students the chance to see what an older student looks and acts like,” Marien said. “Our older students are very protective of our younger students and you’ll see them in the hallway playing and reading with them. It’s special because it’s like a family.”

Woodward focuses on the entire child, including their emotional development, she said.

“We believe in setting goals and expectations for our students,” Marien said. “We are a team with the parents. We provide structure for their child. The oneon-one attention students get in the small classroom setting lets parents know we’ll address not only the child’s academics, but athletics, arts, and attitude.”

38 | Education Answer Book 2018

Play is an important part of the Woodward North experience, but even here STEM and problem-solving skills are put to work.

Attitude is crucial, she said, because it plays into character education which is something Woodward is attuned to.

“We work hard to develop the whole child and expose them to all the academic skills they need in addition to everything else,” she said. “We try to be inclusive in all that we do. The diversity the children see and live every day here at Woodward North is a reflection of the world they live in and will be living in.”

Woodward North also offers the Transition Learning Support Program for students with diagnosed learning disabilities in fourth through sixth grades. These students are in a smaller class environment to give them the skillsets they need to be successful.

Students work and play with others who may not be just like them, and are taught to embrace the differ-

Students work together on a robotics problem.

The arts, including music education, are a vital part of the Woodward North curriculum.

Small class sizes help students and teachers bond. ences and to appreciate where others come from.

“That’s important to us because we are a real-world setting here on this campus,” Marien said. “A lot of times when our students leave to go on to a four-year institution, they will specifically look for colleges and universities that are also a reflection of the diverse population they’ve experienced here at Woodward Academy. The world is much larger than our school, and they have to learn to live in it.”

As part of that mindset, Woodward has a sister school in Mazabuka, Zambia. Woodward supports the students and teachers of the Terranova School, sending donations and helping the school to expand. The relationship also educates Woodward students about helping others.

“Terranova students want to go school and learn just like Woodward students do,” Marien said. “But

Terranova students walk barefoot to school and treasure a pencil they get when our students send new ones every year. We try to show our Woodward students the reality of the world for a child at Terranova. It builds a sense of empathy for someone else.”

Parents who are looking for a college-preparatory education will be pleased to hear that all Woodward students go on to a four-year institution after graduation. Another reason many parents choose Woodward: they’re looking for a nurturing environment and an opportunity for their child to develop their own talents and find their niche.

“They know Woodward is a diverse community,” Marien said. “A lot of people choose us for that reason.

We treasure all the varied opportunities at our school and helping each child find their path.”

Education Answer Book 2018 | 39

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Education Answer Book 2018 | 41

State of our schools:

Forsyth County

F

rom last May, Forsyth County Schools has grown 1,520 new students, making us home to 48,075 students and over 5,000 staff members in 37 schools.

Our students are joining the Forsyth County School’s family from across the U.S. and the globe. We are the 7th largest school district in the state above Henry and Cherokee counties, and are projected to surpass Atlanta (#6) and Clayton (#5) in a few years.

Our accomplishments include: Georgia; √√ Highest ACT score √√ Highest credit rating from Moody’s (1 of 77 in U.S.) √√ 3 out of 6 National Blue Ribbon Schools Metro-Atlanta and Large Districts √√ Highest CCRPI √√ Highest county graduation rate √√ Highest SAT score √√ Highest Financial Efficiency Rating (5/5 Stars) √√ Lowest millage rate* √√ Lowest per-pupil expenditure *Maintained same millage for last four years

Since 2001, we have grown 170 percent in terms of student population; we have expanded/renovated existing schools and constructed 21 new schools. We have not, however, changed our student-to-teacher ratio since 2012. This year our operational budget is $408 million, with 73 percent of our expenses tied to instruction.

Our current capital funding expires this year when we open our sixth traditional high school, Denmark, and the new college and career high school, the Alliance Academy for Innovation.

Using input from 7,000+ stakeholders for the 201722 Strategic Plan and a list of needs submitted by school and district administrators, FCS staff worked from May through December 2017 to create a list of 2019-22 local capital improvement projects for a May 22, 2018 bond referendum. Additionally, we completed a new State Facilities Plan during the same timeframe to maximize state funding earnings. To learn more about the capital improvement needs visit www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/bond I am excited for the remainder of the 2017-18 school year and look forward to continuing our mission to prepare and inspire all learners in Forsyth County Schools to lead and succeed.

– Dr. Jeff Bearden Superintendent, Forsyth County School 42 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Forsyth County Schools

Dr. Jeff Bearden Superintendent, Forsyth County Schools

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First/Last Day of School

Teacher Work Day (Students Off)

Holiday/School Closed

Early Release Day

Preplanning/Post Planning Day

Forsyth County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 43

Meet the superintendent and the board of education Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden jbearden@forsyth.k12.ga.us Began term September 2014, current contract expires June 30, 2020 Dr. Jeff Bearden joined Forsyth County Schools as superintendent on Sept. 2, 2014.

Bearden has served as a school executive for over 25 years. Prior to joining Forsyth County, he was superintendent of Rome City Schools and Fayette County Schools. Bearden spent the first part of his educational career in Maine where he served as superintendent of the Maine School Administrative District No. 35 and the Limestone School Department. Bearden also served as an assistant superintendent, assistant principal and district athletic director. He taught social studies and language arts, and was a varsity basketball coach.

A Georgia native, Bearden holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Maine, and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.

Additionally, he is a third-generation veteran of the U.S Air Force.

Bearden is a member of Georgia School Superintendents Association and the American Association of School Administrators. He was also appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve on the Governor’s Education Advisory Board.

Forsyth Board of Education Members Chairwoman, Ann Crow • Board Member for District 1 ACrow@forsyth.k12.ga.us Elected in 2003, current term ends in 2018 Ann Crow, an Atlanta native, graduated from Auburn University and became a Forsyth County resident in 1984. Crow is president of Matrix TBSC-Cumming Inc., a business service and accounting firm. She also serves as the director of the Georgia School Board Association.

Kristin Morrissey • Board Member for District 2 kmorrissey@forsyth.k12.ga.us Elected in 2011, current term ends in 2018 Kristin Morrissey studied microelectronic engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology and received her degree in computer science from Monroe Community College. She worked in corporate training at Eastman Kodak and later retired from the Rochester Public Library/Monroe County Library System after 16 years 44 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Forsyth County Schools

of service, where she served as a library automation specialist and trainer.

Morrissey is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Forsyth and the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, Regional Economic and Leadership Development.

Tom Cleveland • Board Member for District 3 TCleveland@forsyth.k12.ga.us Elected in 2005, current term ends in 2020 Tom Cleveland served as the co-chair of the Vision 2010 steering committee, member of the teacher of the year selection committee, sex education committee and other various roles in the school system. He currently serves as a worship team member at First Baptist Cumming, a disaster assistance team member with the American Red Cross and a member of the Amateur Radio Emergency Services group within the county.

Darla Light • Board Member for District 4 dlight@forsyth.k12.ga.us Elected in 2009, current term ends 2020 Raised in Forsyth County, Darla Light graduated from Forsyth County High School and attended the University of Georgia, where she majored in special education. Light has served as an elementary PTSO officer for three years, a middle school PTSO officer for two years and coached middle school basketball.

Vice chairwoman, Nancy Roche • Board Member for District 5 NRoche@forsyth.k12.ga.us Elected in 2001, current term ends 2020 Nancy Roche has served on the Board of Education since 2001. She previously worked as a systems analyst for IBM and holds a bachelor’s degree in math and computer science.

Roche was instrumental in the board earning the title of Most Tech-Savvy Board for Large School Systems in 2005 and for the system being recognized as a National Salute District for Technology in 2007. She served as chair of the board in 2003 and from 20052008.

She was appointed to the Georgia School Board Association’s board of directors in June 2007 for District 9. She has served for GSBA on the Strategic Planning Committee, the Governmental Operations Committee and the Nominating Committee and serves as a GSBA presenter and a mentor for new board members.

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Education Answer Book 2018 | 45

Public School Bios: FORSYTH Elementary Schools Big Creek 770-887-4584 Principal: Laura Webb 1994 Peachtree Parkway Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 1939 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/1718 Brandywine 770-887-2461 Principal: Todd Smith 175 Martin Drive, Alpharetta, Georgia 30004 Year opened: 2016 forsyth.k12.ga.us/brandywine Brookwood 678-965-5060 Principal: Tracey Smith 2980 Vaughan Drive Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 2009 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/25122 Chattahoochee 770-781-2240 Principal: Barbara Vella 2800 Holtzclaw Road Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 1993 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/2469 Chestatee 770-781-2240 Principal: Polly Tennies 6945 Keith Bridge Road Gainesville, Georgia 30506 Year Opened: 1931 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/3214 Coal Mountain 770-887-7705 Principal: Kimberly Davis 3455 Coal Mountain Drive Cumming, Georgia 30028 Year Opened: 1981 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/4183 Cumming 770-887-7705 Principal: Lee Anne Rice 3455 Coal Mountain Drive

Cumming, Georgia 30028 Year Opened: 1961 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/5720 Daves Creek 770-888-1222 Principal: Eric Ashton 3740 Melody Mizer Lane Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 1997 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/6662 Haw Creek 678-965-5070 Principal: June Tribble 2555 Echols Road Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 2009 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/27039 Johns Creek 678-965-5041 Principal: Alyssa Degliumberto 6205 Old Atlanta Road Suwanee, Georgia 30024 Year Opened: 2007 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/23524 Kelly Mill 678-965-4953 Principal: Ron McAllister 1180 Chamblee Gap Road Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 2012 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Domain/3436 Mashburn 770-889-1630 Principal: Carla Gravitt 3777 Samples Road Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 1976 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/8280 Matt 678-455-4500 Principal: Charlley Stalder 7455 Wallace Tatum Road Cumming, Georgia 30028 Year Opened: 2001 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/9188 Midway 770-475-6670

46 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Forsyth County Schools

Principal: Jan Munroe 4805 Atlanta Hwy Alpharetta, Georgia 30004 Year Opened: 1961 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/10601 Sawnee 770-887-6161 Principal: Eileen Nix 1616 Canton Highway Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 1968 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/11546 Settles Bridge 770-887-1883 Principal: Sarah Von Esh 600 James Burgess Road Suwanee, Georgia 30024 Year Opened: 2000 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/13604 Sharon 770-888-7511 Principal: Amy Bartlett 3595 Old Atlanta Road Suwanee, Georgia 30024 Year Opened: 2003 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/14829 Shiloh Point 678-341-6481 Principal: Derrick Hershey 8145 Majors Road Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 2006 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/17240 Silver City 678-965-5020 Principal: Paige Andrews 6200 Dahlonega Hwy Cumming, GA 30028 Year Opened: 2007 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/16162 Vickery Creek 770-346-0040 Principal: Kristan Riedinger 6280 Post Road Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 1997 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/18942

Whitlow 678-965-5090 Principal: Dr. Lynne Castleberry 3655 Castleberry Road Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 2009 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/25928 Middle Schools: DeSana 770-887-2461 Principal: Terri North 625 James Road Alpharetta, GA 30004 Year opened: 2016 forsyth.k12.ga.us/desana Lakeside 678-965-5080 Principal: Kim Head 2565 Echols Road Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 2009 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/27718 Liberty 770-781-4889

Principal: Cheryl Riddle 7465 Wallace Tatum Road Cumming, Georgia 30028 Year Opened: 2002 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/20472 Little Mill 678-965-5000 Principal: Connie McCrary 6800 Little Mill Road Cumming, GA 30041 Year Opened: 2007 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/21087 North Forsyth 770-889-0743 Principal: Tom McClelland 3645 Coal Mountain Drive Cumming, Georgia 30028 Year Opened: 1981 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/20652 Otwell 770-887-5248 Principal: Steve Miller 605 Tribble Gap Road Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 2001

forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/20786 Piney Grove 678-965-5010 Principal: Pam Pajerski 8135 Majors Road Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 2006 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/24407 Riverwatch 678-455-7311 Principal: Pam Bibik 610 James Burgess Rd. Suwanee, Georgia 30024 Year Opened: 2003 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/20928 South Forsyth 770-888-3170 Principal: Sandy Tinsley 4670 Windermere Pkwy.

Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 1999 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/21183

READ MORE, PAGE 48

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Forsyth County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 47

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47: Vickery Creek 770-667-2580 Principal: Scott Feldkamp 6240 Post Road Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 1999 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/21341 High Schools Academies of Creative Education 770-781-3141 Co-Directors: Betty Pope and Rudy Hampton 1130 Dahlonega Highway Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 2005 forsyth.k12.ga.us/forsythacademy Alliance Academy for Innovation 678-965-5080 Principal: Brandi Cannizzaro 1100 Lanier 400 Parkway Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 2018 forsyth.k12.ga.us/alliance

Denmark High 770-887-2461 Principal: Heather Gordy 645 Mullinax Road Alpharetta, Georgia 30004 Year Opened: 2018 forsyth.k12.ga.us/dhs Forsyth Central 770-887-8151 Principal: Mitch Young 520 Tribble Gap Road Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 1955 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/21574 Forsyth Virtual Academy 770-781-3141 Director: Susan Atkins 1130 Dahlonega Highway Cumming, Georgia 30040 forsyth.k12.ga.us/fva Lambert High 678-965-5050 Principal: Gary Davison 805 Nichols Road Suwanee, Georgia 30024

Year Opened: 2009 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/24754 North Forsyth High 770-781-6637 Principal: Jeff Cheney 3635 Coal Mountain Drive Cumming, Georgia 30028 Year Opened: 1994 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/21850 South Forsyth High 770-781-2264 Principal: Laura Wilson 585 Peachtree Parkway Cumming, Georgia 30041 Year Opened: 1989 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/22252 West Forsyth High 770-888-3470 Principal: Karl Mercer 4155 Drew Road Cumming, Georgia 30040 Year Opened: 2007 forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/22982

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48 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Forsyth County Schools

Three Forsyth high schools shine in national report

By KATHLEEN STURGEON

T

hree Forsyth County high schools rank among the top 20 in the state according to a new survey by U.S. News and World Report.

The magazine ranks South Forsyth High School 13th, Lambert High School 18th and West Forsyth High School 19th in Georgia based on a variety of educational factors.

“We congratulate our three high schools on being named one of the top 20 high schools in Georgia by U.S. News, and additionally for their national gold and silver award recognition,” Forsyth Superintendent Jeff Bearden said. “Being among the top two percent and 10 percent of more than 22,000 public high schools in the nation for college readiness is a testament to the hard work of their staff and students.”

The report focused on how well a school serves all of its students -- not just those who are college bound, and whether it is able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show it is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.

South Forsyth had a 96 percent graduation rate, 59.4 college readiness score and was awarded a gold medal. It was ranked 416th nationally.

Lambert had a 98 percent graduation rate, 56 college readiness score and was also awarded a gold medal. It was ranked 500th nationally.

West Forsyth had a 95 percent graduation rate, 55.1 college readiness score and received a silver medal. It was ranked 525th nationally.

The other top 10 Georgia schools include DeKalb School of the Arts, Savannah Arts Academy, Davidson Magnet School, Walton High School, Fulton Science Academy High School, Cambridge High School, Northview High School, Alpharetta High School and North Gwinnett High School.

In total, 18 schools in Georgia received a gold medal, 45 earned silver and 48 received bronze.

Columbus High School in Muscogee County ranked first in Georgia with a 100 percent graduation rate, 85.8 college readiness score and a gold medal. It is ranked 83rd nationally.

Almost 29,000 public high schools in every state and the District of Columbia were reviewed and ranked nationally and by state. Due to the small student count at some schools, the survey was reduced to nearly 21,000 schools that had high enough 12th-grade enrollment and/or sufficient enrollment in other grades during the 2014-15 school year to be eligible for the

Top ranked high schools in Georgia 1.

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Columbus High School, 83 nationally DeKalb School of the Arts, 89 nationally Savannah Arts Academy. 111 nationally Davidson Magnet School, 118 nationally Walton High School, 204 nationally Fulton Science Academy High School, 248 nationally Cambridge High School, 262 nationally Northview High School, 266 nationally Alpharetta High School, 304 nationally North Gwinnett High School, 334 nationally Johns Creek High School, 384 nationally Chattahoochee High School, 389 nationally South Forsyth High School, 416 nationally Chamblee Charter High School, 433 nationally Roswell High School, 448 nationally Lassiter High School, 473 nationally Oconee County High School, 480 nationally Lambert High School, 500 nationally West Forsyth High School, 525 nationally Decatur High School, 546 nationally

* Forsyth Central High School and North Forsyth High School were not recognized.

rankings.

Four steps were taken to get the rankings: The first step determined whether each school’s students were performing better than statistically expected for students in that state.

For schools passing the first step, step 2 assessed whether their disadvantaged students – black, Hispanic and low-income – performed at or better than the state average for the least-advantaged students.

For schools passing the first and second step, step 3 required schools to meet or surpass a benchmark for their graduation rate. This is the second year U.S. News has included this step.

Schools that made it through the first three steps became eligible to be judged nationally on the final step – college-readiness performance – using Advanced Placement test data as the benchmark for success.

AP is a College Board program that offers college-level courses at high schools across the country.

Forsyth County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 49

Forsyth Schools sets up

By KATHLEEN STURGEON

T

o help students be the best they can be both in and out of the classroom, Forsyth County Schools is implementing a Digital Citizenship Plan to guide students on how to behave appropriately online.

Forsyth Schools Director of Instructional Technology and Media Jason Naile and Media Specialist on Special Assignment Kristen Deuschle said they spent the last year to review what schools are doing for digital citizenship and looked at best practices around the country.

“As a leading district in technology, we should be doing as much as we can to prepare our students for the world they’ll live in after school,” Naile said. “Over the last several years, technology has become ubiquitous in our lives and is becoming more so. Devices are in the hands of children of all ages, and the environment our youngest students grow up in is dramatically different than what was experienced 10 and even five years ago.”

Naile said they want to be proactive with students to help them as much as they can in this area and help students understand the role technology should play in their lives.

“As a parent of a kindergartener, I can only imagine what he’ll be doing 10 years from now and what the classroom and daily life will look like then,” Naile said.

In 2009, the district passed a policy about how to “educate minors about online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites. The policy included conduct in chat rooms

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‘digital citizenship’ plan and measures to combat cyberbullying as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act.” That helped establish the current practice whereby schools subgmit an Internet Safety Plan that has a narrow focus on internet safety and online privacy.

But, that ignores other critical areas, Naile said.

Now, they’re looking to move to a Digital Citizenship Plan next year that will include a broader coverage of topics that were identified by the district transition team as high need areas.

“We want to help students and parents understand how to balance life, school and technology,” Naile said. “As educators and parents we need to be able to model that and understand it as well.”

The new plan will better align with the county’s Learner Profile, he said, specifically in the areas of “exhibit strong personal qualities,” “engage and contribute” and “interact effectively.”

Additionally, they’re hoping this helps prepare students for college or a career.

In the past, it was believed students’ digital habits were formed in middle school, but Naile said they now will focus on elementary students.

Deuschle said they narrowed the topics to focus on

five domains, including: • Cyberbullying/self-image • Digital footprint and responsibility • Online safety and privacy • Creative credit and copyright • Information literacy • Kindergarten and first grade would only focus on online safety and privacy along with information literacy lessons.

“We’re hoping schools will create a new Digital Citizenship Action Plan with a school vision, team roles, responsibilities, timeline, resources and how they’ll get their parents engaged,” Deuschle said.

She created plans and examples for schools to use and share. Kindergarten and first should have two lessons a year, second through eighth, five lessons a year and ninth and up will have videos, posters and other schoolwide activities. There also will be Family Tech Talk Nights by school or as a vertical cluster.

“I wanted schools to keep doing what they’re already doing,” Deuschle said. “I didn’t want them to be overwhelmed because some of these schools are doing wonderful things for digital citizenship.”

Forsyth County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 51

Forsyth traditional high schools named in four AP honor school categories A ll five of the Forsyth County Schools traditional high schools have received recognition in four categories for Advanced Placement Honor Schools.

AP exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP courses are one of several ways Georgia students can access college-level learning at the high school level. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 score out of 5 on an AP exam may receive college credit.

The Georgia Department of Education began recognizing AP Honor Schools in 2008.

The categories include: AP Merit Schools: schools with at least 20 percent of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50 percent of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher; 69 named in 2017 AP STEM Schools: schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A); 204 named in 2017 AP STEM Achievement Schools: schools with stu-

dents testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses and at least 40 percent of exam scores on AP math and science exams earning scores of 3 or higher; 128 named in 2017 AP Humanities Schools: schools with students testing in the following AP courses: at least one ELA course, two social science courses, one fine arts course and one world language course; 149 named in 2017

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This rendering shows what the inside of the Junior Achievement Center of North Georgia will look like, including a government store and other businesses.

Cumming signs on as $75K sponsor for Junior Achievement Center

By KATHLEEN STURGEON

T

he City of Cumming is investing in the future of the community by signing on as the presenting sponsor for the Junior Achievement Discovery Center at North Georgia.

This $75,000 a year sponsorship will give the city the largest and most prominent storefront at the center which will be a middle school entrepreneurship and financial literacy experience. The sponsorship will be for five years totaling $375,000.

Councilman Christopher Light cast the lone dissenting vote and asked whether the city should sponsor at the $50,000 level instead.

The center will be on the campus of the Alliance Academy for Innovation, the county’s first college and career development high school, which opens next fall, but won’t be part of the school.

All Forsyth County middle schoolers will take field trips to the center throughout the school year to learn life skills, such as how to run a business, pay taxes and balance a checkbook.

The North Georgia center will serve other school systems nearby, including Hall County, Lumpkin County, Dawson County, the city of Gainesville and the city of Calhoun.

The center is expected to have an annual impact on more than 15,000 middle school students, 2,500 volunteers, 600 teachers from six school systems and 100 corporate and community partners.

Before students set foot in the center, they will spend about 20 hours of instruction time learning lessons that will help them succeed during the simulations. For the past two years, the district has piloted the program in schools so students are able to experi-

ence it in their classrooms.

The sixth graders will participate in “JA Biztown,” where they will interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of running a business, according to Forsyth County Schools College and Career Development Director Dr. Valery Lowe.

The seventh or eighth graders will participate in “JA Finance Park,” an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s economic environment.

Students will come in, elect a mayor for the day, participate in business transactions and receive speeding tickets for running in the hall.

“They will learn how to work, live in an economy, buy and sell things,” Lowe said. “The centers are developed to resemble the communities they’re in. Everything you and I do on a daily basis as far as interacting with a city, they’ll do.”

The program has two similar centers in the state, including the Junior Achievement Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center which opened in August 2013 in Atlanta, and the Junior Achievement Discovery Center at Gwinnett which opened in 2015. There are about 30 different discovery centers across the country, Lowe said.

Some of the storefronts in the Atlanta and Gwinnett centers include local governments, Home Depot, Wells Fargo and QuikTrip.

Currently, two businesses, Delta and Georgia United Credit Union, have signed on for the North Georgia location. Other storefronts could include colleges, healthcare, entertainment, utilities or transportation.

To learn about the center and academy, visit georgia.ja.org.

Forsyth County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 53

Cafeteria workers make lunch fun, healthy Brandywine Elementary staff genuinely enjoy job

By KATHLEEN STURGEON

A

t 3:45 a.m. every weekday, Tracy Kern gets out of bed excited for what the day will bring.

By 5:30 a.m. she is at Brandywine Elementary School working as the food and nutrition manager and preparing to feed a majority of the more than 1,000 students who attend the school.

This schedule comes easy to Kern who has spent 16 years in similar roles with the district. She began her job after having her four children and was ready to get back out and work. Her schedule allowed her to get her kids on and off the bus, but she still made extra money.

“I never said I was going to grow up and be a lunch lady,” Kern said. “But when I started doing it, it felt like this is where I belong and I still feel that way. There’s hardly ever a day that I dread coming to work.”

She’s worked in multiple schools in the county, including Otwell Middle School for six years and South Forsyth High School for nine years.

Otwell was interesting to Kern because it’s in the City of Cumming limits, and it has a “different clientele” than South Forsyth or Brandywine, she said, serving up to 90 percent of the school.

At South Forsyth, there weren’t many students partaking in school lunches because they were older and the area is more affluent, but it was still fast paced, feeding up to 1,200 students a day sometimes.

Last year when Brandywine opened, it threw Kern for a bit of a loop because she had never worked in an elementary school. She interacts with parents more often and processes a lot of paperwork which keeps her out in the serving lines most days.

“It’s a lot easier this year because I now have the elementary experience I was lacking,” Kern said. “I had no clear idea on how elementary ran until I got here.

I actually know what to do this year because I have a whole year under my belt. The transition was easier.”

But last year wasn’t too overwhelming, because the school was recognized nationally as a bronze level winner of the Healthy Schools Program by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

This year, on the first day of school Aug. 3, Kern’s staff was serving cheese and pepperoni pizza to the students. The day is a bit slower for the cafeteria than throughout the year because students often bring their 54 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Forsyth County Schools

By the numbers • Forsyth County Schools served over 3.5 million milk cartons last year.

• They served over 90,990 apples from North Georgia orchards. Galas are the favorites.

• Pizza remains a student favorite with over 164,139 pizza meals served last year.

Pepperoni is the favorite.

• Chicken and nachos come in a close second, but there are too many varieties to count.

• They purchased $1 million worth of fresh produce with about 75 percent being Georgia grown.

lunch to show off their new lunch boxes, she said.

But the staff still prepared and served more than 270 slices of cheese and more than 120 slices of pepperoni. On a busy day, those numbers rise to 350 for cheese and 200 for pepperoni.

The hit of the cafeteria, however, is nacho day, which Kern said they sometimes serve more than 650 meals.

Other options are offered through the year, including veggie burgers, salads, wraps and PB&J sandwiches.

Kern and her staff must follow guidelines for nutrition, sanitation and service from the county office that gets their guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Because of this, she said it can be hard to break the stigma that school lunches are “awful.”

“The guidelines are not something I decide to make up,” Kern said. “It’s handed to me and I have to follow it. We work really hard to make good, nutritious food for the children. We do the best we can with the restrictions.”

Additionally, since the rise in food allergies nationwide, Kern said they try to be flexible and have an option for everyone with allergies. Kern works with the school nurse, who has action plans from the parents in place for any child with an allergy to tell the staff what to do if a child has a reaction.

“I put an allergy alert in place on the child’s account so when their name is pulled up, that alert comes up first,” Kern said. “Our computer system also has an

Tracy Kern has been the food and nutrition manager at Brandywine Elementary School since it opened last year. allergen report for what we’re having that day and it’ll tell you exactly what allergens are in the items on the menu.”

Sometimes, Kern said her staff may get frustrated or discouraged because they get overlooked for their hard work. But she remembers the cafeteria worker from her own childhood who terrified her, and strives to

be the opposite for her students.

“I don’t want children to be afraid to eat lunch at school,” Kern said. “I want it to be a happy place.

Food is fun and can be enjoyed. Someone, somewhere will remember the lunch lady. You’ll never forget the friendships you make with the staff, parents and kids.

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Forsyth County Schools | Education Answer Book 2018 | 55

Getting accepted The process of applying to colleges and universities

By JOE PARKER

S

electing and applying to colleges and universities can be stressful and confusing for high school students, leading to many questions. How do I apply?

What types of students are the colleges seeking? To how many schools should I apply? And most importantly, will I be accepted? It can be quite overwhelming for students as well as the student’s parents who want to ensure their son or daughter is making the right collegiate choice. For most students, counselors at their high school will play a pivotal role in assisting them in the application and college planning process.

Karen Bolt, Alpharetta High School head counselor, says the collegiate planning process begins as soon as the student’s freshman year.

“It’s a lengthy process, but we try to start early,” she said. “The process should begin in the ninth grade.

That way, a student can check to see what colleges require and take the right courses [in high school].”

Amy Short, head counselor at Roswell High, advises students to let their transcript reflect their interests.

“If your passion is literature, you want to have that be apparent on your transcript,” she said. “You should take those creative writing classes and advanced literature courses. Your transcript is going to be viewed by people who don’t know you, and you want them to get a sense of who you are and what your passion is.”

The same idea applies to extracurricular activities, she said.

“Don’t jump around,” Short said. “It’s better to stick with one club for a long time and earn a position of leadership than to jump around to many different clubs just to have that on your transcript.”

Bolt and Short both advise taking the SAT and the ACT. Whichever test yields better scores should be the score the student should focus on improving.

But the question remains; do colleges only look at a student’s GPA and SAT or ACT scores?

“It’s still true that colleges are looking for great grades, good test scores and extracurricular activities, but most use a holistic approach,” Bolt said, which will account for much more than grade and test numbers.

Bolt says this often happens when colleges have a minimal number of openings for a large amount of applicants. When this happens, “they go deeper” into the student’s application.

“Sometimes a school may need a tuba player and that could make the difference in being accepted,” she said.

56 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Higher Education

Although the number of schools to which a student should apply varies from student to student, Bolt and Short suggest applying to at least six colleges.

Two of the schools applied to should be “target” schools, schools the student should make their priority to attend. The student should also apply to two “reach” schools, or, as Short puts it, schools that the student may not be accepted to but would love to attend, as well as two “backup” schools.

“Having backups are essential given the fact that not every student will be accepted into their college of choice,” said Bolt.

Websites such as Gafutures.org can also provide supplementary information and planning strategies for students in high school who are looking to attend college. The site also offers information regarding specific schools that can help a student find the colleges that suit them best. Students can even apply to Georgia’s colleges through the site.

However, Short says she uses an analogy when students research schools online to show them there is more to the process that cannot be done online.

“You wouldn’t buy a car based only on online reviews,” she said. “You’d want to touch it and drive it and get a better sense of it. The same applies to colleges. You want to find the right fit for you.”

Dr. Jamie Brown, assistant principal at North Forsyth High said, “Don’t be afraid to reach out to the schools and ask them what they are looking for, and also share your transcript with them so that you are more informed if the fit will be good for you.”

Although the process can be lengthy and confusing, starting early, in-depth research and sound planning can lessen the burden of the process of applying to colleges.

And, as Bolt says, counselors are always “here to help.”

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Education Answer Book 2018 | 57

HOPE Scholarship eases burden of increased tuition

By JOE PARKER

T

he HOPE Scholarship – Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally – is a scholarship and grant program that provides financial assistance for students pursuing degrees, diplomas and certificates at Georgia’s colleges and universities. Initiated in 1993, the program has awarded over $9.4 billion to 1.7 million students in the state.

The 2016-17 school year was the first in five years that most Georgia colleges and universities did not see an increase in tuition. However, after a half decade of steady increases, spikes in tuition have made the HOPE Scholarship even more appealing, if not absolutely necessary, for many current and upcoming college students The rigor requirements for the HOPE Scholarship have increased the amount of advanced courses a high school student must complete to be eligible for the scholarship. Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, students are required to earn at least four credits from the following courses: • Advanced math, such as advanced algebra, trigonometry, math III or equivalent or higher course taken for degree-level credit at an eligible postsecondary institution.

• Advanced science, such as chemistry, physics, biology II or equivalent or higher course taken for degree-level credit at an eligible postsecondary institution.

• Advanced Placement courses in core subjects.

• International Baccalaureate courses in core subjects.

• Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects (non-remedial).

• Advanced foreign language courses.

In order to assist students taking highly challenging classes, beginning in the 2017-18 school year, students may receive a 0.5 increase on grades.

Those taking science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes which are deemed “academically rigorous and required for or leading to employment in high demand fields in Georgia in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” may receive a 0.5 increase on any final grades below an ‘A.’ The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in consultation with the Technical College System of Georgia, the Department of Economic Development and private eligible postsecondary institutions will mandate which classes students may receive the 58 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Higher Education

half-point increase.

These additional requirements are a result of funding issues for the scholarship program. Since 2009, the number of HOPE recipients has decreased by 36 percent from nearly 250,000 in 2009-2010 to 158,000 in 2013-2014.

Though the requirements to receive the HOPE Scholarship have become increasingly more challenging for students, those who are able to meet the eligibility requirements and maintain a 3.0 GPA, the HOPE Scholarship program will greatly ease the burden of tuition increases at Georgia’s colleges and universities.

To receive HOPE Scholarship funding, students must: 1. Meet one of the following academic requirements: • Graduate from an eligible high school or accredited high school program with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and meet the academic rigor requirementw.

• Receive a high school diploma through petition of the local school board, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §20-2-281, from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

• Graduate from an ineligible high school, complete a home study program in Georgia, or earn a GED and score in the national composite 75th percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT prior to high school graduation, home study completion or earning a GED. • Graduate from an ineligible high school or complete a home study program in Georgia and then earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative postsecondary grade point average after attempting 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework for retroactive HOPE Scholarship payment.

• Earn a 3.0 grade point average at the college level on degree coursework after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semester hours or 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours, regardless of high school graduation status.

2. B e enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a public or private HOPE eligible college and university in Georgia.

AND; Program Eligibility 1. Meet HOPE’s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements; 2. Be a legal resident of Georgia; 3. Meet enrollment requirements; 4. Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements; 5. Meet academic achievement standards;

6. Be in good standing on all student loans or other financial aid programs; 7. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990; 8. Not have exceeded the maximum award limits for any HOPE program.

Award Amounts Please review the HOPE and Zell Miller Award Charts to determine your award amount.

Students that meet all eligibility requirements and are attending an eligible public college or university receive a HOPE Scholarship award amount, to be applied toward standard undergraduate tuition, up to a maximum of 15 hours, for the specific number of hours enrolled, whether full time or part time.

Students that meet all eligibility requirements and are attending an eligible private college or university receive a HOPE Scholarship award amount, to be applied toward standard undergraduate tuition, up to a maximum of 12 hours, based on a half-time or full-time enrollment status.

Award Limits A college degree-seeking student is ineligible for the HOPE Scholarship if he or she has: • Received payment from any combination of HOPE

or Zell Miller Scholarships, HOPE or Zell Miller Grants, and Accel (through Spring term 2011) Program funds totaling 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of credit; or • Attempted 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of college degree credit, regardless of whether or not HOPE funds were received while attempting the hours; or • Earned a baccalaureate (four-year) degree, regardless of whether or not HOPE Scholarship funds were received while earning the degree, or • Reached the seven-year expiration of eligibility date.

Application Procedure Students have two options when applying for the HOPE Scholarship: 1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, 2. Complete the online GSFAPPS application or printable paper GSFAPPS application.

Note: The FAFSA must be completed each year.

Application Deadline The application deadline is the last day of the

READ MORE, PAGE 60 Higher Education | Education Answer Book 2018 | 59

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59: school term or a student’s withdrawal date, whichever occurs first. It is recommended that you submit HOPE Scholarship application as early as possible; the earlier you apply, the earlier the funds are disbursed to your school and credited to your account.

Other state aid programs •

Note: Additional college-specific application and deadline requirements may be required. Check with your postsecondary institution.

Where to Go for Help If you need help filling out an application or have other questions relating to the HOPE Scholarship, contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, talk with your high school counselor or contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

To find contact details for the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, find your school through the search engine via the list of Georgia colleges and universities.

Visit www.gafutures.org to access and explore information and websites regarding Georgia colleges and universities.

You can contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission by: • GSFC E-mail: gacollege411@gsfc.org • GSFC Telephone: Toll free 800-505-4732 In metro Atlanta 770-724-9000 A representative is available Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Administrative Reviews and Exceptions If a student feels that his or her HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Scholarship or Zell Miller Grant eligibility was determined incorrectly, he or she may submit a request to GSFC for an Administrative Review. Upon request of an Administrative Review, Commission staff will review a student’s eligibility determination and decide if the program laws, regulations, policies and rules were applied correctly to a student’s specific case.

Students must submit a written letter requesting an Administrative Review and any pertinent and supporting documentation, such as all transcripts, within 45 days of receiving notice of denial of HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Scholarship or Zell Miller Grant eligibility. The Commission will decide a case based solely upon the documentation provided by the student, rather than a personal presentation.

Additional Information Full details about the HOPE Scholarship guidelines, policies, and procedures can be found in the HOPE Scholarship Program at Public Institutions Regulations or HOPE Scholarship Program at Private Institutions Regulations document maintained by the GSFC. 60 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Higher Education

•

•

•

•

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Zell Miller scholarship – The Zell Miller Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that provides full tuition at a public postsecondary institution and tuition assistance at an eligible private postsecondary institution. A student must graduate from an eligible high school as valedictorian or salutatorian (meeting the requirements of the HOPE Scholarship) or graduate with a minimum 3.7 GPA (as calculated by GSFC) along with a minimum combined score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT and meet specific rigor course requirements.

REACH Georgia – REACH Georgia is a needs-based mentoring and scholarship program providing promising students the support to graduate from high school and achieve postsecondary success. REACH scholars will be paired with a mentor who models positive behavior and provides the student with knowledge, advice, guidance, and support related to education and beyond. Qualifying REACH Scholars will be awarded a financial scholarship upon graduating from high school.

HERO Scholarship – Georgia’s HERO Scholarship program provides educational scholarship assistance to members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reservists who served in combat zones, and the children and the spouses of such members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves.

Public Safety Memorial Grant – The Georgia Public Safety Memorial (GPSM) Grant provides grant funds to the dependent children of Georgia Public Safety Officers who were permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty. Funds may be used towards the cost of attendance at eligible colleges, universities or technical colleges in Georgia.

The Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant Program – GTEG encourages Georgia residents to attend eligible private colleges in Georgia by providing assistance towards educational costs.

Move On When Ready – MOWR is for students at eligible high schools that wish to take college level coursework for credit towards both high school and college graduation requirements

HEAR THE STORIES YOU CAN’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE Black Box and Appen Media Group are thrilled to announce the launch of “Inside the Box” podcast. We dive deep into local issues important to the North Atlanta community. From politics and education, to business and crime, we talk about the story behind the story. We talk about the stories you won’t hear, read or see anywhere else.

To download episodes and subscribe to the Podcast, search “Appen Media Group” in the iTunes Podcast store.

Education Answer Book 2018 | 61

College Fair

I

nterested in attending a school that isn't too far from home? We've narrowed down the schools within 30 or so miles of Atlanta and give you the details on each institution.

1. Kennesaw State University Located 25 miles from Atlanta, Kennesaw State University has 13 colleges with two campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta. It is the third largest university in the state and offers more than 150 different undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees.

Programs: College of Architecture and Construction Management, College of Arts, Bagwell College of Education, Coles College of Business, College of Computing and Software Engineering, Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, University College and WellStar College of Health and Human Services Online classes? Yes Study abroad? Yes Fall 2016 enrollment: 32,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students Semesters or quarters? Semesters Student organizations: Over 200, including student governance and media, co-curricular clubs, athletics, Greek letter organizations, campus ambassadors, community service and advocacy Website: www.kennesaw.edu 2. Georgia State University Georgia State is an urban public research university and national model for student success in Atlanta, the cultural and economic center of the Southeast. The largest university in the state and one of the largest in the nation, Georgia State provides more than 51,000 students with unsurpassed access to opportunities in one of America’s great global cities.

62 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Higher Education

Programs: Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education & Human Development, Robinson College of Business, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Law, Honors College, Perimeter College and School of Public Health Online classes? Yes Study abroad? Yes Fall 2017 enrollment: 18,710 two-year degree students, 25,716 four-year degree students and 7,012 graduate students Semesters or quarters? Semesters Student organizations: More than 400 student organizations covering leadership, activism, arts, politics, academics, religion, recreation and more Website: www.gsu.edu 3. University of Georgia – Gwinnett Campus Located only 30 miles from Atlanta, the University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus serves the needs of busy working professionals. It offers graduate-level programs with accommodating schedules, including night and Saturday classes, to help students maintain a balance with their careers and families.

Non-credit professional development courses are also available.

Programs: pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, information technology, higher education, nonprofit leadership, social work, public administration, sport management and business Online classes? Yes Study abroad? Yes Semesters or quarters? Semesters Student organizations: Weekly

opportunities for networking, exploring art and culture, and massages Website: www.gwinnett.uga.edu 4. University of North Georgia Formed through the consolidation of North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College in 2013, the University of North Georgia has five campuses in Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee. It offers over 100 degrees for students, ranging from certificate and associate degrees to professional doctoral programs.

Programs: College of Arts & Letters, Mike Cottrell College of Business, College of Education, College of Health Sciences & Professions, College of Science & Mathematics, University College and Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental & Spatial Analysis Online classes? Yes Study abroad? Yes Fall 2016 enrollment: 18,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate students Semesters or quarters? Semesters Student organizations: Each campus offers different programs, including social, athletics, honors, service and advocacy, academic groups and Greek letter organizations Website: www.ung.edu 5. Life University Life University is in Marietta, just 20 miles away from Atlanta, and is considered one of the most affordable private universities in the nation. It has 17 accredited degree programs for undergraduate and graduate studies that focus on health and wellness.

Online classes? Yes Study abroad? Yes

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Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,700 students Semesters or quarters? Quarters Student organizations: Over 70 student clubs, including academic and student governance Website: www.life.edu 6. Lanier Technical College Lanier Technical College has five campuses located in Oakwood, Forsyth, Barrow, Dawson and Jackson. It provides career-technical education programs with customized business and industry training to earn a diploma, certificate or associate’s degree.

Programs: Over 40, including accounting, fire science technology, automotive technology, horticulture,

health information management, criminal justice technology, culinary arts, paramedicine and design and media production technology Online classes? Yes Study abroad? Yes Fall 2016 enrollment: 26,000 students Semesters or quarters? Semesters Student organizations: Dozens, including academic, business, student governance and honors societies Website: www.laniertech.edu 7. Gwinnett Technical College Gwinnett Technical College offers more than 140 programswith degree, diploma and certificate

options, in addition to online and weekend college options and a new campus in Alpharetta. With a 99% job placement rate, Gwinnett Tech programs focus on the fastest growing high-demand career fields, as well as emerging industries and technol­ogies.

Online classes? Yes Study abroad? Yes Fall 2017 enrollment: 11,147 students Semesters or quarters? Se­ mesters Student organizations: More than 30, including career-focused clubs and organizations, opportunities for community involvement and networking and honor societies.

Website: www.gwinnetttech.edu Higher Education | Education Answer Book 2018 | 63

Dual enrollment program puts high schoolers in college classes Satisfies high school graduation requirements, college degree

By CANDY WAYLOCK

N

ot all Georgia students need – or want – to remain in high school for the traditional four-year stint before moving on to college, and Georgia education officials have answered that need.

Through the Accel Program, qualified high school students can dual enroll, which means taking some classes in high school and others in a college setting, or “Move On When Ready” by enrolling full-time in college while completing the requirements for a high school degree.

The program is aimed primarily at 11th- and 12thgraders, though some qualified ninth- and 10th-graders may be eligible.

Through dual enrollment, students receive both high school and college credit simultaneously, courses can be taken at high school or at college campus and courses are taught by college faculty or credentialed high school teachers.

Currently, 23 colleges within the Technical College System of Georgia participate in dual enrollment, including Atlanta Tech and Lanier Tech. Within the University System of Georgia, there are 30 colleges that offer dual enrollment to high school students, including Georgia Tech and Georgia Perimeter College and Georgia State University, which will soon merge into one school.

In 2015, more than 18,000 Georgia high school students are dual enrolled in high school and college 64 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Higher Education

– 11,400 in a technical college and 7,000 in a college within the University System of Georgia. This total has nearly doubled since 2012 when only 9,300 high school students were dual enrolled.

Fulton County students are well represented in those numbers, with 1,032 dual enrolled students from among its 17 high schools. The majority are students from North Fulton schools, including 225 from Alpharetta High, 192 from Milton and 115 from Chattahoochee High.

Georgia education officials point to the advantages of dual enrollment, including an easier transition from high school to college, confidence to take on the college level rigor and the decreased cost of college and the shorter time frame to secure a college degree. Tuition for dual enrollment is covered by the state and the local school system where the student is enrolled.

For the Move On When Ready program, a student must meet admission standards for the college, and must enroll full-time – a minimum of 12 hours a semester. Tuition is covered for the first 12 hours, with the student responsible for any fees above that. Credits earned will go to both the high school and college degrees.

Eligible students for dual enrollment and Move On When Ready must meet certain criteria, which are detailed on the Georgia Department of Education website (www.gadoe.org).

NEW LOOK BEGINNING APRIL 2018 FEBRUARY 2018

JANUARY 2018

APRIL 2017

MARCH 2018

SPECIAL 55+ LIFESTYLE AND TRAVEL EDITION

Art

A WORK of

Wedding dresses are the subject for unique paintings

Linings Silver

Creative

Confections

Radio show focuses on prayers and positives

Alpharetta bakery finds the niche in custom cakes

Picture

Fabulous

Perfect

Fit and

Weight training routine targets women over 50

Bon Voyage!

What to wear when the ship sets sail

Uniquely UNioN

Nurturing Hearts

Home Helpers Home Care shifts perspective on Seniors

Top trends and classic fare meet at Milton hotspot

Photographer captures moments from her own wedding story

Dance studio blends dance & fitness

JULY 2017

JUNE 2017

MAY 2017

Pure

Bliss

PlayAll!

Children’s Charities to build kids' park in Milton

AUGUST 2017

SPECIAL 55+ LIFESTYLE EDITION

Wheels Up!

Booms

Sunshine and

Smiles

Meals program for seniors taking off in North Fulton

in the night Protecting pets from fireworks

Turning gray skies to blue for area children

Craving Chocolate

Sea delights Ocean offerings ship to shore

Roswell chocolate shop has the fix for a sweet tooth

Creating links between teens and police

Comfort &

Consistency Roasters going strong after three decades of service

Just Desserts

Foundation opens first transplant home

Passion for Pets Local business includes rescue groups in outreach

Simple recipes for the 'dog' days of summer

NOVEMBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

BuildinG

Bridges

Vital Spaces

DECEMBER 2017

Pink

In the

Flaunt the season's top color

Barley Hops &

Southern

Baked

Scrumptious pies for dessert or dinners

FALL

A beer garden grows in Avalon

Hope &

Faith

How yoga helped her heal

The K9 Connection Filling a need in law enforcement

Fashion FINDS T's and jeans are your ticket to style

Scone

Bene!

Sisters Family business takes creative turn on breakfast

Mangia

Authentic Italian fare on the Northside

no peeking!

Shhhh...

Surprise your someone special with our holiday gift guide

WHAT’S NEW? DESIGN – We are switching to a traditional glossy magazine style that will give our readers a more connected experience with our articles, pictures and advertisements. In addition to that we are updating some of our design styles to give the magazine an even sharper look.

EDITORIAL – We are excited to bring on new regular news features like: Her Garden, She’s Sexy, Her Beauty, She Designs, Her Money, and much more!

DISTRIBUTION – Neighborhoods all over north Atlanta already get Northside Woman distributed direct to their home, but we are now making it even easier to get a copy by adding over 50 new distribution points and cutting the mailed subscription rate in half.

Call your account executive TODAY 770.442.3278 This monthly glossy magazine publication targets North Atlanta’s most affluent female audience.

18,000 copies are home delivered to exclusive gated and estate communities in North Atlanta, and single-copy outlets also located throughout the community.

Appen Media Group • 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 • e: advertising@appenmediagroup.com • p: 770.442.3278 — f: 770.475.1216

Education Answer Book 2018 | 65

Lyndon Academy Lyndon Academy is an AdvancEd accredited international private college prep school located in Cherokee County with an extraordinary teaching system that combines proven methods of learning from the most successful schools in the country. At Lyndon, The Future Is Our Priority … we strive to help each child build successful leadership qualities in a child focused caring community of learners. They are our future, and they deserve every educational experience that we can provide.

Lyndon Academy’s custom crafted school environment sets us apart from every other public or private school in the Atlanta area.

The standards and expectations challenge students to do their best in an accepting and compassionate setting, which encourages each student to be an individual. At Lyndon, students are provided the oppor66 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Sponsored Section

tunity to have a trilingual education including English, Chinese, and Spanish. We also reach above STEAM standards to provide the best in the sciences, technology, engineering, arts and math.

We strive to nurture the spirit as well as stimulate the mind. The joy of learning is as important as mastering the task. Through an interdisciplinary approach, we teach students to play an active role in their own education, to learn how to ask the right questions and make pertinent connections and decisions, and to be global citizens. Lyndon desires to teach them a lifetime love of learning.

Please explore our website for more information about the exciting opportunities offered at Lyndon Academy. Our Admission’s Office is on hand daily to answer any questions you may have and to assist you with scheduling a tour.

Growing bones deserve Children’s orthopaedics A team of pediatric specialists, right in your neighborhood.

During childhood, ordinary fractures can become complicated when they occur in the growth areas of a child’s bone. In kids and teens, bone growth happens at specific parts of the bone called growth plates, which determine the future length and shape of the bone. Since growth plates are made of cartilage, they are weaker than other areas of a growing skeleton.

This makes them more vulnerable to injuries. Pediatric orthopaedic specialists know how to properly diagnose and treat injuries to minimize growth disturbances associated with fractures.

If you think your child has a fracture, the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine team at Children’s is here to help. Children’s has one of the largest pediatric orthopaedic and sports medicine practices in the Southeast. Whether it’s setting a broken bone, performing delicate spine surgery, or treating a sports injury, the more than 30 orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians, surgeons, and advanced practice providers understand how to treat growing bones.

Children’s at Old Milton Parkway 3300 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 310 Alpharetta, GA 30005 Children’s at Forsyth In The Collection at Forsyth 410 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 300 Cumming, GA 30041 To learn more, visit choa.org/cpgortho

If a growth plate is not treated properly, it could: • Stop or slow a bone’s growth • Change how a bone works • Cause the bone to grow crooked

Sponsored Section | Education Answer Book 2018 | 67

Find the perfect neighborhood Brought to you by –BILL RAWLINGS Senior Vice President & Managing Broker, North Atlanta Office Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Before you begin the search for the perfect home, take time to scout out neighborhoods. Selecting the right neighborhood plays a critical component in your everyday life. Take into consideration the factors most important to you – do you want to have a short commute to the office? Reside in an award-winning school district? Enjoy easy access to shopping and restaurants?

You can begin the process from the comfort of your home by visiting AtlantaFineHomes.com/videos and clicking on the ‘Community Profiles’ tab. Our ‘Live the Life’ video series showcases more than 60 of Metro Atlanta’s most popular cities, neighborhoods, areas and communities.

The videos provide insight on pricing, home styles, community events, surrounding schools and nearby shopping and dining. Once you have your short list of possibilities, hop in your car and drive around to deter68 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Sponsored Section

mine what neighborhoods appeal to you. Explore the area and consider talking to residents who are out and about.

Give consideration to the appearance of the homes in the neighborhood – are they well maintained and nicely landscaped?

Bill Rawlings At Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, we are dedicated to providing you with an exceptional experience throughout the buying and selling process.

Our agents are experts in the field and their familiarity with all the neighborhoods in the area can help guide you in making the right decision. For more tips and additional information, or to discuss the Atlanta real estate market, connect with us! Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty agents deliver results. Allow one of our dedicated professionals to assist you by visiting atlantafinehomes.com or calling our office at 770.442.7300.

Article adapted from Realty Times.

Fulton Science Academy Private School Fulton Science Academy Private School (FSAPS) serves advanced and gifted students using a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) curriculum. Now enjoying its fifth year as a private school and its second year at a beautiful new campus in Alpharetta, FSAPS proudly represented the state of Georgia in five national and international academic competitions in 2016.

This year, the school received a prestigious “Excellence in STEM Education” award from the Technology Association of Georgia and was recognized as both the Best Private School (K-12) and Best Private Primary School (Pre-K) by Appen Media.

The study body is diverse and reflects award-winning academic teams, competitive athletes, personal entrepreneurs, professional working actors, and award-winning critical thinkers. There is no “one size fits all” mentality at FSAPS. The school has a diverse

student body where every individual’s uniqueness is treasured. Every child is different. Every teacher is different. Every subject is different. Uniqueness is embraced and small class sizes (limited to no more than 20 students) ensure a level of individualized attention and care that students and faculty have come to know and love. In addition to core classes, FSAPS also provides students beginning in Pre-K with courses in physical education, music, robotics, computer science, art, and foreign language.

Community outreach is very important to Fulton Science Academy. Each year, the school partners with several local charities so students have a chance to give back. Built upon core values of excellence, innovation, and character, FSAPS has engineered a school of the future, today.

For additional information, please visit http://www. fultonscienceacademy.org Sponsored Section | Education Answer Book 2018 | 69

Peachtree Park Prep To celebrate 20 Years of Loving to Learn at Peachtree Park Prep there were several Alumni events including the 1st ANNUAL “I WAS A PREPPIE” national tee shirt Day. PPP Alumni, PREPPIES, are currently attending Westminster, Pace Academy, Lovett, Woodward, Weslyan, Kings Ridge, Greater Atlanta Christian and well over 90% of PPP Alumni tracked are in accelerated classrooms at Johns Creek, Northview, Alpharetta, and Norcross public high schools. PPP Alumni are currently attending or have earned degrees from Harvard, Clemson, Georgia Tech, UGA, Auburn, North Carolina, Duke, Lehigh, Emory, LSU, SCAD, and many more, with several PPP graduates currently working on their PhD and one PPP Alumni has obtained a degree at Yale Medical.

Graduates from PPP are elite high school and college athletes, some of them already participating in the NFL and MLB, as well as a PPP graduate in training as a hopeful Olympic competitor. A recent PPP graduate has had photos published in a luxury Atlanta magazine and the PPP community is following a former graduate “super model” on the international stage, as well as a PPP Alumni appearing in a feature film due in theaters in 2018. The accomplishments and achievements tracked and recorded through 22 years of PPP Alumni are outstanding! The point being two-fold.

The importance of early education and a solid foundation founded and fostered in “Loving to Learn” cannot be over-stated or under appreciated. Second, the importance of retaining a Fabulous Faculty with years of dedication and enthusiastic service to students’ early education shows in the students achieving the Love of Learning that will last them a life-time. These two concepts cannot be separated.

Peachtree Park Prep has received many accolades through the years, but no award is more important and meaningful than hearing about the accomplishments of the students, past and present, and their parents attributing an important part of their success to the early foundation of Loving to Learn that they received at Peachtree Park Prep.

Visit PPP website at peachtreeparkprep. com. Enjoy Parent comments at greatschools. org. Now accepting Kindergarten applications and fall enrollment for Infants ~ PREPPIES. 70 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Sponsored Section

Special section in your Herald Newspaper Appen Media Group offers four critical education focused special sections each year in our weekly newspapers, plus an annual school guide, the Education Answer Book.

Education is a top priority for our readers and our Education Focus special sections will allow you to reach students and parents through their local newspaper. Our readers have children in public school, private school, on their way to college and gifted children with special needs.

With our Education Focus special sections, you reach over 139,650 loyal readers.

Those readers are part of the targeted communities of your choice including five of the top 10 wealthiest communities in Georgia, all in our distribution area. Of those, 66 percent earn over $100,000, and 33 percent earn over $150,000. More than 70 percent have a college or post graduate degree, and 74 percent of our readers use our newspapers to purchase goods and services.

Call your account executive today - 770-442-3278

Education Answer Book 2018 | 71

Success in school, success in life

Mill Springs Academy is an SACS/SAIS accredited independent school community dedicated to the academic, physical, and social growth of those students who have not realized their full potential in the traditional setting. Since 1981 Mill Springs has been supporting student learning by raising expectations and developing self-motivation, while providing skills and values for life to students with ADHD and/or learning disabilities.

Mill Springs offers a broad range of college preparatory options, along with fine arts and a competitive athletic program to foster interests or hidden talents.

Small classes and an individualized curriculum help to capitalize on strengths while learning compensatory 72 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Sponsored Section

strategies. We offer an extended day program during the school year as well as summer school and camps in the summer months.

Our 85-acre campus is nestled in the beautiful rolling hills and pasture land of Alpharetta. For more information, please visit our website at www.millsprings.org or call (770) 360-1336. Mill Springs participates in the GSNS/SB10 program. The school is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of trustees. Mill Springs Academy, 13660 New Providence Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004.

“If a student can’t learn the way we teach … we should teach the way a student can learn.” –Tweetie L. Moore, Founder

Saint Francis School Saint Francis School is an independent, not for profit, nonsectarian, college preparatory school founded in 1976. Grades K through 8 are located on the 24-acre Roswell Campus while the High School is located on the 47-acre Milton campus.

Our mission is to provide a college preparatory program that is challenging, yet supportive for students with diverse academic abilities. Throughout Saint Francis the development of strong organizational and study skills is an integral part of our learning and teaching philosophy.

To accommodate different academic ability levels within our student body, we offer rigorous Advanced Placement, Honors, Traditional and Support courses in each curriculum. Our graduates receive a College Prep Diploma, but for those students striving for a more challenging course load, we offer a College Prep with Distinction Diploma.

With a 100% acceptance rate to college and the majority of graduates qualifying for the Hope Scholarship, Saint Francis alumni attend a wide variety of programs ranging from Ivy League schools, small private colleges to prestigious Art Institutes.

Development of basic skills begins early in elementary and middle school grades where students receive intensive instruction in reading, math and writing skills.

Major emphasis is placed on reading comprehension, phonics (Fundations®), and vocabulary development.

We recognize students have different styles of learning; therefore, we present and teach in a multi-modal fashion.

Math is reviewed and enriched through school

licensed, web-based programs. Reading and writing instruction for all students in grades 3–5 is enhanced through the use of computer based programs such as Read and Write Gold®. For students who struggle in reading we offer the Wilson Reading System® (Gr. 4 – 5) and Just Words® (Gr. 6 – 7) taught by Wilson certified teachers.

Additional offerings (Gr. 1 – 8) include Science, Social Studies, Technology, Physical Education, Guidance, Art, Music, Drama, Band (Gr. 6 – 12), S.T.E.A.M. electives, and clubs. Each teacher offers a Homework Hour at the end of the school day (Gr. 1 – 12), where students are given the opportunity to clarify areas of concern, prepare for upcoming tests and quizzes, and begin that night’s homework.

Saint Francis is a Google Apps for Education school with all students, grades 6 – 12 required to bring their own laptops. Grades 4 – 5 are provided laptops for uniformity while Grades K – 3 use classroom sets of iPads for skill reinforcement.

Sports are offered at both the middle and high school (GHSA) including football, soccer, baseball, track, swimming, wrestling, softball, volleyball, cheerleading, and equestrian.

Early morning drop-off and extended day are available for grades K – 8. Bus transportation is available from Buckhead, Sandy Spring, Dunwoody, Johns Creek and Milton. Shuttle Buses run between both campuses.

For more information call 770.641.8257 Ext. 51 (Grades K– 8) and 678.339.9989 Ext. 33 (Grades 9 – 12) or visit our website: www.saintfrancisschools.com.

Sponsored Section | Education Answer Book 2018 | 73

William & Reed Academy Experience how education should be

William & Reed Academy is a fully accredited private school, grades 6-12, located in Johns Creek, GA that provides parents and students another choice for a college preparatory education.

William & Reed Academy has a unique and specialized approach to teaching students in a small class setting while preparing them for the college of their choice. William & Reed Academy offers students a concentrated school week of Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with an optional Flex Period component that ends daily at 2:00 p.m.

This schedule maximizes academic instructional time by offering core academic classes in a shorter school day blended with online electives. The concen74 | Education Answer Book 2018 | Sponsored Section

trated school week offers face-to-face small classes in all core subjects (math, science, social studies, and language arts) and various online electives such as Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Forensic Science, Digital Photography, five different world languages, and 20 advanced placement courses.

William & Reed Academy’s teachers are top-notch certified educators who have years of experience teaching in the area’s best high schools (Northview, Milton, Johns Creek, Centennial).

The student-friendly schedule also allows William & Reed Academy students to spend more time with family and on other interests like sports and fine arts while still receiving an accredited, college preparatory education.

Class size at William & Reed Academy allows a maximum of 16 students, enabling teachers to cover more material in each lesson and to provide more specialized instruction between student and teacher.

7 reasons teenagers need to attend summer camp Courtesy of Marine Military Academy

Structure & routine Who says teenagers should sleep in and relax all day during the summer? That’s what Saturdays are for! Teens attending summer camp have an easier time getting back into the school routine than those who didn’t follow a schedule.

Exercise Most summer camp activities are physical, and don’t require the use of a phone, computer or television. Campers will naturally work out their bodies as they swim, hike or play ball. Even at academic-based camps, teenagers are more likely to exercise than they would at home.

New friends Summer camp is the best place for teenagers to make new friends. They can expand their social circle – and their Instagram followers!

Social skills Summer camp helps teenagers fine-tune their manners and communications skills because they must meet new people and interact with them for days or

weeks at a time. Teens with good social skills also have greater self-confidence.

New challenges Whether it’s riding a horse or swimming for the first time, summer camp allows teens to challenge themselves and try new things in a safe environment. When they discover they can do it, it gives them an instant shot of self-esteem!

Self-confidence & self-esteem Any victories teenagers experience at summer camp (a new skill, award, leadership position, etc.) will help build their confidence and self-esteem. Why are these traits important? Successful adults don’t lack either one!

Independence At some point, all kids have to “leave the nest,” and summer camp can help teenagers and parents prepare for that day. Teens who spend weeks away at camp learn to become more independent. Because they’ve learned how to rely on themselves to a certain extent, these teens are not as nervous when they move away to college … and neither are their parents.

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Choosing your orthodontist Brought to you by: Dr. Jeffrey Jordan of Jordan Orthodontics The person you entrust to provide your orthodontic care will deliver the smile that will be with you for important events like a first date, high school graduation, your wedding day, and from the beginning of your career until the end.

This is an important decision! If you know what to look for in an Orthodontist, it can help make a difficult search easier.

An Orthodontist is a specialist, trained in aligning the teeth and jaws, usually a top graduate from dental school, completing an additional two to three years of rigorous training. This instruction makes him or her uniquely qualified to deliver a healthier mouth, a more pleasing appearance, and teeth that are more likely to last a lifetime. Only an Orthodontist can be a member of the American Association of Orthodontist or be a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics.

So, look for the logo, making sure you’re getting an Orthodontist!

An Orthodontist with a full time practice is more likely to be available for the reality of poking wires, broken brackets, or any other emergency situations that need to be addressed.

Over the course of your treatment, your Orthodontist will evaluate your bite at each appointment, making the continuum of care unbroken.

You will want to find an Orthodontist that offers convenient office hours, including after school appointments. You will see your Orthodontist often; so, compatibility is important.

Today, there are a variety of treatment options, but only an Orthodontist has the training and expertise to design a plan to achieve your desired smile. Ceramic braces deliver the esthetics of clear braces with the functionality of metal braces.

For bite problems that previously required braces, Invisalign is available. Invisalign does the software imaging and the manufacturing process, but you need a qualified, certified, experienced Orthodontist to achieve great results!

Here are a few helpful questions when interviewing an Orthodontist: 1. What needs to be done?

2. What are my options?

3. What are the consequences if I don’t do the treatment now?

4. How long will the treatment take?

5. What are your office hours?

6. How long have you been in practice?

7. How much will this cost?

8. How is the treatment cost determined?

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Whether you are considering orthodontic treatment for yourself, your child or just someone you love, an Orthodontist will guide you through the process, align your teeth, correct your bite, and create a smile that you love. The laughter is up to you!

Riverside Military Academy For over 110 years Riverside Military Academy has produced young men of purpose, integrity, and character. We offer a traditional, American-style education where personal values, honor, and love of country still matter. Riverside is not owned or operated by any particular religious denomination, but supports the spiritual and educational goals of all families.

Upon graduation, a Riverside cadet has experienced the challenges of the military model of education and is completely prepared for the rigors of college. He is poised, polite, and confident in any social environment.

Riverside cadets stand tall, offer a firm handshake, respect authority, and display a level of confidence that parents may not have observed previously.

Cadets of Riverside Military Academy attend grades 7 through 12 and benefit from a small class size and a 15:1 student teacher ratio.

Our entire educational program centers around the way young men learn best.

Riverside’s College Center assists cadets in preparing for and placing their college applications each year.

The graduating class 2017 consisted of 119 cadets who were admitted to over 120 universities across the world and earned over $6.7 million in collegiate scholarships not including HOPE scholarship. Three graduating seniors received appointments to the U.S. Military Academy –West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Riverside Military Academy holds dual accreditation in SACS and SAIS. Our comprehensive program of rigorous academics, athletics and leadership development sets the stage for a lifetime of success.

Riverside Military Academy is located on 206 acres on the shores of Lake Lanier in Gainesville, GA. For more information please visit our web site at www. riversidemilitary.com or contact our admissions office at 770-538-2938.

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BCA leads the way Bridgeway Christian Academy (BCA) has joined forces with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), the country’s foremost provider of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. BCA is excited to offer this renowned STEM program to their middle school students. PLTW helps students cultivate skills they will need to be successful in a global economy by providing real-world, hands-on activities.

Kaala Guess, a certified STEM instructor and Science teacher at Bridgeway Christian Academy, is laying the foundation for BCA’s students to see how science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are a part of their everyday life. Ms. Guess expresses, “Being a part of PLTW has transformed my view of teaching and what education can look like. I love how our students get excited about overcoming a failure in a build and how they learn to take bits and pieces of each group member’s ideas to create a model or project that the whole team can be proud of!”

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BCA currently offers a Design and Modeling course, as well as Automation and Robotics. In the Design and Modeling course, students discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They will use and apply what they’ve learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.

In the Automation and Robotics course, students will learn about the history and impact of automation and robotics as they explore mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems.

Using the VEX robotics® platform, BCA students will apply what they know to design and program traffic lights, robotic arms and more! There’s a whole new approach to the world and critical thinking. Participating in PTLW is providing BCA students with a whole new approach to the world and critical thinking.

If North Fulton/South Forsyth is your market, we deliver.

The Relocation Answer Book is the best way to get in front of people who move here. They will all need a new dentist, school, salon, favorite restaurant, assisted care (sooner or later), and so many more. Advertising in the RAB increases your probability of getting those new customers.

What makes us different?

• Highest circulation community guide in the market • 40,000 copies printed – high quality glossy magazine format!

• Home-delivered in Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek & South Forsyth • 95% home delivered in gated, estate, and high end communities • All original content - local news and information from Appen Media Group • Since 1990, Appen has published the most successful & most popular community guides

Distribution • 95% Home Delivered to gated, estate, country club, and other high end communities • Content Posted all year long on highest hit websites in region: NorthFulton.com and NorthsideWoman.com • Promoted all year long in the highest circulation newspapers in North Atlanta • Highest circulation of all regional community guides

Call your account executive today - 770-442-3278 Education Answer Book 2018 | 79

IF YOU DON’T SEE HOPE AND WILL,

IT’S NOT CHILDREN’S

ORTHOPAEDICS We would like to welcome the more than 30 orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians, surgeons and advanced practice providers formerly of Children’s Orthopaedics of Atlanta to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta family. Remember, if you don’t see Hope and Will, it’s not the Children’s expert orthopaedic care.

©2018 Child

CHILDREN’S AT FORSYTH

410 PEACHTREE PARKWAY, STE 300, CUMMING

CHILDREN’S AT OLD MILTON PARKWAY 3300 OLD MILTON PARKWAY, ALPHARETTA

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