8 minute read
Critical Communication
Trends and Happenings in Georgia Education
What You Need to Know to Stay Up to Date With Atlanta and Georgia Education
Local Schools Ranked Best in State Kittredge Magnet School in Brookhaven was named the No. 1 elementary school in Georgia by U.S. News and World Report’s inaugural rankings of elementary and middle schools. Elite Scholars Academy in Jonesboro was named the state’s top middle school.
APS Opens Social Justice Center Atlanta Public Schools launched the Center for Equity and Social Justice in September. The office is dedicated to advancing equity in education to help ensure academic success for all students across the district.
Whitefield Academy Marks 25 Years Smyrna’s Whitefield Academy is celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout the 2021-22 school year. The independent Christcentered school serves almost 900 students on a 100-plus-acre campus that includes its newest building, Brostrand Hall, which opened last year.
Local Schools Named Blue Ribbon Winners Five metro Atlanta public schools and one area independent school have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Crabapple Lane Elementary, Elite Scholars Academy, Johns Creek Elementary, Oakhurst Elementary and Riverview Elementary were the public school winners, and Fulton Science Academy was the independent school winner.
Mobile Classroom Comes to DeKalb DeKalb County School District has launched the Mobile Impact Learning Hub, a classroom on wheels designed to help students and adults pursue their educational goals even if they can’t make it to a school campus. The mobile classroom features a library, desks, computers, internet access and staff.
Galloway Seniors Win Film Fest Award “Elysium,” a short film by Galloway School seniors Ari Jones and Ella Good, won the Best Experimental category at the Arlington International Film Festival’s 2021 high school filmmaker’s program Voices of Our Youth. Jones and Good wrote, directed, shot and starred in the five-minute film.
Marietta Schools Launch Literacy Initiative Marietta City Schools was recently awarded a $2.5 million grant to launch the Literacy and Justice for All Initiative, with the aim of helping every child become a proficient reader by the end of third grade. The grant is allocated by United Way with support
Baylor Grad Drafted by MLB Baylor School graduate Cooper Kinney was drafted by Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays this summer. Kinney was the No. 34 overall selection in this year’s draft. He joins an elite list of professional athletes from Baylor, including an LPGA golfer and four PGA Tour golfers.
New STEM Schools in Fulton County Fulton County Schools opened two new state-ofthe-art schools in August dedicated to the evergrowing field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics: Global Impact Academy in Fairburn and Innovation Academy in Alpharetta. Both schools serve ninth- and 10th-grade students, with plans to expand to cover all of high school.
Westminster, GSMST Named State’s Best Niche.com, a website that reviews area schools, colleges, neighborhoods and companies, has once again named The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology as metro Atlanta’s best public high school, and The Westminster Schools as the area’s top independent high school. Pace Academy, Atlanta International School, The Paideia School and Fulton Science Academy rounded out the top five independent schools, with Northview High, Walton High, Alpharetta High and Lambert High completing the top five public high schools.
Imhotep Academy Wins National Award Imhotep Academy, an independent school serving Pre-K through eighth grade, was named the national winner of the inaugural Colgate Bright Smiles Kids Awards. Students submitted a video featuring music and artwork promoting dental and overall health.
Education 101
CHARTER SCHOOL A tax-supported public school that is independently run, allowing for greater educational choice for parents in the community.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING An educational approach using applied, hands-on methods of learning.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) A specifically designed comprehensive academic program emphasizing traditional disciplines while instilling a global perspective in its students.
MAGNET SCHOOL A public school that offers a specific or enhanced curriculum designed for students of special interest or ability.
MONTESSORI A school following the principles developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, focusing on the unique individuality, self-reliance and independence of children.
SPECIAL NEEDS A school or program for children who have mild to moderate learning differences. It usually features smaller class sizes, individualized attention and multisensory learning methods. ACCREDITATION Official certification that guarantees a school provides an education of a reasonably high quality. Schools must prove levels of quality and maintain continuous standards of improvement.
ACT An alternative to the SAT, this national college admissions examination consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, reading and science, with an optional 40-minute writing test.
COLLEGE AND CAREER READY PERFORMANCE INDEX (CCRPI) A school improvement, accountability and communication platform for all educational stakeholders that will prepare all Georgia public school students for colleges and careers.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Education that applies to children from birth to age 8, focusing specifically on their development, including physical, emotional, sensory, communicative, cognitive and social needs.
EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT (ESSA) The main federal law for K-12 general education covers all students in public schools.
GEORGIA MILESTONES Tests designed to measure how well students in grades 3 through 12 acquire the skills and knowledge outlined in the state-adopted content standards. They replaced the CRCT and involve both multiplechoice and free-response questions.
GEORGIA PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Statewide standards of academic content for all subjects K-12, to which every school must adhere and on which students are annually tested.
HOPE SCHOLARSHIP (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Funded by the Georgia Lottery, this is a scholarship in the state that rewards academically achieving students with financial assistance to attend eligible
Did You Know? Fulton County Schools' class of 2021 had a record graduation rate of 87.7%, up 2.2% from 2020.
MISSION/PHILOSOPHY A statement outlining the guidelines a school follows as it works to achieve its various educational goals and/or maintain its performance standards.
NOTIFICATION DEADLINE The date by which an independent school notifies families of the acceptance of a child for enrollment to the school.
OPEN HOUSE An event held at a school where parents can learn more about the school and its offerings.
PSAT A standardized test that offers students practice for the SAT Reasoning Test and allows them to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
REPLY DEADLINE The date by which parents must notify an accepting school of their commitment to enroll their child at the school.
SAT This standardized test measures the critical thinking, writing and mathematical reasoning skills of students planning to attend college.
SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST (SSAT) The admissions test that many independent schools require students take in order to be considered for enrollment.
SUMMER CAMP A common destination for children and teenagers during the summer, at which they can participate in a variety of activities or classes.
Deciphering Associations and Organizations
Many local and national organizations work to bring out the best in summer camps and public, private and boarding schools by identifying schools that meet certain standards through accreditation. These groups also set policies, research educational advancements and offer services to the educational communities both in Atlanta and in Georgia. The following are just some of the associations and organizations you should know in your search for the best educational experience for your child.
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) boardingschools.com This organization of 250 boarding schools serves the professional development needs of boarding schools and provides information to potential students and their families.
Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) ami-global.org Recognizes and provides support, training and development to schools that strongly adhere to Montessori method principles and practices.
Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools (AAAIS) aaais.org Promotes the highest standards and best administrative practices for accredited independent schools in the metro Atlanta area. Cognia cognia.org Formed from the merger of two organizations (AdvancED and Measured Progress), it advances education excellence through accreditation and school improvement initiatives.
Department of Education (DOE) gadoe.org A statewide, policy-driven organization governing the public school system of education in Georgia for grades K-12.
Georgia Association of Christian Schools (GACS) gacs.org Uses generally accepted indicators of quality, voluntary self-improvement and peer review to measure Christian schools.
Georgia Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (GAPSEC) gapsec.org This state organization of independent schools for students with learning disabilities maintains a code of ethics and shares information about programs at member schools.
Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) gisaschools.org An association of Georgia’s private, independent and parochial schools, dedicated
to serving the professional growth, advocacy and interscholastic needs of member schools.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) naeyc.org A professional membership organization working to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) nais.org A membership association providing research, leadership and governance guidance and professional development opportunities for school and board leaders in U.S. independent schools.
National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC) napsec.org Represents private specialized education programs by promoting quality programs and services for individuals with disabilities and their families. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) sacs.org The recognized regional accrediting body for both public and private schools in the 11 U.S. Southern states.
Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) sais.org Provides accreditation services, professional growth opportunities and leadership development programs for 375 independent U.S. schools.
For more information about these and other organizations and associations that ensure quality education among camps and schools, visit the websites of the Georgia Department of Education (gadoe.org) or the U.S. Department of Education (ed.gov).
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