Atlanta schools becoming ‘model’ urban district, Hall says

By Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Superintendent Beverly Hall issued a new call Tuesday for the city to support its public schools, saying the system once derided as a basement dweller “is becoming a model urban school district” with double-digit test score gains, corporate support and groundbreaking initiatives garnering national attention.

In her annual “state of the system” address, Hall lauded students’ achievements -- a 33 percent increase in graduation rates; one in three elementary students exceeding state standards -- and riffed off the real estate industry to make her pitch.

“We know that after homebuyers narrow their search to a particular neighborhood, two key factors influence their purchasing decision: the quality of the house and the asking price,” Hall told an audience that organizers expected to top 300, including local educators and corporate leaders.

“Similarly, parents choose schools for their children based on the quality of the academic program and the value provided,” she said. “When it comes to quality and value, Atlanta’s public schools have something special to offer.”

The speech marked Hall’s 10th anniversary leading the city system. Hired in 1999, she has remade the system most notably for high school students, converting large campuses into smaller academies or learning communities. The system this year begins a similarly themed pilot program for sixth-graders to ease them into middle school.

Hall has also tackled school leadership issues, teacher quality and student support programs, and has closed 24 schools over the last 10 years in response to shifting enrollment patterns.

The American Association of School Administrators named her the nation’s top superintendent earlier this year.