What’s new?
Here are three key changes for the Atlanta school system:
- A new police force. Atlanta hired about 70 men and women to patrol its school campuses. Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said the officers' duties will include mentoring students. Atlanta police officers previously patrolled schools.
- Closed schools. Atlanta closed three three low-performing schools and put five others under the management of charter school groups under a consolidation plan approved in March.
- School improvements. The district completed 22 construction projects this summer, Carstarphen said. The work included a major renovation project at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School.
More than 52,000 Atlanta Public Schools students began the fall semester Wednesday, greeted with hugs from teachers and administrators aware there is much work to do to improve the district’s overall academic performance.
Atlanta students passed state Georgia Milestones tests at rates below the state's and, for most subjects, at among the lowest rates in the metro area, according to results released last week. Graduation rates, though, have improved in Atlanta the past two school years by nearly 13 percentage points, according to the most recent state data.
» Explore The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's interactive guide to Georgia schools here
Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said in an interview Wednesday during visits to 10 schools that the district must do more to lift student performance, particularly in math and reading. She hopes to see improvement through efforts that include a contentious plan approved in March to close three low-performing schools and put five others under the management of charter school groups. She's also hoping students will do better by getting more of them involved in challenging programs such as International Baccalaureate.
Carstarphen acknowledged pressure to improve student performance. She began her third full school year Wednesday as superintendent. Three years is the average tenure nationally for larger school districts.
“I feel pressure every day in Atlanta Public Schools,” she said between eating breakfast with Garden Hills Elementary School students and visiting classrooms. “The pressure has been since the day I took the job. I know the district has had a lot of challenges. I know that we need to do a significant lift.”
Carstarphen believes the district has improved its management structure and practices, but still encounters occasional “rabbit holes” that have been distractions from the goal of helping students excel in the classroom.
Atlanta and Marietta resumed classes Wednesday. Cobb students returned Monday. Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett students go back to school on Monday.
For some parents, the pressure was learning where the carpool lane is. For students new to the district, like Garden Hills fourth-grader Cara Kraus, the concerns were how to find her classroom and learning more about after-school activities.
“I’m excited,” she said. “I can’t wait to go to my first class.”
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