DeKalb school board approves Museum School charter renewal

The DeKalb County Board of Education on Monday approved a five-year charter renewal for the Museum School of Avondale Estates, though issues with diversity must be addressed before the renewal is submitted to the state.

The charter renewal also requests about $26 million to fund the school over the next five years. The school currently has 588 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Laura Stowell, the district’s director of charter schools, praised many of the school’s concepts, which allow for interactive lessons through partnerships with various area museums and cultural institutions. She said the school scored a 64.5 on the 80-point renewal criteria, mostly because the school’s lacking diversity, particularly among economically disadvantaged and its governing board.

Federal law dictates that the school reflects the school district in several categories, including racial diversity and the economically disadvantaged population.

Stowell said it’s harder for the school to reach the numbers because of other factors, including allowing siblings of current students, as well as children of employees and governing board members, into the schools.

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