The state’s top academic high school is the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology.

One of its claims to fame has been that it takes all comers. GSMST was opened by the district in 2007 as a charter school. Charter schools cannot have admissions requirements. Students won their seats at the academic powerhouse through a lottery.

However, GSMST is not renewing its charter, which mean it can impose admissions requirements. Now, students applying for next year must have completed high school algebra in middle school.

To learn why Gwinnett is requiring algebra, go to the AJC Get Schooled blog on MyAJC.com

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Wade Roberts (center), a Decatur parent with children in three of the city schools, addresses concerns  with the possibility of a K-2 school closing. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

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Travelers wait in Concourse F, the international terminal, at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

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