What started as a church outreach to young men on the south side of Atlanta took root in the community and resulted in a charter school with a twist: It’s just for boys.
Richardean Golden Anderson was part of that outreach that recognized the need for young men to have partners and mentors to support their educational efforts.
“We looked at what we could to address what was happening with our young men, particularly around the dropout rate,” said Anderson. “We knew character was very important, as was community involvement. We started with a small cushion of support in 2007 then found support from the Fulton County Schools that saw it was much needed.”
The concept evolved into the Fulton Leadership Academy, an all-male middle and high school that opened its doors eight years ago with Anderson as superintendent. After outgrowing borrowed space in a church on Old Fairburn Road, the school moved to Washington Road before finding its current location in East Point two years ago. It currently enrolls more than 350 boys in grades six through 12. Last June, the academy saw its first graduation.
“Our graduation rate was 88 percent, with students going to Morehouse, Howard, NYU, Georgia Southern and Georgia State,” said Anderson. “I’ve heard from some of them that the best thing they took from here was the brotherhood; many of them are still connected.”
The school also boasts a strong bond between students and teachers and faculty, Anderson added.
“Last year, we started a program called ‘Passport to Manhood’ to help every student be known by every adult,” she said. “We try to get as many men as possible involved with the students through partnerships with community organizations such as 100 Black Men, who have men come in and work with students. We want them to understand their productive roles in society.”
Smaller classes are another way students form close bonds with teachers. That aspect was key to Candace Jackson’s decision to enroll her son, Jayden, three years ago.
“As a ninth grader, he’s in classes with 15 to 16 students,” said the Fairburn resident. “It’s not big like a typical Fulton County school; he wouldn’t have been able to focus in a school with 2,000 or more students. The teachers, the administration and the staff work very closely with him. If he has challenges, they’re there, sending me emails if he’s not doing well. They’re hands on. And I particularly liked that it’s a single-gender school with rigorous academics.”
Junior Josh Ekong was surprised when he found out the academy was just for boys, and he admits not being enthralled with the idea when he started three years ago.
“My mother was looking for a good school in the area, and I didn’t know I was going to an all-boys school until I got here,” said the 17-year-old from Riverdale. “I was not for the idea, but I gave it a try, and it’s turning out for the best. Because the school is small, if a certain student needs help with something, teachers can slow down and help them; that’s an advantage. And because it is all boys, there are fewer distractions. You can come to school ready to learn.”
Anderson said the same-sex environment has other benefits as well. “The students become more socially confident and participate more in the activities we have - chess club, Junior Beta club, arts and robotics. Some of our boys leave after eighth grade and go to high school where they become less active. I think around girls, they become a little more shy. Many don’t understand they have it within themselves to become leaders, but here, they can soar to great heights.”
Information about the Fulton Leadership Academy is online at fultonleadershipacademy.net.
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