Why APS?

Charter System

As of July 1, 2016, APS officially became a Charter System.

What does this mean?

This new contract, or “charter,” with the state allows more decisions to be made at the school level by principals, educators, parents and community members, all of whom are closer to students and their school needs. 

Cluster Model

Atlanta Public Schools is organized into nine high school clusters that consist of a high school fed by middle and elementary schools. The cluster model ensures continuity for students from kindergarten through grade 12. Each cluster has one of three signature programs: International Baccalaureate; STEM; and College/Career Readiness. Each cluster is led by a cluster planning team to improve the quality of its neighborhood schools.

These teams include teachers, administrators, support staff, students, parents and community members. The cluster model allows the district to provide more support, opportunity and equity, and creates strategies that increase student performance. This model also allows for vertical planning and comradery among principals in their clusters. 

Transformation

Atlanta Public Schools is in the middle of a great transformation.

  • Since 2014, our cohort graduation rate has increased 20.8 percentage points to 79.93%
  • Sixty-four of our schools saw gains overall in the percentage of students scoring at proficient or above on the 2018 Georgia Milestones
  • All 17 of our Turnaround schools have seen a decrease in the percentage of students performing at the lowest level