Developing and Educating students in grades 6-12 - Atlanta Public ...

ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINGLE-GENDER ACADEMIES

Developing and Educating students in grades 6-12

MEET THE PRINCIPALS MELODY MORGAN brings 29 years of teaching and

administrative experience to the Single-Gender Girls Academy. She joins Atlanta Public Schools from New York City where she was a middle school administrator for the past 19 years. During her tenure, she also served as Teacher Staffing Liaison in the human resources department where she participated in the recruitment and hiring of personnel. In that capacity, she provided professional development to middle school principals and their staffs. She received numerous awards for outstanding achievement in education and participated in several professional organizations. Ms. Morgan started her own school, New Millennium Business Academy, in New York City. Partnerships established with NMBA included the National Foundation for the Teaching of Entrepreneurs, the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program, and The Leadership Program for the Arts. Ms. Morgan is a graduate of Hunter College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and elementary education. She earned two Master’s degrees from Hunter College in early childhood & elementary education and administration & supervision.

CURT R. GREEN brings more than 10 years of middle and high school teaching and administrative experience to the Single-Gender Boys Academy.

Mr. Green joins Atlanta Public Schools from East Baton Rouge Parish School System where he served as principal at Capitol Pre-College Academy for Boys. As principal, he partnered with Southern University and Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to convert a comprehensive high school into two, small college preparatory gender-based academies. Under his direction, students were exposed to a college preparatory curriculum including Advanced Placement and dual-enrolled college level courses. Mr. Green is a graduate of Louisiana State University where he earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree with an emphasis on Social Sciences. He has two Master’s degrees from the University of Alaska-Anchorage in Teaching Secondary Social Studies and Public School Administration (K-12).

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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MEET THE PRINCIPALS

2

ABOUT THE ACADEMIES

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WHY SINGLE - GENDER SCHOOLS

5

ELIGIBILITY

6

PARTNERSHIPS

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ABOUT THE ACADEMIES Atlanta Public Schools (APS) will implement two single-gender schools in Northwest Atlanta in the 2007-2008 school year. Atlanta Public Schools Single-Gender Schools, or “academies,” will be schools in which boys and girls attend classes in separate educational settings – each with its own principal, faculty and curriculum. The boys and girls will still have the opportunity to interact during co-curricular events and activities. The school will serve students in grades 6 through 12. The major objective of single-gender schools is to provide students with a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum to assist them in making a smooth transition from high school to college upon graduation.

SPECIAL FEATURES: • Advisory • Mentoring • Tutoring • Uniforms (Required) • Project/Theme Based Learning • Summer Institute

• School Clubs / Activities • Math & Science Enrichment • Reading & Writing Workshops • Technology • Extended Day Programs • Character Education

The single -gender schools are committed to working collaboratively with parents, and business and community partners to instill a love of learning in our students. Our scholars will participate in experiential learning, interdisciplinary projects, and social awareness and development programs. It is our expectation that all students will attend college and become community leaders. For additional information on Atlanta Public Schools Single-Gender Academies, visit www.atlanta.k12.ga.us or contact School Reform Team 4 at 404.505.6537. Please email comments to [email protected]

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WHY SINGLE-GENDER SCHOOLS? The research is clear. Students at single-gender schools demonstrate: • Improved academic achievement and attendance • Significantly increased graduation rates • Higher percentage of graduates attending college

THE SUPPORT FOR SINGLE-GENDER SCHOOLS IS CLEAR: • Quantitative and qualitative studies evaluated in a U.S. Department of Education report revealed that single-gender schools can positively impact student achievement in all subject areas. • Single-gender schools encourage students to have higher aspirations for post-secondary education and careers. • Research solidly indicates that boys and girls learn differently. • Single-gender classrooms break down gender stereotypes for instructional activities. • In 100 percent of studies on student career aspirations, students in single-gender schools set higher goals. • In single-gender schools, boys and girls are more likely to be enrolled in higher level math and science classes as well as other key academic areas. • Self-concept and aspirations for graduation, college and careers are higher in single-gender schools.

SINGLE-GENDER ACADEMIES

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ELIGIBLE STUDENTS Students attending the following Carson feeder schools will attend the single-gender academies: • William M. Boyd Elementary • William J. Scott Elementary • Grove Park Elementary • A.D. Williams Elementary • Carter G. Woodson Elementary While enrollment is open initially to students zoned from these schools, other students may apply via the administrative transfer process. Students who reside outside of the Carson zone will only be able to attend the single-gender schools if space is available. Administrative transfer requests will be reviewed in the spring.

GRADE -LEVEL TRENDS AND ENROLLMENT The chart below identifies the school students will attend through the 2013-2014 school year. Planning for the single-gender schools began in 2006 and will continue through the 2006-2007 school year, with the doors expected to open at separate sites for sixth-graders in August 2007. Students in grades 7 and 8 will complete their experience in a co-ed environment during the 2007-08 school year, before matriculating into high school.

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20062007

20072008

20082009

20092010

Carson Co-Ed School

6th - 8th

7th - 8th

8th

Closed

Single-Gender Academies

Planning Year

6th

6th-7th

6th-8th

20102011

20112012

20122013

20132014

6th-9th

6th-10th

6th11th

6th12th


PARTNERSHIPS To develop the single-gender academies, the Atlanta Public Schools developed partnerships with several prominent organizations in Atlanta including: • 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. • Atlanta Cluster Chapters of The Links, Incorporated • Agnes Scott College • Morehouse College • Spelman College • Northwest Business Partners These organizations will provide guidance and ongoing support to both the single-gender programs and the students currently attending Benjamin S. Carson Honors Preparatory School. Particularly important to the single-gender programs are the mentors that our partners will pair with students.

SINGLE-GENDER ACADEMIES

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ATLANTA BOARD OF EDUCATION Brenda Muhammad Khaatim S. El Cecily Harsch-Kinnane Kathleen Pattillo, Chair LaChandra D. Butler Yolanda Johnson Eric W. Wilson Mark B. Riley Emmett D. Johnson, Vice Chair

District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 At-Large Seat 7 At-Large Seat 8 At-Large Seat 9

SUPERINTENDENT Beverly L. Hall, Ed.D.

Atlanta Public Schools 130 Trinity Avenue, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Phone: 404.802.3500 www.atlanta.k12.ga.us