Elementary Schools in Atlanta Public Schools

The Atlanta Public Schools district contains 54 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. This urban district faces challenges common to many large city school systems, with a mix of high-performing and struggling schools. However, several standout elementary schools within the district demonstrate that strong academic achievement is possible, even in a challenging environment.

The top-performing elementary schools in the district include Mary Lin Elementary School, Morningside Elementary School, Jackson Elementary School, and Springdale Park Elementary School. These schools consistently outperform state and district averages, with 70-94% of students scoring proficient or better in core academic subjects. In contrast, some of the district's lowest-performing schools have proficiency rates as low as 5.6% in 5th grade English Language Arts.

The data reveals a strong correlation between student socioeconomic status, as measured by free/reduced lunch rates, and academic achievement. The highest-performing schools tend to have much lower poverty levels, around 5-12% free/reduced lunch, compared to 100% at many of the lowest-performing schools. However, spending per student and student-teacher ratios do not appear to be directly linked to school outcomes. Addressing the needs of disadvantaged students and replicating the successful strategies of the district's top schools will be crucial for driving districtwide improvement in Atlanta Public Schools.