Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Visits APS’ Boyd Elementary

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Visits William M. Boyd Elementary School as APS Renews Its Commitment to Students, Parents, Employees and Community Members

The Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has faced challenges over the past school year. However, Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr. and his leadership team have positioned the school district on the road to achievement with a renewed commitment to students, parents, employees and community members. APS is working diligently to meet the needs of all stakeholders, and the results are beginning to surface.

Earlier this school year, three APS high schools (Carver School of the Arts, Carver Early College, and Henry W. Grady High School) were named AP Honor Schools by The College Board. In addition, nearly 2000 APS graduates generated over 102 million dollars in college scholarships, a 15 percent increase from last year. 14 APS seniors earned Gates Millenium Scholarships, which represents the highest number of Gates Millenium Scholars in the state.

While APS has a lot of work to do to increase the district’s graduation rate, Carver Early College continues to perform among the top schools in the state with a 97 percent graduation rate. In addition, there are schools that are closing the achievement gap – like Therrell School of Health Sciences; their graduation rate increased 18 percentage points in one year.

As the school year concludes, APS will host a roundtable to discuss early learning programs and the school district’s renewed commitment to student achievement.

• Who: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Georgia Governor Nathan Deal; Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell; Atlanta Board of Education Chair Reuben R. McDaniel, III; APS Associate Superintendent Steven W. Smith, Sr.; Georgia Commissioner Bobby Cagle; and Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students Chair Stephanie Blank

• What: Roundtable - Early Learning and APS’ Renewed Commitment to Students, Parents, Employees and Community Members

• When: Friday, May 31, 2013 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

• Where:  William M. Boyd Elementary School | 1891 Johnson Rd., N.W. Atlanta, GA 30318

 

Pre-K 2012 Lottery Results Available for Download

CLICK HERE to download the 2012-2013 Pre-Kindergarten lottery results or visit the APS Pre-K Website: http://www.atlantapublicschools.us/site/Default.aspx?pageID=982 .

Thank you to all of our parents who participated in this year’s lottery process.  Stay tuned for a list of schools with additional classroom space and availability.

 

Final Pre-K Registration Opportunity

For those who missed this week’s Wednesday and Saturday registration dates for the APS 2012 Pre-Kindergarten lottery, there is one more opportunity Wednesday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kennedy Middle School, 225 James P. Brawley Dr., NW Atlanta 30314 to sign-up for this valuable education program.

The lottery drawing is scheduled to be conducted from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20 and will be managed by Data Systems and Games, Inc. A certified public accounting firm will validate the results, which will be posted at each Pre-Kindergarten site by Monday, July 2.

Through the current state-funded Pre-K initiative, APS offers a comprehensive full-day program for approximately 850 four-year-old children. To participate in the APS Pre-K program, a child must be four years of age on or before September 1, 2012 and reside in an APS attendance zone or be the child of an APS employee.

Transportation will be provided for children who live more than a mile from their zoned elementary school. Children who enter Pre-K by way of the Special Needs Department will receive transportation to and from their school site.

Important information regarding required documentation for registration, along with the rules governing eligibility for the APS Pre-Kindergarten program, is posted on the district Web site at http://www.atlantapublicschools.us. Go to the Quick Links section in the upper right-hand corner of the home page and click on Pre-Kindergarten Program.

Let’s Get Ready for Pre-K (VIDEO)

Pre-Kindergarten Registration Begins this Week

Is your child ready to become an independent, self-confident and enthusiastic learner?  Is your child ready for Pre-K?  There are always more children seeking spaces in Pre-K than there are seats available, and for that reason, Atlanta Public Schools will use a lottery process as the fairest method of filling classes.

APS is providing two opportunities to register your child for our new Pre-K Lottery Program for the 2012-2013 school year.  If your child turns 4 years old on or before September 1, 2012, resides within the Atlanta Public Schools’ attendance zone, or is the child of an APS employee, your child is eligible to apply for the lottery.  Each child is eligible to attend the state-funded Pre-K program for one year.  Pre-K prepares children for success in kindergarten.

Parents or guardians will be able to select their first, second or third school choice on Wednesday June 6 at Inman Middle School and Saturday June 9 at John F. Kennedy Middle School.  The lottery drawing will be held June 20 and parents and guardians will be notified by mail.  For a list of documents required for registration and Pre-K locations, call the APS Pre-K registration Helpline at 404-802-3640 or visit our web site  HERE.

First Lady Sandra Deal greeted with smiles, gifts and hugs by Pre-K students at four APS schools

Pre-K students at Connally Elementary enjoy a story ready by First Lady Deal.

Kimberly Elementary Pre-K students were excited about their story time as well.

The Beecher Bees at Beecher Hills Elementary were excellent listeners during storytime.

There were plenty of hugs during Continental Colony's storytime with First Lady Deal.

Click below to watch the video!

Watch the video!

On Friday, April 20, Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal, the wife of Governor Nathan Deal, paid visits to four APS elementary schools and read to Pre-K students in their classrooms as part of her effort to emphasize the importance of literacy, reading and early learning.

Pre-K students at Connally Elementary School, Beecher Hills Elementary School, Kimberly Elementary School and Continental Colony Elementary School listed as the First Lady spoke to the children about the importance of making reading an important part of their everyday lives and becoming life-long readers.

It was a great day for reading! View the full photo gallery HERE.

Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal to visit four APS schools to read to Pre-K students, emphasize literacy

Earlier this school year, First Lady Deal visited and read to students at Cook Elementary School. Click the photo to view the entire gallery.

Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal, the wife of Governor Nathan Deal, is scheduled to visit four APS elementary schools Friday, April 20, where she will read to Pre-K students in their classrooms as part of her effort to emphasize the importance of literacy, reading and early learning.

Mrs. Deal’s schools visit schedule includes stops at:

· Connally Elementary School, 1654 S. Alvarado Way, Atlanta 30311 at 9 a.m.

· Beecher Hills Elementary School, 2257 Bolingbrook Dr., Atlanta 30311 at 9:40 a.m.

· Kimberly Elementary School, 3090 McMurray Dr., Atlanta 30311 at 10:40 a.m.

· Continental Colony Elementary School, 3181 Hogan Rd., Atlanta 30331 at 11:45 a.m.

During each stop, Mrs. Deal will read to one or two classrooms of preschoolers, as well as talk to the children about the importance of making reading an important part of their everyday lives and becoming life-long readers.

Media representatives are invited to attend and cover these events. Note that since Mrs. Deal’s schedule includes a tight timeframe, it is important to arrive ahead of the scheduled arrival time at each location to be in position to cover the visits.