City: Atlanta, GA

Category: Education

Telephone: (404) 827-8000

Address: 130 Trinity Ave.

Description: The City of Atlanta system serves about 57,000 students in 85 schools (59 elementary, 16 middle, 10 high) and 7 charter schools, where the student-teacher ratio is a bit over 15 to 1. It also has three adult education centers including Atlanta Area Technical School, a facility that provides postsecondary technical training in a variety of diploma programs including paralegal studies, dental assistant, computer programming, and electronics. The system operates five alternative learning programs, a Parental Services Center, and an Adult Learning Center focusing on literacy that prepares adults for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) examination. It also opened two single-gendered schools.In 2009, Venetian Hills Elementary School received the National Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award and Atlanta’s elementary schools received 100 percent in the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), making them the only urban school system in the United States to do so. Atlanta’s middle schools boasted 71 percent. Atlanta city schools benefit from intense community support. Atlanta Partners for Education, a joint program of the metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Public Schools, provides for the development and maintenance of partnerships in which businesses, community organizations, governmental institutions, and other groups provide increased educational and enrichment opportunities for students in the Atlanta Public Schools. Partnerships help students increase self-esteem and achievement, as well as learn about the expectations and realities of the work world. Partnerships also boost school staff morale by providing educational opportunities and recognition. Other metro-area school systems have instituted their own education partnership programs. The Atlanta Magnet School Program offers 16 four-year programs for concentration in specific fields of study. Open to any Atlanta resident or tuition-paying noncity resident, the magnet programs encourage mature, self-motivated students to explore possibilities in the fields of their choice. Some magnets include on-the-job training and experience. The magnet schools focus on a significant range of occupation areas, such as the performing arts, international studies, communications, science and mathematics, financial services, information processing, and hospitality. Other subject areas include transportation, educational careers, engineering and applied technology, language studies, fashion retailing, entrepreneurship, and health care professions.