ANNUAL REPORT - Atlanta Public Schools

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Annual
Report
Atlanta Public Schools
2012-13
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www.atlantapublicschools.us

Our Guiding Principles: Excellence, Equity, Engagement, Ethics
In 2012, APS presented a five-year strategic plan, which sets the path for the
district moving forward. The plan focuses on a consistent, aggressive and
strategic structure of operational and academic excellence for all schools and
divisions within the district. There are four guiding principles, which are referred
to as the four Es: excellence, equity, engagement and ethics. Full achievement
of all strategic objectives will be possible with the continued commitment and
support of the Board of Education, superintendent, administrators, faculty, staff,
partners and the community.
2012 Highlights:
EXCELLENCE
in everything we do
n Atlanta Public Schools implemented
the Common Core Georgia Performance
Standards (CCGPS) at the start of the
2012-13 school year. The Standards
ensure a new standard of academic
excellence in every school, and outline
high expectations for what students
need to know to be ready for 21st
century colleges and careers anywhere
in the world.
n In 2012, the Atlanta Board of Education
approved the district’s recommendation
to allocate 78 additional teachers
throughout the district to reduce class
sizes and address pressing academic
concerns.
n During the summer of 2012, APS rapidly
expanded online classes for students
by launching the Atlanta Virtual
Academy (AVA). The classes allow
students throughout the district to
earn credit through AVA in addition to
their regular schedule. All class content
is aligned with the CCGPS.
n Thanks to a generous donation from
the GE Foundation, APS was able to
provide two days of Common Core
training to all APS teachers. This was
especially good news for the teachers,
because they received the training in
lieu of taking furlough days.
n The Atlanta Board of Education
authorized an agreement between
APS and the Atlanta Police Department
to provide physical security, investigative
detectives and 24-hour alarm response
services. Expanding this partnership
allows every middle school and
high school to have at least one full-time
school resource officer (SRO). Each will
be required to complete specialized
training on how to work with students.
EQUITY
in the distribution of
resources
n The district’s 2012 redistricting created
a new regional and cluster model that
replaced the school reform team
structure. The cluster model has enabled
APS to fully staff and provide more
support, opportunity and equity to all
schools in the district.

n All students have access to music, arts,
foreign language and core academic
programs, from k-12th grade.
n Every APS middle and high school offers
at least two foreign languages.
n All APS middle schools offer accelerated
math classes.
n In 2012, APS schools dramatically
increased their inclusive practices, and
more students with disabilities are
learning alongside their general
education peers.
ETHICS
to protect our integrity
n APS applied stronger testing security
measures for the CRCT and other
standardized district tests.
n Every school has two trained ethics
advocates who act as resources for
ethical decision making. The advocates
also infuse ethical principles and
character education throughout the
curriculum, as well as through teacher
and leader actions.
n Launched a student-anchored television
show to inform stakeholders.
n Partnered with the business and
philanthropic community to provide
additional resources and real-world
experiences to students.
n The district created a department to
focus solely on stakeholder
engagement.
n Student leaders from all APS schools
were invited to attend a student-only
candid discussion forum with
Superintendent Davis.
n Every APS cluster hosted State of the
Cluster meetings in which stakeholders
were updated on the status, long and
short-term goals of the cluster.
n Ongoing customer service training is
offered to employees for the purpose of
being more responsive to stakeholders.
The training supports the district’s
overarching theme, “Excellence in
Everything We Do” and the goal to
provide welcoming schools for APS
family and friends.
n APS enhanced the mandated annual
ethics training for all employees.
ENGAGEMENT
with our community
n Identified and coordinated two-way
engagement opportunities with all
stakeholders.
n Produce award-winning communications
highlighting students and schools.

Our Mission: Atlanta Public
Schools educates all students
through academic excellence,
preparing them for success in
life, service and leadership.
Our Vision: The vision of
Atlanta Public Schools is to
be a student-centered, highperforming
urban school
district, where all students
become successful, life-long
learners and leaders.
www.atlantapublicschools.us

Stay Connected
Bookmark your way to APS to
get the latest news straight from
the source.
APS District Web site: Visit
www.atlantapublicschools.us.
School Web sites: Learn about
school events and easily access
your faculty and staff.
Talk Up APS: This continually
updated blog serves as a digital
newsletter with the latest news,
links to media coverage, photo
galleries, videos and more. Visit
www.TalkUpAPS.com.
WPBA 30: View award-winning,
educational programming.
APS 22: Comcast subscribers in
Atlanta can access this station
for around-the-clock educational
programming.
WABE: Atlanta’s National Public
Radio (NPR) affiliate offers 24-hours
of news, music and community
affairs.
Facebook: Follow Atlanta Public
Schools. Visit: www.facebook.
com/atlantapublicschools.
Pinterest: Join APS on the
fastest growing social media site
online, Pinterest. Over 250 “pins”
including websites for students,
teacher resources and education
news stories. www.pinterest.com/
apsupdate
Twitter: Visit www.twitter.com,
@APSupdate and click “follow.”
Tumblr: Check out our blog
on Tumblr, @APSupdate.
Comment on our posts, or share
your own APS text snippets,
photos and videos.

Snapshot of the 2012-13 Fiscal Year
In 2012, tough economic realities prompted Atlanta Public Schools to adopt a revised
district budget mid-year through FY13. The revision focused on operating within
budget and reducing our reliance on reserves to fund normal operations. Despite
declining revenues and drastic increases and pension and health insurance costs, our
effective fiscal management will allow us to place more teachers and resources in schools
for FY14.
FY13 GENERAL FUND REVENUE SOURCES*
Total: $574,251,208
• Local Tax Levy
$395,000,000
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State QBE/Other State
$151,000,000
Federal Revenue/Other Revenue
$8,740,000
Other Local Revenue
$1,160,000
Fund Balance
$18,351,208
FY13 General Fund
Appropriations by Function
• Instruction*
Unfunded Pension
Charter Schools
Other Support Services
Maintenance and Operations
Business Services
Student Transportation
•
School Administration Services
General Administration Services
*Instruction includes:
• Special Education
• Pupil Services
• Media Services
• Alternative and Vocational Education
*As of May 31, 2013
Charter Schools 7.4%
Other Support
Svcs 5.8%
Maintenance and
Operations 11.6%
Business Services
2.7%
Student
Transportation 2.9%
School Administration
Svcs 6.5%
Unfunded Pension 7.4%
General Administration
Svcs 2.7%
Instruction 52.4%
Fast Facts
About Atlanta Public
Schools 2013-14
Student enrollment 49,128
Elementary schools 53
Middle schools 14
High schools 21
Nontraditional programs 2
Charter schools 13
Evening school programs 2
Total APS learning sites 105
Ethnic Distribution of Students
African-American 77%
Caucasian 14%
Hispanic 6.5%
Multiracial 1.5%
Asian/American Indian/
Alaskan/Other 1%
Students eligible for free
and reduced priced meals 74.76%
Number of 2013 graduates 1,972
Scholarships offered
to class of 2013
$102 million
Number of Title I Schools 93
FY13 General
Fund Budget
$595.1 million

New at APS in 2013-2014
n Positive, proactive discipline systems that
teach students appropriate behavior.
n Students can earn class credit online
through the Atlanta Virtual Academy
(AVA), the district’s new online learning
experience.
n New start and end times for schools to
help us schedule bus routes more
efficiently, and ensure that students arrive
to school on time.
n Further enhancements to our special
education program, including placing
more students with disabilities in general
education classes, and focusing on
effective co-teaching practices.
n New behavior specialists who will
promote responsible student behavior.
n The Atlanta Police department and APS
have partnered to provide a new safety
and security model for our students.
The new model allows APS to station 55
full-time School Resource Officers (SROs)
at middle and high schools, which will
enhance the learning and safety
environment.
n Access to myBackPack, technology that
offers students access to digital learning
tools, e-books, secure email cloud storage
and the complete Microsoft Office suite.
n Seventy-eight additional teachers will be
allocated throughout the district to
reduce class sizes and address pressing
academic needs.
Atlanta Board of Education
Reuben R. McDaniel, III, Chair, At-Large Seat 8
Byron D. Amos, Vice Chair, District 2
Atlanta Public Schools is educating today’s
students for tomorrow’s world. We are
committed to ensuring that all students
graduate from our schools ready for success in
college and life.
Brenda J. Muhammad, District 1
Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, District 3
Nancy M. Meister, District 4
LaChandra Butler Burks, District 5
Yolanda K. Johnson, District 6
Courtney D. English, At-Large Seat 7
Emmett D. Johnson, At-Large Seat 9
2012-2013 Annual Report
Atlanta Public Schools
Office of Communications and External Affairs
www.atlantapublicschools.us
130 Trinity Avenue, S.W. | Atlanta, Georgia 30303 | 404.802.3500
(08-13-511)