According to statistical analysis released by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has 36 schools, or 41 percent of its schools, that Beat the Odds in 2019. In addition, APS has the highest percentage of schools that Beat the Odds when compared to other metro-area school districts. Thirty-one (31) percent of schools in Georgia Beat the Odds in 2019. See Table 1.

Table 1. Percentage of state and metro-area districts Beating the Odds

“The release of Beat the Odds calculations shows the measurable academic results happening across our school system,” said APS Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen. “As we analyze these results, it’s important that we continue to look at our schools’ overall academic performance holistically through a number of key indicators, not just one or another. We remain focused on working the strategic and turnaround plans to accelerate increasing academic achievement in our schools and on preparing our students for the choice-filled lives they deserve.”

The 36 APS schools that Beat the Odds are:

Bolton Academy

Brown Middle School

Bunche Middle School

Burgess-Peterson Elementary School

Centennial Academy

Charles R. Drew Charter School

Charles R. Drew Charter School Elementary Academy

Continental Colony Elementary School

Early College High School at Carver

F. L. Stanton Elementary School

Fickett Elementary School

Forrest Hills Academy

Garden Hills Elementary School

Grady High School

Hollis Innovation Academy

Humphries Elementary School

Hutchinson Elementary School

Inman Middle School

King Middle School

KIPP STRIVE Academy

KIPP VISION

KIPP VISION Primary

KIPP WAYS Primary

M. Agnes Jones Elementary School

Maynard H. Jackson High School

North Atlanta High School

Peyton Forest Elementary School

E. Rivers Elementary School

Springdale Park Elementary School

Sutton Middle School

Sylvan Hills Middle School

Towns Elementary School

Tuskegee Airman Global Academy

Usher-Collier Elementary School

West Manor Elementary School

Westside Atlanta Charter School

The Beat the Odds calculation represents whether a school’s performance on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) was higher than schools with similar characteristics across the state. The calculation includes variables that are outside of a school’s control, such as school size, percent directly certified, percent English learners, percent of students with disabilities, percent of students in each race (excluding Native American), school churn rate, whether a school is defined as non-traditional and the school type.

Prior to 2018, schools were designated as either “Beat the Odds” or “Did Not Beat the Odds,” but beginning last year, “Did Not Beat the Odds” schools were split into “Within the Expected Range” and “Below the Expected Range.”

In addition to the 36 APS schools that Beat the Odds (down from 46 last year), 35 were classified as “Within the Expected Range” (up from 26 last year) and 16 were classified as “Below the Expected Range” (the same as last year). This means a total of 71 APS schools, or more than 80%, either Beat the Odds or performed Within the Expected Range; this is consistent with 2018 performance.