In a year of more rigorous assessments, 46 schools in Atlanta Public Schools showed gains on the state’s latest College and Career Ready Performance Index results released by the Georgia Department of Education.

In addition, of the original 27 schools identified by the state in 2014 as low performing and eligible for possible state takeover by a proposed Opportunity School District, seven achieved large enough gains to be removed from OSD eligibility.
 
The seven APS schools anticipated to be removed from the state OSD list are Benteen, Dobbs, Toomer and Usher Collier Heights elementary schools; Sylvan Middle School; Therrell Law and Mays high schools.
 
As a district, the average CCRPI score rose from 62.6 points to 66.8 points overall compared to 2014 results, according to the state’s report.

CCRPI is the statewide education accountability system that measures schools and districts on a 100-point scale. It helps parents and the public understand how schools are performing compared to others in the district and state.
 
Scores for both APS and the state increased the past year. The overall APS score increased 4.2 points to 66.8, although still 8.7 points lower than the Georgia average of 75.5. The Georgia average increased by 3.6 points from 2014.
 
After recalculating the CCRPI scores for current and planned mergers and one school closure, APS now has 19 schools that have three years in a row of CCRPI scores below 60 (compared to 27 in 2014). While seven schools made sufficient gains to move above the OSD criterion of 60, two additional schools became OSD-eligible because they did not reach a score of 60 for the third consecutive year.
 
“These results give me hope that we are making progress in transforming Atlanta Public Schools,” said APS Superintendent Meria J. Carstarphen. “But while we are pleased to see some improvements, especially in those schools previously eligible for state takeover, we clearly have much work to do toward improving student achievement.”
 
Initial turnaround interventions began this school year with more scheduled for 2016-2017. The strategy includes education partnerships, operating-model changes, high-impact tutoring, math and reading specialists to directly support students, a Spring Break Academy, recruitment of respected turnaround school leaders, targeted professional learning for teachers, and accelerated roll-out of social emotional learning in schools. More information is available at www.atlantapublicschools.us/turnaround.
 
While the district and state overall scores increased, these scores are not directly comparable to 2014 scores due to both the GaDOE changing its assessments from the former Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests to Georgia Milestones and due to the GaDOE adjusting the CCRPI calculation towards a greater emphasis on progress over achievement.