Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has been selected for the national honor of being featured in a Harvard and Stanford University case study highlighting the district’s success and strategies for recovering from pandemic learning loss. 

APS was selected as one of this year’s featured districts because of its intentional efforts to accelerate student achievement, strengthen instruction, and support educators through its comprehensive Back to the Basics 2030 strategic plan.

The case study is part of the Education Recovery Scorecard initiative, a collaboration between Harvard and Stanford University researchers that examines how school districts across the country are rebounding academically from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"In both math and reading, students in Atlanta Public Schools have improved by more than .4 grade equivalents since 2022, while similar districts in Georgia continued to decline. Atlanta is demonstrating that parents don’t have to accept the pandemic losses in achievement and that recovery is possible.”  Dr. Thomas Kane, Faculty Director and Professor, Harvard University - Graduate School of Education 

Why APS Was Selected

The Harvard case study highlighted several APS strategies researchers identified as contributing to the district’s academic recovery efforts, including:

• Providing instructional coaches in every elementary school to provide real-time instructional support 
• Creating new teacher leadership roles designed to expand the impact of high-performing educators 
• Using student MAP assessment data to provide individualized instruction and targeted support through APS’ summer “Power Up” learning programs 
• Establishing the APS Literacy Council and partnering with the Rollins Center at the Atlanta Speech School to strengthen evidence-based literacy instruction 
• Expanding middle school literacy support through “Reading Futures,” which provides students with an additional 30 minutes of literacy instruction during the school day 
• Investing more than $130 million in employee compensation over the past three years, contributing to a teacher retention rate above 90% and single-digit teacher vacancies at the start of the school year 

“This recognition reflects the urgency and intentionality behind our work,” said Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson. “For us, this has always been about helping students recover, thrive, find their voice, and build strong academic foundations for the future.” 

The Work Is Working

The Harvard/Stanford recognition adds to growing momentum for APS’ “Back to the Basics” strategy focused on strengthening instruction, investing in educators, and accelerating student achievement districtwide.

In recent months, APS has also been recognized for the following:

• Earned 34 Governor’s Office of Student Achievement “Beating the Odds” recognitions
• Received 11 Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) awards
• 2026 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for supporting and retaining high-quality teachers
• 90%+ graduation rate district-wide

APS leaders say those results reflect a continued commitment to strengthening the instructional core and creating stable, supportive learning environments for students and staff.

The case study is expected to be published May 13, 2025.

More information about the Education Recovery Scorecard initiative is available at https://educationscorecard.org/districts-on-the-rise/ and additional information about Atlanta Public Schools can be found at  APS Today or APS Newsroom.