ATL Public Schools @apsupdate

Come and Explore APS! This interactive, family-friendly event is your passport to discovering our amazing schools and programs. Meet enthusiastic school representatives, dive into our academic programs and extracurricular activities, and uncover unique offerings all while learning about the exciting ways, we support every student's success. Join us on Saturday, November 7 at Benjamin E. Mays High School from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This event is open to families, prospective APS students, and the entire community! Register today by visiting: atlantapublicschools.us/exploreaps #AtlantaPublicSchools #ExploreAPS

Garden Hills Elementary School ranked first statewide for fourth-grade math growth on the 2025–26 Georgia Milestones. This outstanding accomplishment reflects the dedication of our students, teachers, school leaders, and families. Together, they are creating opportunities for every student to grow, achieve, and excel. Congratulations, Garden Hills! The work is working and excellence is everywhere across APS. #APSProud #TheWorkIsWorking #ExcellenceEverywhere #GardenHillsElementary

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APS families can receive free groceries on the 4th Monday of every month at the APS Student and Family Support Hub (601 Dr. Thomas Cole Jr. Way, SW). The next food distribution takes place this Monday, September 28th, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Families can also access counseling, health services, and other vital resources—all in one convenient location, including visiting the APS Department Store to shop for free personal and household items, school supplies, apparel, and more. The store is open by appointment.

💼✨ Young entrepreneurs are turning their ideas into opportunity! The APS Student Entrepreneur Fair gave students the chance to showcase their businesses, share their products, and proudly put their entrepreneurial skills on display at the APS Central Office. From Shu-Da-Boo’s, offering joyful greeting cards, gifts and books, to Scott’s Spices, representing Scott Elementary, these student entrepreneurs came ready to share what they have created. Teaching students about entrepreneurship gives them the chance to explore their creativity, build confidence and learn skills they can carry with them long after they leave the classroom. We’re proud to see our students dreaming, creating and making their ideas happen! ❤️ #APSExcellence #AtlantaPublicSchools

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🌟 Teacher Highlight: Katie Carlson 🌟 This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Katie Carlson of Garden Hills Elementary School! 🍎📚 With 20 years of teaching experience, including 13 years at Garden Hills Elementary, Katie has dedicated her career to shaping the minds of young scholars and helping students reach their full potential. Katie has helped lead the way in both Dual Language Immersion (DLI) and traditional instruction, with a passion for both reading and mathematics. Her commitment to student learning and growth helps ensure that students are prepared for success in college, career, and beyond. Educators like Katie are the driving force behind bright minds and future leaders. Katie, thank you for being an engine behind young minds and for making a lasting impact on the students you serve! #APSTeacherHighlight #AtlantaPublicSchools #APS #TeacherAppreciation #GardenHillsElementary #EducationMatters

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🔥 Democracy Fest ’26 brought civics to life! APS high school juniors and seniors came together for a day filled with civic education, community, culture, and youth leadership. From engaging activities and friendly competition to conversations with community leaders, students had the opportunity to register to vote, learn more about civic participation, and the important role they can play in shaping their communities. A special shoutout to the 2026 Atlanta Youth Advisory Council for helping bring this experience to life. Their months of planning, preparation, and leadership created an experience designed by young people, for young people.🗳️ Civic education helps students understand the importance of their voice and the role they can play in shaping the future of their communities. #DemocracyFestUSA #APSExcellence #AtlantaPublicSchools

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Let’s make this go viral! Atlanta Public Schools’ commitment to expanding Advanced Placement opportunities is producing record-breaking success across the district. More students are taking AP exams, and the percentage earning scores of 3 or higher has more than doubled since 2022. Every APS school with AP exam results increased its number of qualifying scores! A special shout-out goes to South Atlanta High, Therrell High, BEST Academy and Douglass High for more than doubling their qualifying scores! This progress proves our efforts are working, and we couldn't be prouder of our incredible scholars! Show our students some love in the comments! For more information about our Advancement Placement exam gains across the district, please visit atlantapublicschools.us/newsroom!

Yesterday, Georgia Reads Day was in full swing at Tuskegee Airmen Global Academy! 📖 Councilmember Eshe Collins joined Atlanta Board of Education Chair Jessica Johnson and Principal Melanie Sitole for a special day celebrating the joy and power of reading. They stepped into kindergarten and 3rd grade classrooms to see the Accelerated Literacy Model in action and even joined students in the library for a special read-aloud! From classrooms to story time, students showed us that reading is an adventure worth taking! 🚀 #GeorgiaReadsDay #LiteracyMatters #AtlantaPublicSchools #APS #ReadersAreLeaders

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🎓❤️APS ALUMNI, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!❤️🎓 As we celebrate APS Alumni Month, we want to know where our amazing alumni are! Drop in the comments your APS school AND your graduating class! 🗣️ Let’s fill the comments with APS pride and show just how far the #APSExcellence family reaches! Once an APS student, always part of the APS family!🏫❤️ #APSAlumniMonth #APSExcellence #AtlantaPublicSchools #APSPride

A special surprise for Hutchinson Elementary School STEM teacher Kate Woodbridge! 🎉 The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl awarded Kate a $1,000 DonorsChoose gift card through its Extra Yard for Teachers Program, an annual weeklong celebration during the back-to-school season that honors and recognizes great teachers. Thanks to a DonorsChoose match, Kate’s award was doubled! We’re grateful to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl for celebrating educators and investing in the teachers who inspire and empower our students every day. Special thanks to Peach Bowl CEO David Epps and VP of Communications Matt Garvey for joining us for this special moment! #AtlantaPublicSchools

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A new pathway to college is officially taking shape! 🎓✨ Atlanta Public Schools and Clayton State University have joined forces to launch Atlanta Early College at Clayton State University, creating new opportunities for APS students to earn college credit while completing their high school diploma. Through the program, eligible APS juniors and seniors can take Clayton State courses, explore college-level learning, and work toward college credentials with dedicated academic and student support. We’re proud to partner with Clayton State University to expand access, open doors and help our students see themselves not only attending college, but succeeding there. 🚀📚 The first cohort is expected to begin in August 2027, with recruitment and information sessions taking place throughout the 2026–27 school year. The future is bright for APS students!❤️🖤 + 💙❤️ #AtlantaPublicSchools #APSExcellence #APSProud

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🏈 Girls flag football is back, and the competition is heating up! Congratulations to the Mays High School Raiders and the Coretta Scott King Eagles on an exciting matchup to kick off the season. Mays secured the win, but both teams showed teamwork, determination, and school pride on the field. Wishing all of our APS girls flag football teams a season filled with growth, great competition, and plenty of moments to celebrate! Let's go, APS! ❤️🏈 #AtlantaPublicSchools #APSExcellence

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Atlanta Public Schools (APS) respects the independent review processes conducted by Jefferson City Schools (JCS) and the Georgia High School Association (GHSA). We appreciate GHSA’s conclusion that both football teams demonstrated sportsmanship during the contest. However, that conclusion does not fully address the separate experience reported by members of the Maynard Jackson High School band. GHSA does not oversee marching band activities, which was the source of the claim and has been the primary focus of our investigation. Band students and support staff at Maynard Jackson High School have reported some students were subjected to the following: ·      Being called racial slurs as they entered the game ·      Being called racial slurs in the area next to the restroom ·      Being called racial slurs while exiting the stadium While we respect that JCS has stated they “found no evidence to substantiate this claim,” our students' voices matter and their experiences matter. Allegations involving racism and discriminatory behavior are serious and deserve to be examined with the utmost clarity, transparency, thoroughness and care. Multiple band members reported being subjected to racial slurs at several points during their visit. Their concerns were heard by Maynard Jackson High School administration, documented and communicated to JCS. APS is deeply disheartened that our students were subjected to racial slurs and made to feel unsafe at any point during the contest. As a school system, we will continue to support our students. APS will also strengthen security measures for out-of-district events to help ensure our students, staff, and families are cared for and protected to the fullest extent possible.

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📚✨ The new school year is officially underway, and there’s so much happening across Atlanta Public Schools! Stay in the know with APS Today, your go-to source for the latest stories, highlights, updates and the people who make APS special. From student success to school spotlights and everything in between, we’ve got plenty of stories coming your way as we pop off the new school year! 🐾🎉 📰 Catch up and see what’s next on APS Today! apstoday.us #APSToday #APSExcellence #AtlantaPublicSchools

There is **Excellence Everywhere** in Atlanta Public Schools! We’re proud to celebrate our outstanding **APS Athletes of the Month for August 2026**. 🎉🏅 From the football field and volleyball court to cross country, softball, cheer, and more, these student athletes are showing that dedication, leadership, and hard work extend far beyond the game. 💪🏽📚 👏🏽 **Congratulations to all of our August honorees!** Your commitment to excellence—both on and off the field—is something to celebrate! Read the full list of APS Athletes of the Month and learn more about their accomplishments and future goals: Read the full story on APS Today! apstoday.us/2026/09/18/atl… #AtlantaPublicSchools #APS #ExcellenceEverywhere #APSStudentAthletes #AthletesOfTheMonth #APSChampions 🏆

You’re invited! Join us for a Community Conversation with Atlanta Board of Education members Erika Y. Mitchell (District 5) and Patreece Hutcherson (District 6). Come share your thoughts, ask questions, and connect with your representatives! 📅 Date: Tuesday, September 22 🕡 Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 📍 Location: Young Middle School Auditorium For more information, please contact [email protected]

Reminder! Today is Early Release Day! Students will be dismissed earlier than their regular schedule, so please plan accordingly and check with your school concerning after school care plans. Here's the schedule Elementary - 11:15 AM High School - 12:30 PM Middle Schools - 1:15 PM #AtlantaPublicSchools

APS is proud to once again promote student entrepreneurship and community engagement during Minority Business Opportunity Week (September 21-24). During this week, APS will host a Student Entrepreneur Forum at South Atlanta High School (Sept. 21), a Vendor Fair featuring local vendors at Central Office (Sept. 22), and a Student Entrepreneur Fair at Central Office (Sept. 23). Mark your calendars and support our students and local minority-owned businesses. #AtlantaPublicSchools

Every time you spend a dollar in Atlanta, one penny of that sales tax comes back to Atlanta Public Schools. Since 1997, all APS students have benefited from ESPLOST investments! From construction and renovations to nutrition, transportation, technology, safety and security, teaching and learning, and athletics—your penny has a purpose! To learn more about ESPLOST, please visit atlantapublicschools.us/esplost

🌟 Mark your calendars! September 21st is a Pre-K–12 Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed earlier than their regular schedule, so please plan accordingly and check with your school concerning after school care plans. Here's the schedule Elementary - 11:15 AM High School - 12:30 PM Middle Schools - 1:15 PM #AtlantaPublicSchools