August 1 marks the first day of school, and as the big day approaches, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is excited to share several new initiatives, programs, and resources designed to enrich the educational experience of every student.
From enhanced technology resources to expanded extracurricular opportunities, the APS 2024-2025 school year promises to be one of growth and discovery. Students will have access to cutting-edge learning tools, diverse support services, and various programs tailored to their unique interests and aspirations.
These offerings reflect our commitment to cultivating a caring culture of equity, trust, and collaboration. This mandate remains at the forefront of all we do, ensuring that each student is well-prepared for college, career, and life.
Here’s what students and our APS families can look forward to this year.
Dr. Bryan Johnson, Atlanta Board of Education members and Dr. Danielle Battle. Photo Credit: Atlanta Public Schools ©
1. Dr. Bryan Johnson will become the next superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools
In June 2023, the Atlanta Board of Education began its search for a new superintendent. At their July 8, 2024, special called meeting, Dr. Bryan Johnson was appointed to lead Atlanta Public Schools.
Dr. Johnson is a former corporate executive and accomplished K-12 leader who will join us following his position as Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He previously served as Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee, where he was named the 2021 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents. He has a passion for public education and has served as a teacher, school administrator, and district administrator.
Dr. Johnson brings to APS his extensive experience in educational leadership, workforce development, business strategy, change management, and collaborative leadership.
His first official day as superintendent will be August 5. Please help us give Dr. Johnson a warm Atlanta Public Schools welcome!
The Howard Middle School Chew Crew. Photo credit: Atlanta Public Schools Nutrition © @APSNutritionNow
2. APS Has a New Department Rock Star: Nutrition Services
The Department of Nutrition Services has emerged as a rock star of APS for the 2024-2025 school year. After two decades, food service for the district is now in-house! APS is now in complete control of the quality and sourcing of ingredients and decisions that can be implemented quickly and efficiently. The food is now fresher, healthier, tastier, and has an array of preferred options.
In addition, a Chew Crew of students taste testers will be providing valuable feedback on new menu items, and the department will be increasing the purchase of local produce through Local Food for Schools (LFS) funding.
Lastly, a new platform that allows students and parents to view their school’s breakfast and lunch menus, as well as nutrition facts and allergen information has been implemented. MealViewer is already up and running, so be sure to visit online or download the app to check out this great resource and see what’s being served at your school this year.
The Lion Electric Type C School Bus: LionC. Photo credit: Lion Electric ©
3. APS is on the Road to Clean, Zero-Emission Transportation
Following behind Nutrition Services is the APS Department of Transportation, with several exciting updates for the upcoming school year. The most exciting is the purchase of 25 LionC all-electric school buses. Funding was made possible through federal and state incentives from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, which awarded $9.875 million to APS to replace its costly and older diesel-powered school buses with clean energy, zero-emission buses. The LionC bus will be available on select bus routes.
APS will also open the Northwest Transportation Center, a new facility that will house the impressive fleet of buses owned by the district. The new site sits on 10.4 acres of land and will feature the following:
- 214 vehicle parking spaces
- 204 bus parking spaces
- Construction of an Operations Building (6,546 sq. ft)
- Construction of a four (4) bay service center (6000 sq. ft)
- Construction of a two (2) bay fueling station and fuel storage system
- Perimeter, security and visual barrier fencing with access control
- Landscaping, hard escaping, and stormwater management
- Site lighting, ramps, stairs, canopies, and signage
- Data, voice, video, security, access control, CCTV, HVAC, and DDC
The Northwest Transportation Center will officially open in November.
APS Social Services December 2023 clothing pantry for homeless and foster students. Photo credit: Allison M. Slocum, APS ©
4. The launch of the APS Student and Family Support Hub
The APS Division of Students Services team has been diligently working to create a one-stop-shop where students and families can come to receive support and resources with whatever they may need.
The APS Student and Family Support Hub (The Hub) was born out of a desire for APS service departments to be housed in the same place and better serve the district’s students. The Hub will feature a clothing pantry stocked with apparel, hygiene products, and school supplies.
Additionally, it will centralize school social work, psychology, counseling, discipline, assignment and records, and student registration, under one roof, along with homeless and foster services, intervention services, and health services.
The Hub is slated for its grand opening this October and will be housed in the old Oglethorpe Elementary building (601 Beckwith Street, SW). To receive ongoing updates regarding The Hub, click here.
The Atlanta Braves Foundation and APS partner to upgrade the baseball facility at Frederick Douglass High School . Photo Credit: APS ©
5. New and Improved APS Sports Facilities
APS has teamed up with the Atlanta Braves Foundation to improve baseball and softball facilities in the district. Spearheaded by Danielle Bedasse, Atlanta Braves Foundation Vice President of Community Affairs and Executive Director, and APS Manager of Community Affairs Simone Walls, enhancements at Frederick Douglass High School and Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School were made. Additions like fully covered batting cages, dugout extensions, pitching areas, windscreens, and padded backstops were installed to assist in significantly improving the schools’ sports amenities.
In addition, Carver High School received a covered dugout and additional storage space as the recipients of an Atlanta Braves Grant through the support of the Focused Community Strategies Organization.
Rounding out the partnership’s current projects, Mays High School, South Atlanta High School, and Phoenix Academy will undergo enhancements to their sports infrastructure, to foster community support and school pride.
Entrepreneur and former record executive Jimmy Iovine addresses the press on August 29, 2023, at Frederick Douglass High School following the announcement of plans to open the Iovine and Young Center in the 2024-2025 school year. Photo credit: Allison M. Slocum, APS ©
6. Advancements in APS Instructional Technology
This school year, APS will be introducing three initiatives, each designed to provide students with innovative and engaging learning experiences using instructional technology.
- The Iovine and Young Center, an innovative learning pathway that combines technology, the arts and design, will launch at Frederick Douglass High School. Students will experience challenge-based learning subject matter, similar to a capstone project, and will be solving real issues plaguing today’s marketplace.
- The Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) will be the happy recipient of a cart containing 24 new 3D augmented reality devices through a partnership with zSpace and the APS Department of Instructional Technology. This zSpace cart will make its rounds throughout ACCA into classrooms to serve as an added layer of hands-on support and assist students in manipulating source material in a unique and innovative way.
- The Department of Library Media Services is excited to introduce TeachingBooks, an innovative new resource designed to enhance the APS literary experience. TeachingBooks will be accessible to all APS students and teachers through MyBackpack.
Atlanta Public Schools Police Department with APS students. Photo Credit: APS ©
7. Safety and Security’s Focus on Proactive Prevention
At the top of the list for the APS Office of Safety and Security this school year is Gang Resistance Education and Training. This evidence-based and effective gang and violence prevention program consists of school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curricula. Focused on children younger than the prime ages for gang initiation and delinquent behavior, this program’s goal is to eliminate delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership.
APS is also implementing RAPTOR visitor management, a screening program for visitors that gives APS access to public information related to sex offenses and other issues. With this knowledge, the district can be proactive in preventing offenders from contacting APS students.
8. APS Testing and Assessment’s New Home
The Data + Information Group (DIG) within the Office of Performance and Information Technology has been working to elevate and maintain several initiatives that will assist students and families academically this school year. One of particular importance is the administration of the PSAT, SAT, Advanced Placement (AP), and ACT exams, which are now under their jurisdiction. Consolidating testing under the DIG team will provide schools and families with more cohesive communication and support.
With this in mind, the DIG team created a Parent Guide to Tests and Assessments, a visual and interactive resource that covers various types of district, state, and national tests and assessments. It also outlines who takes these tests and how the results are used.
Updates regarding APS Insights and Data and Evaluation Briefs, the public-facing assessment and accountability dashboards and reports for Atlanta Public Schools, will be made regularly to ensure the most current and accurate information can be easily accessed.