Atlanta Public Schools (APS) continued to show overall improvement on the College and Career Readiness Index (CCRPI), according to the 2025 CCRPI data, released by the Georgia Department of Education.
The CCRPI includes five components: Content Mastery, Progress, Closing Gaps, Readiness, and – for high schools – Graduation Rate. APS scored 100 on the Closing Gaps component in elementary schools and improved Readiness and Content Mastery scores at all grade bands. Additionally, students with disabilities and who are economically disadvantaged made gains in 11 of 12 areas.
Principal Jay Bland details how Morris Brandon Elementary School achieved its gains:
Q: What specific strategies or initiatives did your school implement that you believe contributed most to the CCRPI improvement?
A: Our CCRPI improvement is the result of several strategic initiatives that worked together to strengthen teaching and learning across the school. As part of the APS Personalized Learning Pilot a few years ago, our school implemented a comprehensive personalized learning model/target instructional model that we continue to refine and sustain today. This approach ensures instruction is tailored to individual student needs, providing targeted support and meaningful opportunities for challenge.
We also expanded transdisciplinary learning opportunities, allowing students to make deeper connections across subject areas and apply their knowledge in authentic, real-world contexts. Additionally, ongoing professional learning has equipped our teachers with the skills, strategies, and collaboration necessary to deliver high-quality, student-centered instruction. Together, these efforts created a cohesive and innovative learning environment that significantly contributed to our CCRPI growth.
We have increased the frequency of progress monitoring for students performing below the 40th percentile to ensure their growth is closely tracked and supported. This allows us to make timely Tier 2 and Tier 3 instructional adjustments and provide targeted interventions. Additionally, individualized BUZZ plans help us coordinate support for our most vulnerable learners, ensuring they receive the focused attention and resources needed to accelerate their progress.
Q: Can you share examples of how your teachers are driving student growth and achievement, and any practices that have been particularly effective?
A: Our teachers are driving student growth and achievement by using consistent data meetings to identify specific learning needs, creating individualized student plans that outline clear goals and support strategies, and implementing personalized learning tasks that target each student’s skill level. These practices ensure instruction is both responsive and intentional, allowing teachers to quickly adjust strategies and provide timely interventions. As a result, students receive more focused support, increased ownership of their learning, and opportunities to progress at a pace that meets their unique academic needs.
Q: What is something impactful/innovative happening in the area of teaching and learning at your school that sets your school apart?
A: One of the most impactful and innovative strengths of our school is the way we integrate family engagement, personalized learning, and robust instructional planning to drive student success. Our teachers engage in intentional, high-quality planning that ensures every lesson is purposeful and aligned to instructional goals. This is paired with adaptive instructional resources that allow us to meet students exactly where they are and tailor learning experiences to their individual needs. Additionally, our strong partnership with families creates a supportive, collaborative environment that reinforces learning beyond the classroom. Together, these practices set our school apart by ensuring that every student receives high-quality, personalized instruction supported by a community committed to their growth.
Q: What are your hopes or expectations for student achievement moving forward, and how do you plan to build on this recent success?
A: Moving forward, our hope is to continue elevating student achievement by cultivating a learning environment that encourages international mindedness and empowers students to recognize the impact of their contributions within both their local and global communities. We are committed to increasing the number of students performing at proficient and distinguished levels by providing rich, culturally responsive instruction that reflects and values students’ backgrounds and experiences.
Additionally, our focus will be on building teacher capacity, as we believe that highly skilled and well-supported educators are essential to sustaining strong academic outcomes for our students. By strengthening instructional practice and deepening student engagement, we aim to build on our recent success and ensure continued growth for all learners.
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