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 Phillip Braziel details how South Atlanta High School achieved its gains:
Q: What specific strategies or initiatives did your school implement that you believe contributed most to the CCRPI improvement?
A: South Atlanta High School maintains a comprehensive and collaborative approach to ensure all students are academically prepared for postsecondary success. School leadership, teachers, counselors, students, and families work collectively to align instructional practices with college and career readiness expectations. Students and parents are intentionally educated on the alignment of high school coursework with the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) for the University System of Georgia (USG). Information regarding Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) opportunities is consistently communicated through meetings, advisement sessions, and written materials to expand access to rigorous coursework and support successful transitions beyond high school.
The school provides ongoing opportunities for parent engagement that extend beyond informing them about graduation requirements. Parent meetings are designed to support informed academic planning and include information about specialized programs, standardized assessments, extracurricular programs, scholarships, and test interpretation. Beginning in ninth grade, students and families receive guidance regarding HOPE Scholarship eligibility and requirements to promote early awareness and consistent academic planning. These initiatives encourage shared responsibility and strengthen family engagement in student learning.
To support student preparedness for standardized assessments, Instructional Specialists are sent assessment results to identify areas of strength and growth. This information informs instructional planning, collaboration, and targeted support to better prepare students for required assessments.
A Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is implemented through collaboration among the Behavioral Specialist, SELT team, Student Support Specialist, Student Support Disproportionality Specialist, counselors, and administrators. The team meets regularly to review academic, behavioral, attendance, and social-emotional needs for students identified under SWD, Tier 1, Tier 2, and 504 classifications. Targeted interventions and individualized support plans are used to address barriers and promote student success.
School counselors and Social Workers collaborate weekly to address the needs of students experiencing homelessness, social-emotional challenges, or other external factors that may impact academic performance. Action plans are developed to ensure students and families are connected to appropriate School-Based and community resources, supporting equitable access to learning and student well-being.
Community partnerships play a critical role in enhancing college and career readiness by exposing students to postsecondary institutions and a wide range of future workforce opportunities. College fairs, career fairs, and trade events are intentionally offered to all grade levels to build early awareness, develop essential skills, and support informed decision-making. In addition, field experiences with organizations such as Ernst & Young and Microsoft provide students with authentic, real-world learning opportunities and direct engagement with professionals, helping students connect classroom learning to future career pathways.
Additionally, on-campus mentorship programs support a positive school culture and reinforce social-emotional learning, leadership development, and experiential learning. These programs contribute to increased student engagement, confidence, and readiness for life beyond high school.
Q: Can you share examples of how your teachers are driving student growth and achievement, and any practices that have been particularly effective?
A: Instruction at South Atlanta is guided by a balanced use of pre- and post-assessment practices to support student learning and instructional effectiveness. Pre-assessment results are used to inform instructional planning and to identify students’ prior knowledge before beginning a unit of study. Following unit completion, post-assessment results are reviewed to determine the need for re-teaching, instructional adjustments, or small-group remediation. This cycle of assessment and reflection supports continuous improvement of instruction and responsiveness to student needs.
Student feedback is intentionally incorporated after each unit assessment as an additional component of instructional reflection. Feedback provided by students informs adjustments to pacing, instructional strategies, and lesson design for subsequent units, ensuring instruction remains student-centered and responsive.
A key instructional practice implemented to support deeper learning is the use of summative assessment corrections. Students are provided the opportunity to review incorrect responses, annotate questions, and write rationales explaining correct answers. This practice reinforces close reading, analytical reasoning, and content mastery while promoting student ownership of learning. It also supports the development of academic confidence by helping students recognize that complex questions can be deconstructed and understood.
The availability of Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment coursework further aligns with assisting our students meet expectations for rigorous and equitable instruction. For example AP Macroeconomics is offered to a significant portion of the senior class, providing students with exposure to college-level content, expectations, and assessment practices. This opportunity supports academic growth, strengthens college readiness, and reinforces a culture of high expectations.
Q: What is something impactful/innovative happening in the area of teaching and learning at your school that sets your school apart?
A: One impactful and innovative practice that our school practices is the intentional integration of STEAM instructional strategies across content areas. Teachers consistently implement Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) to promote higher-order thinking skills, including critical thinking, analysis, and constructed response writing. This approach encourages students to support their ideas with evidence and reasoning while also providing teachers with meaningful diagnostic insight to guide instruction.
In addition, Project-Based Learning (PBL) is implemented schoolwide to support real-world problem solving. Through a structured, step-by-step process, students engage in authentic tasks that require them to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, collaborate with peers, and develop solutions grounded in evidence. This instructional model strengthens student engagement, reasoning skills, and application of content knowledge.
Technology integration is another innovative component of teaching and learning at our school, particularly within science instruction. Students develop essential computer literacy skills, including identifying and converting file types, uploading and downloading files, and organizing digital work. They also learn to use Google Sheets to write formulas and create charts and graphs, reinforcing data analysis and interpretation skills.
To further enhance experiential learning, students use the PhyPhox application, which transforms mobile devices into scientific sensors such as thermometers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, and frequency analyzers. This tool allows students to collect and manipulate real-time data, deepening their understanding of scientific concepts while bridging technology and hands-on investigation.
Together, these instructional practices promote innovation, rigor, and real-world relevance, ensuring students are not only learning content but also developing the critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital skills necessary for college and career readiness.
Q: What are your hopes or expectations for student achievement moving forward, and how do you plan to build on this recent success?
A: Looking ahead, our expectation is to continue strengthening a school culture that sets high expectations and supports continuous growth for students, families, and staff. Building on recent successes, we will sustain effective practices while strategically implementing new approaches that further develop students’ growth mindset, resilience, and readiness for life beyond high school. Our focus remains on empowering students to think beyond their current circumstances, explore emerging opportunities, and confidently plan for their futures.
As we move forward, we aim to expand student participation in college-level coursework, strengthen performance on standardized and Advanced Placement assessments, and broaden exposure to diverse postsecondary institutions and career pathways. Early engagement will remain a priority, with increased emphasis on helping students in ninth and tenth grade actively explore college options, career fields, and workforce opportunities through structured guidance and experiential learning.
To ensure continued progress, we will deepen parent engagement by providing clear, ongoing communication and opportunities for families to actively participate in academic and postsecondary planning. Collaboration among school staff, district support teams, and community partners will continue to evolve, allowing us to align resources, share expertise, and create sustainable systems of support.
Ultimately, our future-focused goal is to ensure every student is connected to meaningful academic, career, and mentorship resources that inspire them to move beyond familiar experiences and pursue ambitious goals. Through intentional planning, collaboration, and innovation, we are committed to preparing students not only for graduation, but for long-term success in college, careers, and life.