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 Dr. Jennifer Toney details how Springdale Park 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 school’s improvement on CCRPI is directly tied to our intentional, consistent focus on high-quality instruction. We strengthened small-group instruction across all grade levels, ensuring every student receives targeted teaching aligned to their individual needs. Teachers developed schedules to maximize every minute of instructional time with purposeful transitions, clear routines, and aligned lessons that minimized downtime and maximized engagement. We also practiced tight progress monitoring through our Whole Child team to adjust instruction early and often.
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 deeply committed to knowing their learners. They use relevant data from common assessments to plan for intentional small-group instruction, making sure each child receives the right support or challenge at the right moment. They provide targeted feedback that is specific and actionable. Teachers prioritize each child’s instructional reading level.
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 our most impactful practices is our commitment to ensuring students read daily at their instructional reading level. We have also invested in professional learning around success criteria through writing and STEAM journals, which has helped teachers deliver lessons with clarity, purpose, and stronger student ownership. It has also increased the rigor and quality of student independent work.
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, I hope to continue expanding the use of STEAM journals so that every student regularly engages in inquiry, reflection, and authentic problem solving. I want to continue growing a true love of reading in our students by surrounding them with high-quality texts and strong literacy experiences. Ultimately, my goal is to develop curious, confident learners who are excited about their own growth. We will build on our success by remaining focused on small group instruction, strong data practices, and professional learning that elevates classroom instruction.