For many Atlanta Public Schools (APS) students, the path to a spelling bee stage often begins quietly, with memorizing word lists, studying language patterns, and testing one’s recall. As the competition gets closer, the work requires more than that. Successful competitors build vocabulary, strengthen reading comprehension, and sharpen concentration as they learn the rules, origins, […]
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 […]
For the sixth consecutive year, BLACT ATL INC., in partnership with Aurora Theatre, hosted its annual toy giveaway at L. O. Kimberly Elementary School, delivering toys collected during the organization’s Festival of Trees southwest event. The festival featured 30 decorated Christmas trees, encouraging thousands of people to donate toys. Those contributions, ranging from books and […]
Georgia Reads Day 2025. Photos: Allison M. Slocum APS © More than 400 Atlanta Public Schools (APS) fourth- and fifth-grade students spent the morning at the College Football Hall of Fame on September 22, joining schools from across Georgia who tuned in virtually to celebrate Georgia Reads Day, a statewide event designed to highlight the […]
Just days before winter break, hundreds of excited students at Kimberly Elementary School received a very special holiday gift: free books of their choice to take home and add to their personal libraries. The Buis Book Foundation’s annual book giveaway was held on December 18, marking the third consecutive year the foundation has donated books […]
Kimberly Elementary School’s 5th annual Toy Drive. Photo credit: Allison M. Slocum, APS © Kimberly Elementary School, in partnership with BLACT ATL, Inc., hosted its 5th annual Toy Drive on December 19. Over 300 students selected two gifts, including toys, books, instruments, and STEM-focused items, and participated in ornament-making, games, and coloring. A reindeer scratch-off […]
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Atlanta Public Schools is proud to highlight the stories of survivors who continue to serve students and their school communities. Jalysa Stewart is a 4th- and 5th-grade teacher at Kimberly Elementary School, and this is her story: In 2022, I felt a lump in my right breast, and […]
2024 Backpack Bash, sponsored by Perkins and Will. Photo credit: Payton Calhoun. APS © On Saturday, July 27, Perkins and Will, a global collective of architect designers and changemakers, hosted their 2024 Backpack Bash at Fickett Elementary School, benefiting Atlanta Public Schools. Thanks to the generous donation from Perkins and Will, students and teachers were […]
The Atlanta Public Schools second annual Picture Book Bowl brought together students from kindergarten through third grade who were excited to showcase their reading skills. Twenty-two APS schools participated in the virtual team competition over Zoom. Back in March, the Georgia Book Award Committee outlined 20 award-winning picture books for participants to read before the […]
The students at Kimberly Elementary are fortunate to have an opportunistic principal like Joseph Salley looking out for their best interests. Two years ago, The Buis Book Foundation sent out emails to multiple elementary schools in order to provide free books to the students. Principal Salley was the only one to respond, and the students […]