Drew High School or Not, Jackson High Won't Hit Capacity

APS needs to focus what's best for all students not preserving an education monopoly.

Editor's note: Parents and supporters of Drew Charter School could learn today if the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education will approve the East Lake school's request to amend its charter to include a high school. Blogger Robert F. Stockwell, a finance and accounting expert by trade whose past corporate posts include McDonald's Corp., PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC and LastMinuteTravel.com, wrote a piece on the Drew Charter situation for his blog, Financial-Deconstruction.com. He shared it with East Atlanta Patch. by Robert F. Stockwell The main plank of the resolution before the Board to deny the Drew Charter High School is based on an often quoted number – 6,200 seat over-capacity in the high schools. In prior posts, I have questioned …

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Patch Voices

The Case For A Senior Academy At Drew Charter

'Students at Drew are outpacing their peers across the state and based on ITBS testing, Drew students are testing above the national average.'

by Tris Sicignano On July 9th the APS Board of Education will vote on whether it will allow Drew Charter to expand its charter to include a high school. Drew supporters are planning a rally scheduled for July 8 to show their support for the charter expansion. Drew Charter School is an Atlanta public school. Founded in 2000, Drew is the City of Atlanta's first charter school. The school started with 240 children in grades kindergarten through fifth and has since grown to serve more than 850 students ages 3 through eighth grade with an average class size of 22 students. In 2000, Drew Charter School was ranked 69th of 69 Atlanta Public Elementary Schools. Currently Drew Charter is ranked No. 4. Students at Drew are outpacing their peers …

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Patch Voices

Approving Drew Charter's High School Plans Would Save Taxpayers $3.6 Million Per Year

One financial expert's rationale for why a Drew Senior Academy makes sense for children, parents, APS and ultimately, taxpayers.

Editor's note: Parents and supporters of Drew Charter School will have to wait until next month to learn if the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education will approve the East Lake school's request to amend its charter to include a high school. Blogger Robert F. Stockwell, a finance and accounting expert by trade whose past corporate posts include McDonald's Corp., PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC and LastMinuteTravel.com, wrote a piece on the Drew Charter situation for his blog, Financial-Deconstruction.com. by Robert F. Stockwell Recently Drew Charter School requested that they be allowed to create a high school with a projected enrollment of up to 650 students. Further, they – and not the taxpayers – would fund the $55 million new building …

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APS Board Tables Drew Charter's High School Plan

School board to take up issue again in July; Drew supporters make the case for an expansion.

Supporters of a plan to create a high school at Drew Charter School in East Lake will have to wait until next month to see if the Atlanta Public Schools' Board of Education will vote to grant their request. At the BOE's June 4th meeting, board members voted to table discussion on the plan until its July meeting. Board Chairman Reuben R. McDaniel III, suggested tabling the measure, saying there were a handful of questions regarding the proposal that remain, including its attendance zone and total number of students. Drew's current zone is grouped into three tiers: Tier 1: (Primary neighborhood): Villages of East Lake Tier 2: (Secondary neighborhoods): East Lake and Kirkwood Tier 3: (Tertiary neighborhoods): the rest of the city of Atlanta …

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UPDATED: Atlanta Board Of Education To Vote On Drew Charter High School Plan

Schools superintendent opposes expansion.

The Atlanta Public Schools' Board of Education is expected to vote today on a request by East Lake's Drew Charter School to expand to include a high school. Despite a concerted drive by parents and supporters of the school — which enjoys the highest academic ranking of the elementary schools that serve East Atlanta Patch neighborhoods — APS Superintendent Erroll B. Davis Jr. opposes the expansion. The reason: A Drew Charter Senior Academy would compete with Jackson High School, located a few miles away in Grant Park, for students. The district, which recently completed a citywide redistricting to reduce the number of empty seats, still has 6,200 vacant desks at the high school level. "Drew Charter School’s planned expansion is not aligned …

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jackie harris

6:06 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012

yes drew should be charter school high. but you to get davis out of office. this man is mess up the system   more ›

Patch Voices

'Reward Success' And Expand Drew Charter To Include A High School

'Drew is a fantastic and successful demonstration model that proves investing in children pays off, no matter what their economic or family background.'

Editor's note: Parents and civic leaders in the East Lake community have been pushing for an expansion of Drew Charter School — the highest academcially-performing school in East Atlanta Patch — to include a high school. In order to do so, Drew, must obtain approval from the Atlanta Public Schools. Schools Superintendent Erroll B. Davis Jr. opposes the expansion. Undeterred, parents and community leaders continue to press the issue, arguing APS should put the interests of children first. Doug Williams, an East Lake parent, wrote a letter to the APS Board of Education to make the case for expansion. He shared his letter with Patch.  by Doug Williams Dear Members of the Atlanta School Board, I am writing you as a parent, and resident in East…

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Parents Push APS Board For High School At Drew Charter

Supporters want the high school expansion; schools superintendent opposes it.

Patch Voices

An Open Letter To Cecily Harsch-Kinnane

East Lake resident questions APS Board of Education member's support — or lack thereof — for a high school at Drew Charter School.

Editor's Note: For many months, there's been a push from a core group of parents and supporters to expand East Lake's Drew Charter School so that it includes a high school component. The drive is fueled by their desire to build on Drew's K-8 program, the best performing elementary school in East Atlanta Patch. Kyle Caldwell, an East Lake resident, sent a letter to Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, the APS Board of Education member whose District 3 includes East Lake. He shared his letter with Patch. Dear Cecily, During your tenure as our board of education representative, I have been thankful for the times that you personally lead our community on issues that affected our educational opportunities here in East Lake. Now, not hearing from you recently…

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East Atlanta Patch Schools Cited For Academic Gains

Toomer, Drew Charter and Mary Lin among schools recognized for achievements.

A handful of schools in East Atlanta Patch were cited by the Governor's Office of Academic Achievement for gains made in the last two years on the Critereon Referenced Competency Test. Schools cited in the "Greatest Gains" category included: The one school cited in the "Highest Performance" category was Candler Park's Mary Lin Elementary, which received a Silver Award. "Mary Lin is a community that thrives on parent involvement and on fundraising. Both are essential in making a quality school," said Alex Coffman,Mary Lin Parent Teacher Association president. The PTA works closely with administration to ensure support of teacher efforts and supplementing those initiatives with programs outside the students' regular school day, she told East…

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Drew Charter, Atlanta Neighborhood Charter And Burgess-Peterson Named 'Distinguished Schools'

Thirteen Georgia schools recognized in all.

by Patch Staff The Georgia Department of Education named 13 Atlanta Public Schools and charter schools — including three in East Atlanta Patch — as Title 1 Distinguished Schools. The list is based on their ability to reach Adequate Yearly Progress for three consecutive years. Among the schools named:  AYP is a federal measure of academic achievement covering various categories of students, including those with disabilities and language challenges. Title 1 schools have significant populations of students who are economically disadvantaged and receive federal funding to assist with the education of their students.

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