For the Media

Seth Coleman, Director of Communications
Email: scoleman@gacharters.org
Office: 404-835-8917
Cell:  404-406-5570

CHARTER FACTS

Charter Movement is Popular, Growing in Georgia

• There are 120 charter schools in Georgia now, compared to 35 charter schools five years ago.
• There are nearly 65,000 students in charter schools in Georgia now, compared to 17,000 students five years ago.
• Both President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have expressed their support for having more charter schools across the nation.

Charters Perform

In Georgia, 83 percent (82.9) of Independent charter schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP, the national measure of student performance) in 2009 compared to 79 percent (79.1) of all traditional public schools. Also, 81 percent (81.1) of all charter schools made AYP compared to 79 percent of all traditional public schools.

Examples of Charter Excellence

• Lewis Academy of Excellence (K-5), a Georgia Distinguished School that has made AYP every year since it openned in 2005.
• Unidos Dual Language Charter School (K-3), a Georgia Distinguished School that has made AYP every year since it openned in 2006.
• Brighten Academy, a Start-Up elementary/middle school (K-8) in Douglasville (Douglas County), had the state’s highest performing fifth graders in math and reading, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s ranking of 2009 Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) results. Brighten Academy is a “Distinguished” school under NCLB.
• University Community Academy, a Start-Up elementary/middle school (K-8) in Atlanta, continued as one of the state’s highest performing Title I schools – those with significant numbers of students living in poverty. UCA, a “Distinguished” school where nearly 80 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced price lunch, made AYP for the sixth consecutive year.  
• Ivy Preparatory Academy, a Start-Up all-girls middle school in Norcross that was recently authorized by the new Georgia Charter Schools Commission, had more than 90 percent of its inaugural sixth grade class meet or exceed standards in reading, English/language arts and math.
• DeKalb PATH Academy, an ethnically diverse Start-Up middle school in DeKalb County, with a  Hispanic population of nearly 70 percent, made AYP for the fourth consecutive year. DeKalb  PATH is a “Distinguished” school.
• Baconton Community Charter School, a Start-Up in Baconton (near Albany) that serves students in pre-K through 12^th grade, made AYP for the seventh consecutive year and is classified as “Distinguished.”
• Woodland Elementary Charter School, an elementary school in Sandy Springs (Fulton County) that converted to a charter school in 2000, made AYP for the seventh consecutive year. Woodland is a “Distinguished” school.

Other New Charter Schools Openning in Fall 2009 in Georgia

Atlanta Preparatory Academy, a traditional Independent Start-Up charter school (K-8) in Atlanta.

Elite Scholars Academy, a new Local Educational Agency (LEA) Start-Up charter school in Clayton County.

Effingham Career Academy, an LEA Start-Up (10-12) in Effingham County.

Houston County Career Academy, a LEA Start-Up (9-12) in Houston County.

KIPP STRIVE, a traditional Start-Up (5-8) in Atlanta.

Lanier Charter Career Academy, an LEA Start-Up (9-12) in Lanier County.

South Eastern Early College & Career Academy, a LEA Start-Up in Toombs County (serving students in Toombs County and Vidalia City).

P.R.E.P. (Preparing for Relevant Economic Pursuits) Academy, a LEA Start-Up (9-12) in Thomas County.