The document provides information on the South Atlanta cluster which includes 9 schools. It lists enrollment, demographic, and assessment data. The cluster goals are to increase proficiency rates in reading, math, science, and attendance while decreasing suspensions. Assessment data from 2011-2013 is analyzed showing trends in CRCT, EOCT, graduation rates. Strategies to improve parental involvement are also outlined.

1. SOUTH ATLANTA Cluster
SOUTH Region
Our Commitment to EXCELLENCE

2. CLUSTER LEADERSHIP
SOUTH ATLANTA CLUSTER PRINCIPALS
SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL’S NAME
Cleveland Avenue Elementary School
Dr. Rhonda Ware-Brazier
Dobbs Elementary School
Dr. Charnita West
Heritage Academy
Mr. Trennis Harvey
Humphries Elementary School
Ms. Melanie Mitchell
Hutchinson Elementary School
Dr. Shaunta Broadway
Long Middle School
Ms. Lisa Hill
South Atlanta Computer Animation and Design
Mr. Jarod Scott
South Atlanta Health and Medical Sciences
Dr. Patricia Ford
South Atlanta Law and Social Justices
Ms. Charlotte Davis
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2

3. CLUSTER DEMOGRAPHICS
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
TYPE
ENROLLMENT
GIFTED
SWD
HISPANIC
BLACK
OTHERS
CLEVELAND
E
362
68
42
23
336
3
DOBBS
E
553
15
34
14
527
12
HERITAGE
E
537
69
18
7
526
4
HUMPHRIES
E
356
8
35
57
297
2
HUTCHINSON
E
396
68
26
85
302
9
LONG
M
698
107
124
39
638
21
SOUTH ATLANTA
CAD
H
300
63
44
19
268
13
SOUTH ATLANTA
HMS
H
310
57
48
14
292
4
SOUTH ATLANTA
LAW
H
303
63
45
12
287
4
TOTAL
NA
3815
518
416
270
3473
72
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3

4. CLUSTER GOALS
GOAL #1 Focus Area: Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum Reading
Systematically and deliberately assess, plan, and implement
instructional strategies that will allow students multiple
opportunities to engage, interact, and connect with informational
and literary texts:
SMART GOALS:
•
Increase the percentage of 9th and 11th grade students scoring
proficient or higher in Literature by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014
school year as measured by the EOCT.
•
Increase the percentage of 3rd-8th grade students scoring proficient
or higher in Reading (comprehension) and Reading (informational
and media literacy) by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year
as measured by the CRCT.
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4

5. CLUSTER GOALS
GOAL #2 Focus Area: Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum –
Mathematics
Systematically and deliberately implement the teach, assess, re-engage,
re-assess cycle that will allow students multiple opportunities to engage,
interact with and master mathematics standards:
SMART GOALS:
• Increase the percentage of 9th grade students scoring proficient or
higher in Coordinate Algebra by 4%, by the end of the 2013-2014
school year as measured by the EOCT.
• Increase the percentage of 3rd – 8th grade students scoring proficient or
higher in mathematics by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year
as measured by the CRCT.
12/10/2013
5

6. CLUSTER GOALS
GOAL #3 Focus Area: Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum –
Science
The common core literacy standards for science and technical subjects are
to be implemented for all grades. Students will be encouraged to
read, think, talk, and write more within the sciences.
SMART GOALS:
• Increase the percentage of students scoring proficient or higher in
Biology by 4%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as measured
by the EOCT.
• Increase the percentage of students scoring proficient or higher in
Physical Science by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as
measured by the EOCT.
• Increase the percentage of 3rd – 8th grade students scoring proficient or
higher in science by 3%, by the end of the 2013-2014 school year as
measured by the CRCT.
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6

7. CLUSTER GOALS
GOAL #4 Focus Area: Student, Parent and Community
Engagement – Attendance
Measurable Goal(s):
Implement a strategic attendance plan that increases students’
attendance rates in the South Atlanta Cluster, while decreasing
the percent of students absent more than 10 days by 5%
(beginning in September 2013 based on analysis of Infinite
Campus daily attendance data trends).
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8. CLUSTER GOALS
GOAL #5 Focus Area: Student, Parent and Community
Engagement - Communication
Measurable Goal(s):
Implement a communication plan that increases student, parent
and community engagement and involvement by at least 10%
(beginning in September 2013 based on an analysis of Infinite
Campus Messaging System data and other data from various
school events).
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9. CLUSTER GOALS
GOAL #6 Focus Area: Safe and Supportive Learning
Environment - Behavior Intervention
Measurable Goal(s):
Implement a school-wide behavior plan so that student
suspensions and referrals are reduced by at least 5%, based on
previous analysis of suspensions and other office
referral/discipline data.
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9

10. ATTENDANCE DATA
SY 2011-12
SY 2012-13
SY 2013-14
South Atlanta Cluster
Attendance Rates: 2011-12 to 2013-14(***2013-14 as of Nov 2013)
100.0%
95.0%
90.0%
Percentage
85.0%
80.0%
75.0%
70.0%
65.0%
60.0%
55.0%
50.0%
SY 2011-12
CLEVELAND
97.4%
DOBBS
96.3%
HERITAGE
95.9%
HUMPHRIES
97.1%
HUTCHINSON
95.7%
LONG
95.9%
SA CAD
93.8%
SA HMS
93.7%
SA LAW
94.1%
SY 2012-13
SY 2013-14
95.5%
96.3%
95.4%
96.4%
96.1%
97.1%
94.9%
94.6%
94.8%
95.2%
96.6%
95.0%
91.0%
94.4%
91.6%
94.5%
90.6%
93.9%
Schools
12/10/2013
10

11. ENROLLMENT TRENDS
South Atlanta Cluster
Enrollment Trends: 2011-12 to 2013-14(***note 2013-14 based on Nov 2013)
800
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
700
600
# of students
500
400
300
200
100
0
CLEVELA
ND
DOBBS
HERITAGE
HUMPHRI
ES
HUTCHINS
ON
LONG
SA CAD
SA HMS
SA LAW
2011-12
320
580
468
378
421
575
346
344
342
2012-13
327
571
495
353
428
698
306
315
292
2013-14
362
553
537
356
396
698
300
310
303
Schools
12/10/2013
11

12. Students with disabilities in APS
• Across the district, we are building a much
more inclusive environment
• Many more students with disabilities are
spending more instructional time in general
education settings
• Many more co-teaching classes
– General education and special education teacher
provides instruction to a class of students with
and without disabilities
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12

13. Percentage of students with disabilities who spend
at least 80% of their school day in general education settings
70
65
62.1
62.9
64.0
64.8
58.0
60
55.0
55
48.2
50
45
48.3
2010-2011
2011-2012
45.8
2009-2010
Georgia
Oct. 2012
Mar. 2013
Oct. 2013
Atlanta Public Schools

14. CRCT DATA ANALYSIS
South Region CRCT Trend Data
100
93
90
Percentage of Students Meeting & Exceeding
82
83
93
83
82
79
80
78
70
77
65
60
57
56
53
51
53
50
2011 - 2012
2012 - 2013
40
State Avg.
30
20
10
0
Reading
ELA
Math
Sci
Soc. Studies
Subjects
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14

15. DATA ANALYSIS-ASSESSMENTS
(exit data from high schools)
South Atlanta Cluster
100.0%
2011-12 EOCT
EOCT 9th Grade Literature Data Trends: 2011-12 to 2012-13
2012-13 EOCT
90.0%
Percentage Passing
80.0%
67.0%
70.0%
60.0%
62.3%
57.7%
62.3%
62.1%
58.5%
61.2%
63.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
SOUTH ATLANTA
CAD
SOUTH ATLANTA
HMS
SOUTH ATLANTA
LAW
CLUSTER TOTAL
2011-12 EOCT
57.7%
62.3%
62.1%
61.2%
2012-13 EOCT
62.3%
58.5%
67.0%
Schools and Region
63.0%
12/10/2013
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16. DATA ANALYSIS-ASSESSMENTS
(exit data from high schools)
South Atlanta Cluster
100.0%
EOCT American Literature Data Trends: 2011-12 to 2012-13
89.7%
90.0%
87.9%
81.2%
80.0%
2011-12 EOCT
2012-13 EOCT
77.8%
75.8%
79.4% 79.5%
Percentage Passing
70.3%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
SOUTH ATLANTA
CAD
SOUTH ATLANTA
HMS
SOUTH ATLANTA
LAW
CLUSTER TOTAL
2011-12 EOCT
75.8%
89.7%
77.8%
79.4%
2012-13 EOCT
70.3%
81.2%
87.9%
79.5%
Schools & Region
12/10/2013
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17. DATA ANALYSIS-ASSESSMENTS
(exit data from high schools)
South Atlanta Cluster
EOCT Biology Data Trends: 2011-12 to 2012-13
100.0%
2011-12 EOCT
2012-13 EOCT
90.0%
Percentage Passing
80.0%
66.7%
70.0%
60.0%
59.4%
53.2%
52.0%
50.0%
45.1%
No
students
57.0%
45.8%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
SOUTH ATLANTA
CAD
SOUTH ATLANTA
HMS
SOUTH ATLANTA
LAW
CLUSTER TOTAL
2011-12 EOCT
59.4%
45.1%
45.8%
51.8%
2012-13 EOCT
66.7%
52.0%
53.2%
Schools and Region
57.0%
12/10/2013
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18. DATA ANALYSIS-ASSESSMENTS
(exit data from high schools)
South Atlanta Cluster
20.0%
EOCT Coordinate Algebra Data: 2012-13 *baseline data year
2012-13 EOCT
18.0%
16.0%
Percentage Passing
14.0%
12.0%
10.0%
9.0%
9.0%
9.0%
8.0%
8.0%
6.0%
4.0%
2.0%
0.0%
2012-13 EOCT
12/10/2013
SOUTH ATLANTA
CAD
9.0%
SOUTH ATLANTA
HMS
SOUTH ATLANTA
LAW
9.0%
8.0%
Schools and Region
CLUSTER TOTAL
9.0%
18

19. DATA ANALYSIS-ASSESSMENTS
(exit data from high schools)
South Atlanta Cluster
100.0%
EOCT US History Data Trends: 2011-12 to 2012-13
2011-12 EOCT
2012-13 EOCT
90.0%
80.0%
Percentage Passing
72.7%
69.6%
70.0%
64.3%
67.7%
67.1%
60.9%
57.1%
60.0%
50.0%
41.4%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
SOUTH ATLANTA
CAD
SOUTH ATLANTA
HMS
SOUTH ATLANTA
LAW
CLUSTER TOTAL
2011-12 EOCT
60.9%
41.4%
69.6%
57.1%
2012-13 EOCT
72.7%
64.3%
67.1%
Schools and Region
67.7%
12/10/2013
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20. DATA ANALYSIS-ASSESSMENTS
(exit data from high schools)
South Atlanta Cluster
100.0%
EOCT Economics Data Trends: 2011-12 to 2012-13
2011-12 EOCT
2012-13 EOCT
97.4%
94.3%
90.0%
90.0%
84.0%
80.0%
79.1%
Percentage Passing
80.0%
78.9%
70.0%
60.0%
53.1%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
SOUTH ATLANTA
CAD
SOUTH ATLANTA
HMS
SOUTH ATLANTA
LAW
CLUSTER TOTAL
2011-12 EOCT
53.1%
94.3%
97.4%
78.9%
2012-13 EOCT
80.0%
90.0%
79.1%
Schools and Region
84.0%
12/10/2013
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21. COHORT GRADUATION RATE
Graduation Rates
South Atlanta Cluster
2011
2012
100.00%
90.00%
80.00%
69.72%
70.00%
67.42%
63.29%
Percentage
67.40%
60.00%
56.76%
59.49%
60.00%
56.04%
51.96%
50.87%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
2011
2012
State
67.40%
69.72%
APS-District
51.96%
50.87%
SOUTH ATLANTA CAD
56.76%
60.00%
SOUTH ATLANTA HMS
63.29%
67.42%
SOUTH ATLANTA LAW
59.49%
56.04%
Schools
12/10/2013
21

22. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
The Opportunity: What Family Engagement/Parental Involvement Looks
Like for the South Region/South Atlanta Cluster
Family Engagement/Parental Involvement for the South Region is a collaborative on-going
partnership between South Region, families, parents and schools. We recognize that
family engagement/parental involvement is vital to student success. Therefore, we strive
to work together build strong partnerships with parents to bridge the gap between the
home and the school.
What the South Region/South Atlanta Cluster will specifically do:
1. Listen to the felt needs of parents in order to build academically and socially sound
family engagement programming.
2. Consistently conduct needs assessments to determine the needs of families at the
district and school levels.
3. Be intentional about educating ALL staff through faculty and staff meetings about the
importance of family engagement and parental involvement at the school-level.
4. Create a warm and welcoming space and environment as parents enter the building.
5. Provide incentives for parents that regularly attend district and school level family
engagement/parental involvement activities and workshops.
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22

23. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
What South Region South Atlanta Cluster parents can specifically do:
1. Share needs/barriers with school staff. (Principals, Parent Liaisons, Teachers and other
Support Staff)
2. Make certain to take family engagement/parental involvement surveys offered at the
district and school levels.
3. Check with the school’s parent liaison to receive information pertaining to family
engagement/parental involvement activities and events.
Barriers Preventing Parents from Experiencing Family Engagement/ Parental
Involvement
Currently we are experiencing some barriers as it relates to family engagement/
parental involvement in the South Region/ Caver Cluster. It is our goal to decrease the
barriers in order to increase involvement and participation. Some barriers include:
1. Parents are dealing with personal issues that hinder their involvement/participation.
2. Lack of zeal and time.
3. Educational Barriers that prevent parents from effectively communicating with school staff
and teachers regarding their child’s education.
4. Inclusion of the entire school staff (Principal, Asst. Principals, Parent
Liaisons, Teachers, and other support staff) supporting the family engagement/parental
involvement program and its initiatives.
12/10/2013
23

24. CLUSTER INITIATIVES AND HIGHLIGHTS
1.
Monthly Cluster Meeting – All schools participates in monthly South
Atlanta cluster meetings to address academic needs (teachers and
instructional coaches)
2.
Monthly Principal’s meeting – All cluster principals meet with the
Regional Executive Director to discuss and address students’ needs
related to academic and school safety issues
3.
Utilizing ThinkGate Student Management System to create common
assessments
4.
Quarterly Professional Development with Common Core and Dan
Mulligan’s Instructional Strategies for instructional coaches
5.
Schools have employed behavioral specialists to assist with severe
issues
6.
All middle & high school have employed graduation coaches to
intervene with students who are not “on-track”
12/10/2013
24

25. School Highlights
Elementary Schools:
Cleveland
 Rita Simmons has been recognized as Cleveland Avenue’s Teacher of
the Year, the Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and the District’s
Teacher of the Year
Dobbs
 Built a playground and planted an intergenerational community garden
with the assistance of 312 faculty, staff, and community members
 Had the highest Computer Adaptive Assessment Scores in the cluster
for the fall 2013 administration
 Promoting family and community engagement through an onsite GED
program, “Real Men Read” community project, donating 70
Thanksgiving baskets to families, and donating 615 pounds of canned
goods during the Fal-Can food drive
12/10/2013
25

26. School Highlights
Heritage
 Ranked 10th out of 52 elementary schools in Atlanta Public Schools in
terms of student academic growth for the 2012 – 2013 school year.
 Heritage Academy students have read over 11,000,000 words between
the months of August and November, 2013 based on Accelerated
Reader results.
 With the help of Derrick Boazman of WAOK radio, the Heritage
Academy “Real Men Read” initiative has brought over 200 male
community members into the school to mentor and read with the
students of Heritage Academy over the last 3 school years.
Humphries
 Largest amount of academic growth in the S. Region for two years
 Recipient of $1,000 from Walmart Community Giving Grant
 Monthly parental involvement has doubled and continues to grow
12/10/2013
26

27. School Highlights
Hutchinson
 Recipient of the Laura Bush Foundation for American Libraries Grant
 Toni Griffin, teacher, is the recipient of the Explore Learning Reflex
Educator Grant
 Angelle Sullivan, teacher, earned funding from Donor’s Choose for a
classroom project
12/10/2013
27

28. School Highlights
Middle School – Long Middle School :



12/10/2013
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation donation of musical instruments with a
total retail value of $31,033
Atlanta Falcons and NFL Youth Football Fund Grant awarded in the
amount of $1,000
Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant in the amount of $2,000
28

29. School Highlights
High School-South Atlanta High School:
South Atlanta School of Computer Animation and Design
 2012 & 2013 - Produced two Gates Millennium Scholars
 2013 – First student enrolled full time at Atlanta Area Tech in the Dual
Enrolment Program
 Increase in 7 of 8 academic areas as measured by Georgia’s End-ofCourse Test (EOCT)
 Has a State and Industry Certified Engineering Program and one of a
few high schools in the state with an Animation Program
South Atlanta School of Health and Medical Science
 Class of 2013 amassed over 3.5 million in scholarships
 Has the highest number of Career & Technical Education completers in
the district
South Atlanta School of Law and Social Justice
 Recognized as a Title I Reward School for High Progress for the 20132014 school year
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29

30. PROGRESS MONITORING
GOAL #1 Monitoring of Reading
Cluster School Leadership will:






12/10/2013
Ensure students are administered computer adaptive assessments with
teachers using data to modify their instructional practices
Monitor the use of advanced organizers, such as Thinking Maps, as a
method of organizing students thoughts and making text-to-self, text-totext, and text-to-world connections when interacting with text.
Participate in PLCs discussions with instructional staff to focus on
vocabulary acquisition that will enable students to discover the meaning of
content-specific words that can be integrated across the curriculum
Meet with teachers during professional learning communities (PLCs)
designated planning times to participate in discussions with addressing
students’ needs
Fiscal Resources: Instructional Coaches, Teachers, Special Education Lead
Teachers, Assistant Principals, Principals
***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met quarterly
30

31. PROGRESS MONITORING
GOAL #2 Monitoring of Mathematics
Cluster School Leadership will:

Monitor cluster goals (increasing mathematics achievement) through
reviewing monthly instructional coaches’ meeting notes to determine
whether monthly focus aligns with overall goals

Ensure students are administered computer adaptive assessments with
teacher using data to modify their instructional practices

Examine weekly, bi-weekly, and unit assessments in mathematics to ensure
standards are being taught at appropriate levels of rigor

Ensure staff is providing multiple opportunities for students to re-engage
and be re-assessed on un-mastered standards.

Meet with teachers during professional learning communities (PLCs)
designated planning times to participate in discussions addressing students’
needs

Fiscal Resources: Instructional Coaches, Teachers, Special Education Lead
Teachers, Assistant Principals, Principals

12/10/2013
***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met quarterly
31

32. PROGRESS MONITORING
GOAL #3 Monitoring of Science
Cluster School Leadership will:

Monitor cluster goals (increasing science achievement) through reviewing
monthly PLC notes and action items to determine whether monthly focus
aligns with overall goals

Ensure literacy strategies are consistently integrated into the science
curriculum by review lesson plan and conducting observations

Examine weekly, bi-weekly, and unit assessments in science to ensure
standards are being taught at appropriate levels of rigor

Ensure that all science classes provide hands-on lab experiences at least
once a week

Provide model science classroom at every grade level within the cluster to
serve as demonstration classrooms for professional development
opportunities teachers and instructional coaches

Fiscal Resources: Instructional Coaches, Teachers, Special Education Lead
Teachers, Assistant Principals, Principals

12/10/2013
***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met quarterly
32

33. PROGRESS MONITORING
GOAL #4 Monitoring of Attendance
Cluster School Leadership will:

Monitor cluster goals (decreasing students’ absenteeism by 5% - missing 10
or more days) through reviewing infinite campus student data related to
absent days and tardiness

Ensure teachers submit counselor and social worker referrals for students
with attendance issues in a timely manner

Review teacher contact/call logs to ensure all parents are informed of
students’ attendance issues

Review attendance reports created by the school counselors to actively
monitor submission by teachers (with the most severe cases being
forwarded to school social worker)

Develop and Implement a positive reinforcement program for perfect and
excellent attendance through celebrations

Fiscal Resources: School Attendance Clerks/Secretaries, Teachers, Special
Education Lead Teachers, Counselors, School Social Workers, Assistant
Principals, Principals

12/10/2013
***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met monthly
33

34. PROGRESS MONITORING
GOAL #5 Monitoring of Parental Involvement
Cluster School Leadership will:






12/10/2013
Monitor cluster goals (increasing parental involvement by 10%)
through reviewing parent-teacher association (PTA) attendance
list, parent conference logs by teacher, parent logs located in main
office
Meet with parent liaison personnel to ensure monthly goals are met
through monthly activities, volunteering, etc.
Monitor automated telephone calls to all families about district and
school events via the Infinite Campus Messaging System
Create calendar of events that will involve parents on a regular basis
Review teacher contact/call logs to ensure all parents are informed
of students’ progress towards meeting academics goals
Fiscal Resources: Parent Liaisons, Students, Teachers, Special
Education Lead Teachers, Graduation Coaches, Counselors, Assistant
34
Principals, Principals

35. PROGRESS MONITORING
GOAL #6 Monitoring of Behavior Intervention
Cluster School Leadership will:






12/10/2013
Monitor cluster goals (decrease student suspensions and referrals
by 5%) through student discipline records
Meet with school behavior specialist to ensure monthly goals are
met through monthly activities, volunteering, etc.
Implement activities that address model or expected positive
behaviors through assemblies, motivational speakers, monthly
homeroom discussions, etc.
Review teacher contact/call logs to ensure all parents are informed
of students’ progress towards meeting discipline goals
Fiscal Resources: Behavior Specialists, Graduation
Coaches, Students, Teachers, Special Education Lead
Teachers, Counselors, Assistant Principals, Principals
***Modifications will be implemented if interventions are not met monthly
35

36. Q A
&
12/10/2013
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