Why Black students at one Atlanta school are excelling in English

Jan 21 2025 Story by: Editor

Heather Perry’s third-grade class at Warren T. Jackson Elementary School showed their enthusiasm for her literacy lessons last week. When asked what they enjoyed most, several students eagerly shared their thoughts.

One student highlighted Perry’s use of mnemonic devices, such as songs, chants, and references to popular TV characters, to make learning engaging and memorable. Another mentioned the agenda planners provided to help students stay organized.

“You always go back if we aren’t understanding,” one student remarked on Thursday.

Perry’s thoughtful teaching approach appears to be making a difference for Black students at Jackson, who are outperforming their peers in other Atlanta Public Schools ( APS ).

“We are so lucky,” said Allyson Atwell, Jackson’s recently appointed principal, in an interview with Capital B Atlanta . “We truly have students who show up every day to learn, and their families are 100% behind that.”

Stark Literacy Gaps Across the District

Despite Jackson’s successes, the broader picture for APS remains concerning. The Georgia Milestones Assessment System ( GMAS ) scores for the 2023-2024 school year revealed that 54% of Black third graders across the district were reading at the lowest proficiency level, a slight improvement from 56% in spring 2023. In contrast, only 4% of white third graders were at this level, while 45% achieved the highest proficiency tier.

The GMAS, Georgia’s standardized testing program, evaluates K-12 students’ mastery of subjects like math, English/language arts, science, and social studies. For literacy, the test categorizes students into four levels: beginning, developing, proficient, and distinguished.

In a district where over 70% of students face economic disadvantages, just 6% of Black third graders achieved distinguished reading levels, underscoring the persistent literacy challenges APS has faced for decades.

What Sets Jackson Apart?

While literacy rates across APS lag, Jackson Elementary stands out. According to recent GMAS data, 59% of Jackson’s Black third graders achieved distinguished reading levels, with 29% reaching proficiency. Notably, none scored at the developing level, a significant improvement from 41% in 2022.

Of Jackson’s 460 students, about 25% are Black, according to Georgia’s College and Career Ready Performance Index. The school serves APS’ North Atlanta cluster but also welcomes students through the district’s school choice program, allowing families from across Atlanta to enroll their children.

Atwell attributes Jackson’s success to targeted support, including a literacy coach trained in the science of reading and partnerships with resources like the Atlanta Speech School.

“APS has been laying a lot of this groundwork for nearly eight years,” Atwell explained. “We’ve been focused on equipping our educators with meaningful professional development and the tools they need to apply new strategies in their classrooms.”

Part of the district’s $1.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2025 allocates $11.8 million to literacy initiatives, including funding literacy coaches for all 55 elementary schools. An additional $9 million supports special education services.

Addressing Pandemic Challenges

Jackson has also worked to tackle external factors affecting students’ learning. After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education, the school focused on rebuilding its community and helping students readjust to classroom learning.

“These third graders we have now were the COVID kindergartners,” Atwell noted. “When they returned, we had to address social and emotional behaviors and rebuild their stamina for a full school day. We also lost students during remote learning and have been actively working to bring families back.”

APS Literacy Initiatives Gain Momentum

To address systemic literacy challenges, APS has launched initiatives like Readers Are Leaders , which focuses on the five pillars of reading science: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This program aligns with Georgia’s Early Literacy Act, which mandates training in reading science for teachers from kindergarten through third grade.

Comer Yates, executive director of the Rollins Center at the Atlanta Speech School, emphasized the broader societal context of literacy challenges.

“It’s not just the district that’s struggling with literacy,” Yates told Capital B Atlanta . “It’s a city or community that has denied children access to educational opportunities for the most unfair, unconscionable reasons possible. Breaking that cycle requires resources and precision to exceed the forces that have perpetuated these inequities.”

Parent Perspectives

Parents like Carlesha Johnson, whose son attends Hope-Hill Elementary, see positive changes.

“I can see a difference in my kid’s reading skills,” Johnson told Capital B Atlanta . “He’s enthusiastic about learning, and that shows me he’s enjoying school.”

She also praised the school’s efforts to keep families informed, noting events like curriculum nights and progress conferences that ensure parents stay engaged.

“They’ve opened the doors to us to stay on top of what our kids are doing,” Johnson said.

Regional Disparities

Black third graders in neighboring districts face similar challenges. In Fulton County, only 10% achieved distinguished reading levels, while the rates were 7% in DeKalb County, 5% in Clayton County, 11% in Cobb County, and 14% in Gwinnett County. Source: Capital B Atlanta