Fulton County Schools District News

What do you do when you are committed to engaging all students and staff in extracurricular activities and many of your students can’t stay after school for clubs? You build them into the school day so that engagement is accessible to all!

Ice cream can be a very convincing motivator for kids of all ages, and McNair Middle School has figured out a way to harness the irresistible sweet treat’s power to fight against chronic absenteeism

The air in the gymnasium was thick with anticipation, with more than 150 Ison Springs Elementary School students in attendance. Their eyes were fixated on one person, New York Times-bestselling author Katherine Applegate. The students, especially those who had brought their favorite stuffed animals along, hung on to Applegate’s every word with a tight, attentive grip as she shared one of her latest books.

High Point Elementary School’s 5th graders are on a journey to change the world around them, and it starts with their dreams for the future. Over 100 students from their graduating class participated in a 7-day workshop series that set them on a course for success with a roadmap created by an entrepreneur who knows what it takes to turn dreams into reality.

A. Philip Randolph Elementary School recently received the distinction of Document Based Questions (DBQ) Project Distinguished School. The DBQ Project is a tool featuring a six-step method that builds on students’ curiosity and increases motivation and confidence to answer a compelling, authentic question.

Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School hosted the “Decades of Excellence Black History Program” on February 27, bringing a full circle event with celebrations honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Asa G Hilliard III, an esteemed scholar and champion of African-centered education.

Cell phones, iPads, Bluetooth headphones, and TikTok are almost unbeatable in a popularity contest with a book. One would think that a form of entertainment that has existed for centuries wouldn’t stand a chance. At the 2025 Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, however, hundreds of students proved that the passion for reading still exists.

This fall, 80 fifth graders from Randolph Elementary School in south Fulton traveled to Alabama for an all-day field trip. The students and their teachers took two college campus visits to Auburn University and Tuskegee University. Thanks to funding from Randolph’s School Governance Council (SGC), the field trip came at no cost to the fifth graders and their families, and didn’t require a school fundraiser. 

The 3rd annual Middle School Expo, held in January at Banneker High School, brought career visions to life for students across the district. Designed as an interactive experience, the event introduced middle schoolers to a variety of career paths available in Fulton County high schools and beyond.

Johns Creek High School is buzzing with excitement as they gear up for Microsoft's first-ever student AI Prompt-a-thon on March 3rd! Led by Dr. Steven Sweigart and Dr. Raymond Schenk, this event promises to be a fun-filled opportunity for students to sharpen their AI prompting skills. Who knew that talking to artificial intelligence could be this much fun?

From bean-throwing to ogre mask crafting, students from Ridgeview Middle School celebrated Japanese culture with the Office of the Consulate General of Japan. On Friday, February 7th, students were taught the significance of Setsubun, also known as a Bean-Throwing ceremony, which is a traditional festival that marks the transition from winter to spring.

“In safeguarding the freedom to read, we cultivate the architects of our future -- a future that thrives on diverse ideas and critical thought.” That insight comes from Webb Bridge Middle School (WBMS) eighth grader Anukth Gasikanti – one of six students recognized in the “Exemplary Essays” category in the 2024 Freedom to Read Georgia contest. All six students are eighth graders at WBMS.

Three furry, new hires are currently in training for their new district positions as K9 officers in the Fulton County Schools (FCS) police department. Delilah, Ducky and Ernie, all 18-month-old Labrador Retrievers, began their program with their respective handlers, FCS police officers Broderick Cleveland, Jerry Robinson and Sean Hanse on February 3. The canines, who have been formally introduced at a recent Fulton County Board of Education meeting, will soon be ready for their jobs as experts at identifying weapons and helping keep students safe.

At GIA, the School Governance Council is breaking traditional molds. No longer confined to a select few, the council is inviting fresh voices, from passionate parents and innovative educators to engaged community members, to help steer the school’s future. With a dynamic funding request initiative now in place, innovative projects are taking shape.

The School Governance Council (SGC) at Vickery Mill Elementary School (VMES) aimed to uncover the root causes of absenteeism. Partnering with the community and local faith-based organizations, they adopted a human-centered approach to find solutions. Collaborating with SGC member Stacy Perlman, they used Design Thinking to address attendance and school bus safety issues, focusing on the needs of the community.

When you reflect on your favorite meals on your school menu, what comes to mind? For Fulton County School (FCS) students, the most popular picks include items you might find at a high-end restaurant: jerk chicken alfredo pasta, birria barbacoa nachos and jalapeño bacon mac & cheese. Meet our discerning student judges who have participated in the annual FCS Student Choice Food Challenge.

The Fulton County Schools (FCS) social studies department held its second annual Jimmy Carter and Andrew Young Social Studies Championship at the Carter Center on December 14, 2024. Third through fifth-grade students from the two finalist schools, Crabapple Crossing Elementary School in Milton and Dolvin Elementary in Roswell School, competed for the first-place prize in a quiz bowl-style contest and debate.

Learning how to properly tie a necktie is one the many rites of passage for a young man. It is a skill Gerald Harris, dean of students at Benjamin Banneker High School, learned from his father. Now, he’s paying it forward.

Applying cybersecurity and machine learning to healthcare challenges, Shiv Garg, a high school junior at Fulton County Schools Innovation Academy, has created EyeAI, a cutting-edge tool that uses artificial intelligence to help diagnose eye diseases.

Exciting things are happening in Fulton County Schools. Westlake High School has entered a transformative partnership with the Music Education Group, Inc. (MEG), an organization focused on empowering young minds through hands-on experiences in music, film, and digital media.

Creekside High School recently welcomed a delegation of educational leaders eager to explore how its Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is transforming lives. During the AVID “Showcase”, visitors observed classrooms, met with administrators, and spoke directly with students to see how Creekside is empowering learners to achieve their college and career goals.

Dunwoody Springs Elementary School third-grader Wade Williams was just five years old when his grandmother Alfreda Williams contracted coronavirus. He was scared and full of questions, but Wade decided to use his experiences to inspire others to be as healthy as possible.

Art teachers teach their students to create and often encourage students to share their creative works with others. Now, the talents of 10 Fulton County Schools (FCS) art teachers are featured in a local art show.

Fulton County Schools has continued a remarkable four-year streak by achieving a historic milestone with a new four-year graduation rate of 90.7%. The district also surpassed state performance in the other key metrics outlined by Georgia’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).

Students from Alpharetta, Creek View, High Point, and New Prospect Elementary Schools recently took part in an inspiring initiative designed to tackle girl-against-girl bullying. The Kind Campaign’s founders brought the nationally renowned and impactful program to Fulton County Schools (FCS) to raise awareness of bullying among girls and foster a culture of empathy, healing, and kindness.

One magical day in October, students at Liberty Point Elementary School played the role of princesses and princes. The young royals dressed in their finest frocks and walked through hallways decorated in a Mardi Gras theme. Conversations centered around one big moment – a visit from Anika Noni Rose.

Each year School Transportation News (STN) recognizes outstanding bus fleet management professionals across the country and highlights Garage Stars in their magazine. FCS Foreman Scottie McKinzie was nominated by Tom Hopkins and Chelsea Uphaus of ROUSH CleanTech...

Leaving the comforts of elementary school behind and entering the unknown of middle school can cause some apprehension in 5th graders, unless you are a student of teacher Thomas Bussey. His classes at Hapeville Elementary School are designed to instill student confidence and bring instruction to life.

FCS proudly announces that thirty of its schools have been recognized as Math Leader schools by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). This recognition places FCS among the top districts in Georgia for excellence in mathematics education, ranking third after Gwinnett and Cobb counties.

The Georgia Department of Education announced the 2024 Literacy Leaders, and for the second year in a row, Fulton County Schools (FCS) leads the state. This recognition highlights 26 schools for their achievement or growth in the percentage of elementary and middle school students reading at or above grade level...

In celebration of National Family Engagement Month, Fulton County Schools (FCS) will again host Family Matters, a district-wide event to celebrate and engage FCS families. Building on last year’s success, which attracted nearly 1,000 attendees, Family Matters will be hosted at two schools, one in the northern part of the district and the other in the south, to ensure access for families across Fulton County.

Summit Hill Elementary School’s mission statement is, “We strive to help and excel in all we do by being proactive, accountable, and willing to lead.” Under the leadership of Principal Dr. Lorrie Bearden, the school now has a responsibility to put that mission into action as a 2024 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (BRSE).

The APEC Family Foundation, founded over two decades ago by two passionate parents, Angelique and Corey Dutch, is dedicated to empowering FCS students.  When the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, Bright from the Start, awarded the foundation a $120,000 health and safety grant, APEC used the funds to provide outdoor basketball courts at four FCS schools.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) 2024 graduating seniors not only achieved the highest ACT test participation rate in Georgia but also outperformed their state and national peers in composite scores for the eighth consecutive year. The percentage of ACT-tested graduates rose from 47.8% in 2023 to 54.8% in 2024, marking a seven-point increase.

It was a magical moment. A crowd of kindergarteners, first graders and second graders held in rapt attention with their listening ears working at maximum capacity. Teachers and staff at Medlock Bridge Elementary made it happen with the help of author Ann Patchett and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) proudly announces a new milestone with a 90.7% graduation rate, the highest ever recorded for the district. This marks an increase from last year’s 90.3% and the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking success.

FCS continues to outperform both the state and Metro Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA) in mathematics, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s (GADOE) April 2024 Georgia Milestones results.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) students once again surpassed both state and national averages on the SAT, marking the eighth consecutive year of this achievement. For the class of 2024, FCS students recorded a mean total score of 1063, outpacing the Georgia average by 33 points and the national average by 68 points.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) recently introduced "Buster," an innovative addition to the district's transportation safety initiatives. Buster, a large remote-controlled miniature school bus, measures approximately three feet in height and extends four to four and a half feet from front to back.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) kicked off the new school year with an inspiring and energetic celebration, as small groups of students engaged in lively discussions with industry science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experts.

Chattahoochee High School students shared their talents with the nation this summer. Soon, the school’s trophy case will be filled with proof, courtesy of the Beta Club. Chattahoochee students placed in the top 10 of 15 categories at the 44th Senior National Beta Convention in Savannah.

According to an American Automotive Association (AAA) survey, 43% of Georgians admitted to driving over the speed limit in active school zones with flashing lights. Additionally, 30% of Georgians admitted to using a hand-held cell phone in an active school zone.

On Saturday, July 27, members of the FCS Board of Education, the superintendent and members of his executive cabinet held a back-to-school press briefing at the FCS South Learning Facility in Union City. The recoding is now available on YouTube.

Fulton County Schools’ exceptional 2024 Georgia Milestones test results are a true testament to academic excellence as students continue their path toward academic progress...

Exemplifying Fulton County Schools’ strong emphasis on high academic achievement, 2024 marked another banner year for students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses. With more than ten thousand students participating in the AP program across 39 different subjects...

In March, 72 FCS sophomores and juniors were notified of their acceptance into the Georgia Governors Honors Program, a residential educational experience for public, private, charter and homeschooled finalists.

Typically, teachers try to avoid a day becoming a disaster. But on March 22nd at Innovation Academy, a disaster was a huge success.

A group of dedicated students from River Trail Middle School is enjoying their recent win at both Georgia’s Academic Bowl state championships and the national championship.

As a bus driver for Fulton County Schools (FCS), Lisa Jacobs knows her role means more than ensuring students get to and from school on time. She drives a classroom on wheels.

In June 2023, FCS Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef Jr. was awarded the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International Eagle Award for his outstanding leadership contributions in the field of education...

The Bethune robotics team named, built and operated their robot, Orange Phoenix, as they closely followed guidelines of the National Beta Club state competition. They were coached by Schuyler Hollis

Flower beds full of daffodils greeted visitors with beaming yellow warmth on a cold, rainy day as they walked into New Prospect Elementary School (NPE) for their early March Daffodil Project blooming ceremony. Aimed at creating a living memorial for the 1.5 million children who perished during the Holocaust, the Daffodil Project helps make an historic issue relatable to current school-aged children.

Model PLC at Work™ (Professional Learning Community) schools are notably some of the highest performing schools in the nation. Fulton County Schools' (FCS) Webb Bridge Middle School (WBMS) now carries that recognition. This is the first time Webb Bridge has applied for and been awarded the honor and the first middle school in the district to receive the distinction.

"We're only as good as our weakest members." 
Milton High School Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion Director Kevin Kenney shares his philosophy to keep the beat going strong. Last November, he led the school's Percussion Ensemble to win first place at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Four students -- Cole Martin, Alex Burton, Chis Enderle and Haley Hoover - took the top spot out of thousands of drummers and percussionists in attendance from all over the world.

As promised by the one-penny sales tax for education (ESPLOST), a new facility will be built to replace S.L. Lewis Elementary School. For this to happen, the Fulton County School Board must first decommission the current building so it can be torn down and construction can begin.

Timing is important for runners. Stopwatches and scoreboards gauge success. A specific stretch of time played a key role in a successful season for the Boys Cross Country Team at Chattahoochee High School. Head Coach Tim Reeder and Coach Mike Morris call it “22 hours.” “You're at practice for two hours,” says Morris. “But what you do the other 22 hours of the day is what's really going to make you succeed.”

Resilient is the best way to describe Milton High School’s state-champion football team. “Our kids’ resiliency was unmatched,” said Athletic Director Kory Keys. “They lost a couple of games early in the season, and they used those games as motivation to bounce back. Every time a game got difficult down the stretch, they were unflappable. It’s a testament to their toughness and the coaches’ belief in them.”

When he graduated January 8, 2024 from Langston Hughes High School, star quarterback Prentiss Air Noland became part of a family tradition. "My older siblings all graduated from high school early," Noland said. "I had no choice but to graduate early and go to college."

It is the time of year when the high-spirited sounds of high school marching bands fill the fall air as the music, dance and pageantry of competition united the Fulton County Schools community...

When Israel Young, a 5th grader at Cliftondale Elementary, decided to run for president of the Georgia Elementary National Beta Club, he knew what he had to do. "I made sure to establish communication with my Beta club members at school, and with the students at the convention in Savannah," Young said. "Communication is key."

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) released the annual categories of needs improvement lists, and Fulton County Schools (FCS) showed both gains and areas in need of improvement. Four schools were removed from targeted assistance lists due to outstanding efforts by staff and students; while additional schools were added or remained.

The North Springs High School EcoSpartans are on the frontlines of a battle to make the world a greener place. The EcoSpartans are a team of Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Engineering students led by North Springs teacher, Dr. Sharmila Durai. The EcoSpartans recently claimed victory in the Georgia Power Careers in Energy Week Student Challenge. This is the second year in a row North Springs took home the winning title.

Dr. Brian Patterson and Angela Wilborn, two Fulton County Schools (FCS) Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) teachers, were named to the 7th Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) class of 2023-2024. Only 20 educators across Georgia are admitted each year.

How do you make sure Fulton County Schools has your feedback on the most important items facing the district? By sharing your thoughts on the annual Georgia Department of Education Parent Survey.

"The work that we're doing is really working." Principal Stanetress Evans sums up the accolade for Fulton Schools where 22 elementary schools were recognized as "Literacy Leaders."

Several PTAs in north Fulton made the commitment with their respective schools to enrich the experiences of stakeholders by meeting the National PTA standards for Family-School Partnerships. The year-long process...

When Tara Parla was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2010, "we decided to turn our negative into a positive, and start something," says Tara's husband, Jon. That is how The Passion Foundation was born.

In honor of National Family Engagement Month, Fulton County Schools (FCS) will host two exciting districtwide Family Engagement events to spotlight family engagement and how it directly correlates with student academic and extracurricular achievement.

Five Northview High School seniors qualified to submit a project to NASA and were named in the top five nationally, which came with an invitation to present their project at the Johnson Space Center in Houston this past April....

Fulton County Schools (FCS) 2023 graduating seniors have exceeded the state and national ACT composite scores for the seventh consecutive year and are participating in greater numbers.

The Georgia Department of Education (GADOE) released new data today showing Fulton County Schools (FCS) with a 90.3 percent graduation rate, achieving the highest ever recorded graduation rate for the third year in a row...

FCS continues to receive recognition from the state of Georgia’s Positive Behavioral Interventions Supports (PBIS) recognition program. PBIS is designed to improve conditions...

FCS increased student participation in taking the SATs for 2023 graduating seniors with a growth of 170 students or 6%. Since the pandemic, participation...

She melted hearts as Elsa in “Frozen” and defied gravity as Elphaba in “Wicked.” Recently, Broadway actress Idina Menzel took center stage with her sister - author and teacher Cara Mentzel - at New Prospect Elementary School. The superstar sisters stopped by to share their new book, “Proud Mouse.”

Knowing the fundamental importance of early literacy and students' ability to read proficiently by third grade, the Georgia Department of Education is recognizing schools with exceptional achievement or growth in third-grade reading as 2022-2023 Literacy Leaders.

High Point Elementary student Kaiya Desai has an impactful message to share. “No one is too little to help,” she says. “Everybody can help, even if you do little things.”

State testing results released today confirm that the percentage of FCS students testing at proficient and distinguished levels in several categories today is greater than in 2019.

A hard-working group of students will start the upcoming school year with a boost of confidence. Just a few days after the 2022-2023 school year was over, they were back in class for Fulton County School’s (FCS) Summer Learning Program.

When English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher Tracy Jackson arrived at Tri-Cities High School, he had no idea how quickly he would make an impact. Jackson was one of 60 teachers from school systems and charter schools across Georgia recognized by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) as an Exemplary ESOL teacher.

Camp Creek Middle School has never been a finalist in a state Social Studies competition. Recently, three students won first place in the Georgia State Social Studies (GCSS) competition.

Langston Hughes High School graduated 425 students May 17. Of that number, 25 students also received associate degrees in subjects ranging from Communications to Pre-nursing…

Imagine learning how to drive a 15-ton school bus, but in the comfort and safety of a training classroom.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced this year’s $2500 Scholarship winners chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists...

As a part of Teacher Appreciation Week 2023, FCS is featuring three outstanding teachers - one each from elementary, middle and high school - including our FCS Teacher of the Year, Elise Kreitner.

FCS proudly presents our 2023 “Senior Spotlight” web/video series. These 17 outstanding seniors – one from each high school – embody the spirit and fortitude of the Class of 2023.

A crowd recently gathered at the Milton Library in Milton for a reception honoring forty young FCS artists. The event celebrated Youth Art Month, w...

Joseph Buffington has a motto in his classroom: “excellence without excuses.” Buffington’s students at Banneker seek that excellence every year as ...

A group of 3rd graders at Summit Hill Elementary could change the world with one box. Their project, "Fresh for Change", recently won Best Overall in the elementary category at the Fulton County Schools (FCS) Design Thinking Competition.

Johns Creek and Chattahoochee High Schools make historic wins at the state level with JCHS earning their 7th consecutive title and CHS taking their first ever. Congratulations to our FCS swim champs!

Twenty-two fourth graders at Love T. Nolan Elementary walked into the Toolbox program not knowing what to expect. What they received was a new way of learning ...

The 8th grader at River Trail Middle School is a back-to-back champ in the Fulton County Schools (FCS) Spelling Bee. Batchu took home the top title last year and again in this year's competition, held in January. This year's winning word was "niçoise."

What drives people to explore? A group of 6th graders at River Trail Middle School recently set out to answer that question in the school's "podcast project." The program is the brainchild of ELA teacher Shannon Chatmon. At the start of each ELA unit, Chatmon gives students an "essential question." It's their job to focus on the question throughout the unit and brainstorm to collaborate on an answer. Students then share their thoughts in a loosely scripted podcast.

On a dark, windy, and stormy first morning back from winter break, less than a mile away from Birmingham Falls Elementary Schools, Fulton County Schools (FCS) bus driver Katherine Carrier was stuck on a road with students. The incident took place before 7 a.m.

Dexter Bailey, Jr. asks himself two simple questions each morning: “How can I become better? How can I make the students and the people around me better daily?” As director of bands at Creekside High School, Bailey’s process starts with the power of music – and his mindset has led to national recognition.

For over 20 years, Fulton County Schools (FCS) has provided a Balanced Scorecard analyzing data and information for parents and stakeholders. "We have provided the board and shared with the public a balanced scorecard for 21 years," said Dr. Emily Bell, Chief Information Officer. "However, this is the first year we have provided the board and public a digital Balanced Scorecard."

The transition from elementary to middle school can be tough. Chattahoochee High School (CHS) senior, Lotenne Nwokolo, was there not too long ago. “Your teachers, they try their hardest,” she says of all the preparation that goes into making the jump from 5th to 6th grade as smooth as possible. “But they don’t know every detail.”

Langston Hughes High School won its first state 6A football championship December 9 at Parc Center stadium. The win came after a record 15 wins and 0 losses for the first time in school history. "That's thirty games in two years," said head coach Daniel Williams. "For these kids to come back and beat a well-coached Gainesville team after losing to Buford in the final seconds of last year's championship game meant a lot. The loss to Buford was a building block, a learning lesson. These kids understood what it took to be a champion."

This holiday season, students at Hopewell Middle School in Milton organized a food drive that amassed 5,700 items to help local families in need. The secret to collecting that much food? First, a clever name for the food drive, “Food Fight.” Second, turning the drive into a grade-level competition. The sixth grade won out by bringing more to donate than seventh and eighth grade combined.

Pastor Gerald Fadayomi at Home Church Roswell has a special relationship with the families at Vickery Mill Elementary School. As it grows, the small, startup church is renting the school as their worship home on the weekends. Every week, Fadayomi could sense the needs in the community and felt the calling to do more for the students who shared the halls with his congregation.

Based on new reports issued by the state, seven FCS schools have demonstrated significant improvement and earned their exit from the GADoE needs improvement lists.

Manning Oaks Elementary School in Alpharetta combined learning and fun in their recent STEAM Family Fun Night. Teachers and staff included activities for the whole family to get involved. “We really wanted to promote this as a family event where the adults were with their students and able to experience the activities together,” said art teacher Jordan Glastetter.

When new principal Uche Ngoddy arrived at Oakley Elementary School in 2022, she wanted to create a Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics (STEAM) culture for her students, their families and the community. Collaborating with math coach Marissa North, her idea, STEAMTOPIA, was born. STEAMTOPIA, a carnival-style event, brought a lively combination of learning and fun.

In a two-week period in October, Dolvin Elementary students and teachers collected more than 4,000 socks to give to the Gateway Center, a homeless shelter in Atlanta, and the Foster Care Support Foundation. The event, called "Socktober," was an opportunity for students and the community to come together to help others.

When the oven in his home caught fire after his sister was cooking, 13-year-old Chandler Flournory sprang into action. The Renaissance Middle School eighth grader carried his 19-year-old sister out of the house to safety and grabbed a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the Fulton County Board of Education announced Katherine "Katie" Gregory as the individual selected to fulfill the remainder of Gail Dean's unexpired District 3 term. She was named the seat's finalist after the board conducted an extensive process to solicit, vet and appoint a qualified candidate.

For three Saturdays in October, students from Banneker, Creekside, Langston Hughes, Tri-Cities and Westlake high schools enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at the Fulton Schools College and Career Academy (FSCCA) and attended culinary classes created by Chef Byron, executive director of Georgia ProStart, a division of the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA). Hosted in the state-of-the-art commercial kitchens at FSCCA, students donned white chefs' coats and got covered in flour as they learned the skills needed to be successful in food service.

Schools across the country will be celebrating National School Psychology Week on November 7-11, 2022, with the theme "Together We Shine." This week is about highlighting and showing appreciation for the work of school psychologists and the school-based services they provide in promoting student success!

October marks the change of seasons, pumpkin everything, and for the second and third grade students who are members of Summit Hill Elementary's (SHE) Kindness Club, a time to support Breast Cancer Awareness in a special way. Students in the club wanted to create a special way to honor, support, and encourage patients going through breast cancer treatment in the Atlanta community.

Each year, the Board votes on new instructional calendars for the upcoming two school years. In October, Superintendent Mike Looney brought forward a recommendation for the proposed 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 instructional calendars. Each calendar draft aims to honor the instructional calendar parameters voted on by the Fulton County Board of Education in September 2022.

The Georgia Department of Education has recognized 45 district schools for supporting a positive school climate through the implementation of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. Of those schools, 16 received the Distinguished recognition for the 2021-2022 school year, highlighting a substantial increase over the nine schools designated when results last came out before the pandemic.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) will launch its inaugural districtwide Family Engagement Week November 14-17, 2022 with a celebration honoring National Family Engagement month. This exciting event will spotlight family engagement and how it directly correlates with student academic and extracurricular achievement.

Award-winning Chef Elissa Oliver, who heads Riverwood International Charter School's popular culinary arts program, has done it again. She was just named 2022 Georgia ProStart Teacher of the Year. ProStart is a two-year, industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) students outscored the state and national average ACT score for the sixth consecutive year, while also showing a 60% increase in participation rate. The Fulton County Board of Education is committed to offering all students an opportunity to participate in a district-paid administration of the ACT during the spring of their junior year. This has resulted in an increase in the number of FCS students taking the ACT.

Milton High School student Dave Githutu is an athlete, having competed in the Georgia Special Olympics in track and field and bowling. However, now he has a new title to add to his name -- world champion powerlifter. In September, Githutu won the Teen 3 Division (18- and 19-year-olds) at the Amateur Powerlifting World Congress in Manchester, England, with his mother, grandmother and his coach, trainer and teacher Josh Porter in attendance.

If you were a student at Tri-Cities High School in the 1980s and 1990s you know the motto, “there is no right way to do a wrong thing right,” by heart. During a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Dr. Hershel J. Robinson, Jr. Success Academy (HRSA), alumni spanning multiple decades stood together and recited the words as if the late principal was standing there before them.

Since 2021, the Johns Creek Police Department has dedicated every Wednesday to reading to Fulton County Schools (FCS) elementary students within the Johns Creek city district. The program, titled Worth-It-Wednesdays, was conceived by Johns Creek Police Chief Mark Mitchell as a spinoff of a similar program he oversaw as police chief in the City of Canton, Georgia.

In 2022, Fulton County Schools’ (FCS) achieved its highest-ever graduation rate and exceeded state scores by 5.2 points according to a report by the Georgia Department of Education. While the state reached 84.1 percent, FCS increased results to 89.3 percent, ranking among the highest graduation rates for Atlanta metro school districts.

The mood at Chattahoochee High School is a little "fluffier" on Fridays---thanks to Hudson, the school's resident therapy dog. Hudson heals hearts weekly with visits to Chattahoochee dubbed "Fluffy Friday." 
"He just is the perfect, lovely personality," said his owner, former Chattahoochee registrar Rita Jensen. "He just loves everybody."

The numbers are in for the 2022 SAT, and Fulton County Schools (FCS) students have exceeded the state and national scores, by 49 and 73 points respectively. The results at four FCS schools ranked in the top ten in the state, besting all other Georgia districts who produced no more than two in the top listing.

Westlake High School marketing teacher and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA]) advisor Brian Biggers cannot contain his excitement about his students. Ayeman Suleman, Ava Stacker and Layla Turner make up the student team that created a DECA award-winning marketing campaign to create excitement for Six Flags Over Georgia.

Finding and keeping good school bus drivers is one of the biggest challenges facing school transportation today. National School Bus Safety Week is October 17-21, 2022. Here are some ideas from Executive Director of Transportation Services Vickie Cross to show your appreciation and say thank you to the people who keep your child safe every day.

Fulton County Schools has begun the process of revising school attendance boundaries throughout the school system. Meetings in North Fulton and South Fulton are scheduled to give parents several opportunities to participate in the process.

Walking into the Westlake High School stadium on a beautiful Saturday evening, the rising sounds of trumpets, sousaphones, and drums previewed the excitement visitors would soon see in action at the annual Fulton County Schools Marching Band Exhibition. While in other parts of the country fall brings crisp air along with the sounds of marching bands, in Georgia it was more of the typical late-summer, warm day we see to begin the season of Friday night lights.

At the end of every rehearsal and performance, Banneker High School Band Director Emanuel Johnson leads his students in the Trojan Creed. “One of our lines in the band creed is ‘discipline is the nucleus of all things successful,’” Johnson said. “Whether you are part of a marching band, a family, or an organization, you have to have discipline in order to move forward.’” 

Fulton County Schools (FCS) Stonewall Tell Elementary will have the unique opportunity to create a park on its schoolgrounds for the whole community to enjoy. This partnership, the first of its kind for FCS, is part of the Schoolyards Project with the Trust for Public Land and Park Pride, two area nonprofits.

Cogburn Woods Elementary School in Alpharetta was recently awarded the top prize for summer reading. Through the online reading log program Beanstack, Cogburn Woods students kept track of what they read in the summer of 2022, earning first place in the United States and a $2,000 cash prize for their library. Cogburn Woods readers from kindergarten through fifth grade numbered 553 students, reading for a total of 57,958 hours during the summer.

This spring at Centennial High School in Roswell, 1,250 daffodils are in bloom surrounding the flagpole at the front of the school. Centennial is the only high school in Fulton County Schools to participate in The Daffodil Project, an international organization that supplies daffodil bulbs to schools and other organizations for planting.

Fulton County Schools (FCS), BB&T, Aerotropolis Atlanta, and the City of East Point were among the partners who turned out recently to distribute shoes and socks at the Samaritan's Feet Community Shoe Distribution. Families arrived as early as 7:45 a.m. for the 10 a.m. event. "I appreciate everything you've done for my family today," said Lee Tilman, a single mother and parent of eight.