The Thomas B. Fordham Institute recently published a list of the top 50 zip codes with the largest growth in white population share from 2000 to 2010.  Atlanta’s 30317 (Kirkwood, Edgewood, East Lake) ranked 7th in the nation.  From 2000 to 2010, the share of white residents in the zip code grew from 10% to 37%.  Other zip codes covering East Atlanta and the Old Fourth Ward also made the list.  

Over the past few years, demographic shifts have also begun to show up in the Atlanta Public Schools, which are starting to look more like the city as a whole. 

Historically, whites in the city of Atlanta have been underrepresented in the school system.  In the year 2000, non-hispanic whites represented 31% of the city’s population.  However, only 7% of students were white.

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As parents make decisions about the schools their children attend, having access to useful performance data is informative.  As a resident of Atlanta and someone interested in public education, I have been surprised at the lack of accessible information.  So, I set out to compile a ranking of academic performance in Metro Atlanta´s public schools.

I have ranked each of Metro Atlanta´s public middle schools considering both the school´s overall performance (40%) and it´s performance relative to peer schools (60%).  Peer schools are schools whose students have a similar level of needs.  In my analysis, economic disadvantage, English language learners, ethnicity, and special education are each considered in determining a school´s level of needs.  A more technical explanation is provided in the linked methodology.   

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(Source: 2011 Metro Atlanta Middle School Ratings)

As parents make decisions about the schools their children attend, having access to useful performance data is informative.  As a resident of Atlanta and someone interested in public education, I have been surprised at the lack of accessible information.  So, I set out to compile a ranking of academic performance in Metro Atlanta´s public schools.

I have ranked each of Metro Atlanta´s public elementaryschools considering both the school´s overall performance (40%) and it´s performance relative to peer schools (60%).  Peer schools are schools whose students have a similar level of needs.  In my analysis, economic disadvantage, English language learners, ethnicity, and special education are each considered in determining a school´s level of needs.  A more technical explanation is provided in the linked methodology.   

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