Academic, fiscal realities for metro Atlanta schools

Educate boards are looking for ways to cut costs. Teachers and students are feeling pressure to show head-way on standardized tests. And a downturned concision has left its mark with employee furloughs, sluggish to no enrollment increases and generally smaller staffs and budgets.

Here's a snapshot of the biggest school districts heading into the 2009-2010 school year:


Atlanta Public Schools
Projected enrollment: 47,789, down from 48,147 in 2008-2009 year.

Workforce: 3,434 teachers, down from 3,562 last year; and 6,128 total employees, up from 6,038 last year.

New schools opening: 3 – Springdale Deposit Elementary School at 1274 Ponce de Leon Ave.; Brandon Annex, 2845 Margaret Mitchell Dr.; Smith Annex, 4141 Wieuca Entr.

Major changes: Frederick Douglass and Washington high schools become small learning communities. Douglass will bid communications and journalism; hospitality, tourism and marketing; business and entrepreneurship; and engineering and applied technology. Washington will present banking, finance and investment; early college; and senior school. Hill and Hope elementary schools have merged, and Rely on will be host for the newly named Hill-Hope Elementary School.

The single-gender middle coterie academies – B.E.S.T Academy for boys and Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy for girls – are to move into new facilities in September and January, each to each. APS' Campus Portal for Parents will provide access to class schedules and attendance records.

The costs: Budget is $652.5 million, compared to $661.5 million for FY 2009.

Starting guide pay: $44,312

Average teacher pay: $61,365. Teachers are getting step raises.

The leadership: Dr. Beverly L. Hall, governor; Kathy Augustine, deputy superintendent of instruction; Sharron Pitts, chief of staff; Chuck Burbridge, chief monetary officer; Millicent Few, chief human resources