Our School
John Lewis Invictus Academy, Home of the Royal Lions, is located in the heart of the historic Grove Park community in Atlanta, Georgia. When the school was opened in the Fall of 2017, it welcomed approximately 300 students. Now, JLIA boasts a student population of over 750 middle school students. A Title I school, with a student body that is comprised of 95.4% African American; 4% Hispanic; 0.2% Multiracial; 0.4% White, and 100% free and reduced lunch, the faculty and staff are committed to providing quality, engaging, differentiated lessons. Our key foci are: Climate and Culture; High-Quality Teaching; Literacy, and STEAM.
John Lewis Invictus Academy was named after the late Congressman John Robert Lewis. He was a principled Civil Rights leader who advocated for equity, equality, and liberation for all people. His courage and determination gave a strong voice to the voiceless. His statesmanship served as a firm foundation for those who were downtrodden, forgotten, and ignored by those who had been sworn in to represent their collective interests. Congressman Lewis served his constituents until he died on July 17, 2020. His favorite poem, Invictus, by William Ernest Henley, is also a reminder to stay the course, so that our students, our families, and our community can collectively say, I am the Master of my fate; I am the Captain of my soul.
Our Values
John Lewis Invictus Academy is a part of the Douglass Cluster; therefore, our signature focus is the STE(A)M pathway. By exposing students to the tenets of a STEAM education, they will be able to strengthen their critical thinking skills and engage in real-world scenarios, as they work collaboratively to solve problems for their community, by working with local businesses and post-secondary partnerships. JLIA students will be charged with working across all disciplines to research, synthesize, envision, and execute project-based learning (PBL) tasks that have a STEAM focus. These PBL experiences will exemplify their deep understanding of selected, high-interest topics, as they strive to be productive, 21st-century learners, who embody the five core competencies of Social Emotional Learning: Social Awareness; Self-Awareness; Self -Management; Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making. Additionally, they have resolved to show up for themselves, their families, and their community every day, as they approach their studies with our core values of:
Perseverance~Respect~Integrity~Discipline~Excellence—P.R.I.D.E.
Our Commitment
We are more than a school—we are a movement for greatness. Every day, we strive to ensure that our students not only succeed academically but also develop the compassion, courage, and confidence to lead positive change in their communities and the world.