School News
Post
![child wearing a stethoscope listening to a teddy bear]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1763496040/atlantapublicschoolsus/ptyfkqbhso8ulijgph6w/card_gi_health_services.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1763496040/atlantapublicschoolsus/ptyfkqbhso8ulijgph6w/card_gi_health_services.jpg","width":500}])
Renee Clare-Kovacs
Help students, staff, and classrooms thrive by maintaining healthy habits.
Feeling your best helps you do your best. Flu, COVID-19, colds, and allergies are the main causes of student illness. APS Health Services is committed to keeping each student healthy and ready to learn. Follow our Guidelines for Keeping Children Home from School Due to Illness. Together we can maintain thriving learning environments of strong students.
- health services
- healthy
- illness
![Students gathered around a laptop computer]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1766084743/atlantapublicschoolsus/nwjpdis7ubtyearmybam/APS_DouglassCluster.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1766084743/atlantapublicschoolsus/nwjpdis7ubtyearmybam/APS_DouglassCluster.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1766084743/atlantapublicschoolsus/nwjpdis7ubtyearmybam/APS_DouglassCluster.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1766084743/atlantapublicschoolsus/nwjpdis7ubtyearmybam/APS_DouglassCluster.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1766084743/atlantapublicschoolsus/nwjpdis7ubtyearmybam/APS_DouglassCluster.jpg","width":1500}])
Renee Clare-Kovacs
Back to the Basics 2030 Continues to Guide Atlanta Public Schools Into a New School Year.
Atlanta Public Schools is proud of its academic accomplishments in the 2025-26 school year. Return to school is a return to basics for school success. Our national recognition as a "District on the Rise", all-time highs for math proficiency, and strong growth ranking are fueling back to school for the 2026-27 school year.
"For APS, Back to the Basics means delivering excellent instruction, strengthening school leadership, maintaining safe and supportive learning environments, and keeping students engaged through an intentional focus on literacy and numeracy."
Read Back to the Basics 2030 Continues to Guide Atlanta Public Schools Into a New School Year
- 2030
![hand drawn electronics with APS PED policy and why]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787761778/atlantapublicschoolsus/onadbazmdblqe4wjmjmi/PEDpolicy.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1787761778/atlantapublicschoolsus/onadbazmdblqe4wjmjmi/PEDpolicy.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1787761778/atlantapublicschoolsus/onadbazmdblqe4wjmjmi/PEDpolicy.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1787761778/atlantapublicschoolsus/onadbazmdblqe4wjmjmi/PEDpolicy.png","width":1080}])
Renee Clare-Kovacs
Why Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) are unwelcome in the classroom.
Cellphones and smart watches are second nature in our world. As they've come through the school doors and into classrooms, educators are seeing academic and social impacts.
Academic Impacts
- Lower test scores
- Increased distraction
- Classroom disruption
Social Impacts
- Higher anxiety
- Limited face-to-face time with peers
To support student success and "in accordance with the Distraction Free Education Act (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-324.8), students are not permitted to access personal electronic devices (PEDs) while on school grounds during school hours, including but not limited to cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, e-readers, headphones, earbuds, smart glasses, and other devices with functionalities such as wireless communication, internet access, messaging, video recording, gaming, social media access, or data transmission during school hours.
All devices must be out of sight and turned off during the entire school day, while on school system premises, school-provided transportation, and on school buses except in cases of health or other unusual reasons as approved on an individual basis according to the administrative regulations to this policy."
- PED policy
![Student backpacks hung up on the wall.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1763498799/atlantapublicschoolsus/b10k9t1sypnbutdlzoqu/card_gi_backpacks.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1763498799/atlantapublicschoolsus/b10k9t1sypnbutdlzoqu/card_gi_backpacks.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1763498799/atlantapublicschoolsus/b10k9t1sypnbutdlzoqu/card_gi_backpacks.jpg","width":600}])
Renee Clare-Kovacs
Make a difference in the community as an APS student!
Atlanta Public School students are high achieving academics, award-winning performers, and elite athletes. APS trend-setting alumni are known for their work in justice, music, and athletics. We can’t wait to see what a difference you make in our community.
![A teacher looking a white board with classroom rules.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1763498799/atlantapublicschoolsus/th7izemodbpnqtwbuv5z/card_gi_rules.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1763498799/atlantapublicschoolsus/th7izemodbpnqtwbuv5z/card_gi_rules.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1763498799/atlantapublicschoolsus/th7izemodbpnqtwbuv5z/card_gi_rules.jpg","width":519}])
Renee Clare-Kovacs
Atlanta Public Schools allows high school students the privilege of the use of personal electronic devices (PEDs) -- including cell phones – to students who observe PED policy.
The personal electronic devices (PEDs) policy is in effect from the time a student arrives at school until the completion of the instructional day. High school students with permission to possess PEDs may use them during after-school activities as allowed.
The instructional day includes, but is not limited to:
-
lunch breaks
-
class changes
-
study hall
-
other structured or non-structured instructional activity that occurs during the normal school day
Devices must be out of sight and turned off. This prohibition includes all emergency situations unless the student is directed to use a cellular telephone or PED by an APS employee or other official.