RedefinED Atlanta is supporting the launch of 3 schools for the 26-27 school year, as a part of its goal to expand access to trajectory-changing public schools for 12,000 additional students. It has been so exciting to see several schools opening across the Metro Atlanta area this summer, giving more students and families access to high-quality options. Among those schools are:
| Academy for Innovation in Medicine (AIM) Located in the city of Atlanta, AIM promises students a high school diploma, an Associate’s Degree, and a paid healthcare job before they turn 18. It draws students from APS, Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties. AIM is still accepting 6th and 9th grade students ahead of its first day of school on July 29. | The Meliora School Located in Snellville, Meliora is Gwinnett County’s first 6th–12th grade public charter school, focusing on entrepreneurship, computer science, and personalized learning. Students learn at their own pace through individualized learning plans that build on their unique strengths and create opportunities to earn industry credentials before graduation. Meliora is completely full with a waiting list ahead of its first day of school on August 3. | Tapestry Clayton Located in Jonesboro, Tapestry Clayton is a replication of an already successful model, bringing more than a decade of student-centered learning to families in Clayton County. The school’s inclusive approach intentionally serves a balanced community of neurodivergent and neurotypical students, creating a rigorous learning environment where every student can thrive. Tapestry Clayton is still accepting students ahead of its first day of school on August 3. |
While these schools are very different, they have a few important core similarities:
- They serve 6th-12th-grade students, which will address a growing demand for middle and high schools;
- They are serving communities that historically haven’t had access to many high-quality options, and
- They were co-designed with the local communities, ensuring a strong alignment between school offerings and community needs.
It was these similarities that drove RedefinED Atlanta to support the launch of these and other schools across Metro Atlanta. While the direct support we offer varies by school, it is part of our mission to enable a system where innovative and successful schools can launch and grow successfully. Some examples of the ways we accomplish this are:
- Identifying promising school leaders or models and investing in their growth;
- Establishing a high-quality teacher certification pathway;
- Providing technical assistance, including planning and petition support;
- Building long-term public support for innovative, high-quality public school options;
- Partnering with schools to enhance instructional culture and data-informed instructional practices;
- Establishing a pipeline for long-term policy work to support public schools; and
- Raising and leveraging philanthropic dollars to support ecosystem priorities.
When I first came on as the Executive Director of RedefinED Atlanta, I envisioned a future where stopgap programs would no longer be needed to provide a great public education for all students. We would work toward this vision by expanding our work to grow great public schools, develop and retain strong school-level talent, and engage communities in education advocacy.
I see these school openings as an important milestone on our journey. They represent the strong shared belief of our community in the potential of its students; they represent a shared commitment to innovation; they represent the culmination of years of investment in systems that will drive the long-term success of our children. The launch of these schools brings us just one step closer to the future I imagined because they aren’t launching in a silo. Instead, they are launching within a system of mutual support.
Let’s keep walking together. Subscribe to our newsletter to learn what’s happening in our community and ways to get involved!