School safety and security is at unsatisfactory levels at almost 4 of 10 Atlanta schools according to school climate data released by the Georgia Education Department June 1.
The second annual School Climate Star Ratings are based on community member perceptions, discipline rates, student survey responses and student and staff attendance rates, according to ajc.com.
As part of the system, each school in the state is given a Climate Rating between one and five that acts as a “report card” for school safety. Students, faculty and parents were asked about the prevalence of things such as drug use, violence and bullying for the report.
The low ratings in the city comes as no surprise to Atlanta School District officials, who are already planning on investing in social-emotional learning at their schools and replacing the city police at schools with a district school security force. Ending the district’s $5.6 million contract with city police is expected to save the school money, although Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed opposes the idea.
The data also shows a correlation between Climate Star Ratings and Georgia’s average state academic ratings. The schools in the city that received unsatisfactory climate ratings had an average state academic grade of F.
Overall, the Climate Star Ratings at 20 Atlanta schools were rated above average.
