Two DeKalb County School District (DCSD) charter schools have received statewide recognition for excellence and achievement.
DeKalb PATH Academy Principal Crystal Felix-Clarke.
DeKalb PATH Academy has been selected as the Georgia Charter Schools Association’s (GCSA) 2018 Charter School of the Year. Also, Principal Katherine Kelbaugh of the Museum School of Avondale Estates was selected as the 2018 Georgia Charter School Principal of the Year.
“The DeKalb County School District prides itself on providing excellent learning environments for its students. The selection of DeKalb PATH as the state’s top charter school and the selection of Ms. Kelbaugh as the top charter school principal validates those efforts,” said Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green. “We are extremely proud of these recognitions. Successes like these further motivate DCSD to raise the bar for all students and schools.”
DeKalb PATH, which stands for perseverance, accomplishment, triumph and honor, is a public charter school sponsored by DCSD. As a winner of the 2018 Charter School of the Year Award, it will receive $50,000 from the GCSA to help further its mission. The school was selected out of 115 schools throughout the state following a rigorous application and interview process.
Museum School of Avondale Estates principal Katherine Kelbaugh
DeKalb PATH Academy provides rigorous college-preparatory education for school choice students in DeKalb County. The student body is primarily immigrants from Latin America, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, but the school serves children from all communities. The school was selected by a committee that includes representatives from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, a previous Charter School of the Year winner, The Coca-Cola Company and Atlantic Capital Bank.
According to GCSA, DeKalb PATH Academy’s overall performance is better than 69 percent of all Georgia schools. The school also consistently receives “Beating the Odds” distinction for its College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) scores.
“DeKalb PATH Academy was selected for this award from a group of three amazing finalists, each of whom is worthy of this title based on their merits,” said Tony Roberts, President and CEO of GCSA. “I’m delighted with the committee’s final selection. This is a well-deserved honor for one of Georgia’s most outstanding schools. DeKalb PATH Academy’s commitment to academic excellence, its students and the broader community is well known and deserves to be celebrated. The DeKalb County Public Charter School teaches students to dream big and gives them the tools they need to succeed in college and beyond.”
As winners, leaders from DeKalb PATH and The Museum School of Avondale Estates have the opportunity to attend the 2018 Georgia Charter Schools Conference at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel and Convention Center.