Drew Report_ToPrint 10/27/08 11:54 AM Page 1

Chris Bennett Chris

Lindsey James Lindsey

Eurith Bowen, Ph.D. Bowen, Eurith

Hannah Hurley Hannah

Sherique Ransby Sherique

Donnita Davis-Thomas Donnita

Barbara Preuss Barbara

Nicholas Stapleton, Ed.D. Stapleton, Nicholas Leadership Team Leadership C

HARLES ,

www.drewcharterschool.org

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Teens Program Teens

Director, CREW CREW Director,

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Director of Extended Services Extended of Director

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Special Education Coordinator Education Special

Academy Director, grades Pre-K-5 grades Director, Academy ,

301 east lake boulevard Gifted Program Coordinator Program Gifted , 30317

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Board of Directors

High School Connection Program Advisor Program Connection School High

, Academy Director, grades 6-8 grades Director, Academy

Cynthia Kuhlman, Ph.D.

Darlene Saunders-Banks ,

Deborah Knight, Ph.D. Principal 404.687.0001

Lillian C. Giornelli REW

Carol R. Naughton (Creating Responsible, Educated and Working) and Educated Responsible, (Creating

Ginger D. Myers

Tamara S. Nash

Amir Farokhi

Samuel Wright C HARTER S CHOOL 2007-2008 | Annual Report 2007-2008 | Annual Report D REW A Choice Education C HARTER S CHOOL Drew Report_ToPrint 10/27/08 11:54 AM Page 3

The Drew Difference

Academic Excellence Enriching Experiences Since opening in August 2000 as ’ first charter Drew balances academic school, Drew Charter School has proven its approach to education works. rigor with its vast array of Standardized test results show that student achievement steadily increases enrichment offerings. These from Pre-K through eighth grade; the longer students stay at Drew, the opportunities enhance better they perform. In 2008, 91percent of Drew students met or exceeded classroom instruction and Reading/Language Arts standards, surpassing students in Georgia and the help students discover their Atlanta Public Schools. passions. While many public schools have had to eliminate The school’s rich and academically challenging curriculum focuses on reading, arts, foreign language, and writing, math, science and technology. All students have the opportunity physical education classes, to reach new levels of achievement because Drew has the resources to Drew continues to strengthen accommodate a variety of learning styles. Drew offers a program for students its enrichment offerings with who excel in the current curriculum as well as special programs for students classes such as art, dance, who need extra academic support. drama, chorus, band, orchestra, Spanish, , Pre-K to College Support swimming and more. Drew serves about 800 students in Pre-K through eighth grade with Students participating in Drew’s expansive After School Program have the Drew’s commitment to high a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. chance to take additional enrichment classes such as etiquette, and academic achievement, Drew students are supported martial arts. Students helped to build their confidence by demonstrating character development and from Pre-K to college with access some of these skills in two different community showcases held in 2008. to the people, programs and enrichment opportunities helps scholarships to help them attend Community Support all students reach their and graduate from the best An abundance of opportunities is available to Drew students thanks to high schools and colleges. major support from the Akers Foundation, Atlanta Braves Foundation, highest potential. Atlanta Rotary Educational Foundation, Inc., The Atlanta Women’s In 2007, Drew welcomed its Foundation, CapMark Foundation, CF Foundation, Jack and Anne Glenn inaugural Pre-K class. Operating Charitable Foundation, Rockdale Foundation, Wachovia Foundation, in partnership with the Rollins Center for Language & Learning at the THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, as well as the East Lake Atlanta Speech School, Drew’s program provides an early learning experience Foundation, which not only raised money to build the school in 2001, but to increase students’ chances for success in school. The Pre-K students continues to help fund a variety of Drew programs. The school also enjoys made significant progress on pre-reading skills when tested at the end of the support of many dedicated, individual volunteers who share their time their first school year. and resources. Drew Report_ToPrint 10/27/08 11:54 AM Page 5

Drew students met or exceeded their previous year’s test performance in almost every subject on the 2008 Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). Georgia relies on the CRCT to determine whether a school has made Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind law. G RADE *This is the first year state has administered new Georgia Performance Standards 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 in Math for grades 3, 4, 5 and 8 so no comparisons can be made until 2009. % Students Meeting or Exceeding Standards on the 2008 CRCT

Our Scores Drew 94% 94% 89% 80% 88% 91% 92% 91% For more scores, please visit www.doe.k12.ga.us Reading Georgia State of 91% 88% 91% 87% 88% 88% 92% 90% Language Arts Drew 94% 88% 92% 89% 88% 88% 81% 87% Georgia State of 89% 90% 87% 90% 86% 87% 84% 85% Drew 72% 85% 77% 91% —— —— —— —— Math Georgia State of 80% 69% 86% 86% * Math Increase of 7 Math Increase of 4 Overall state standards on the CRCT. students increases in the percentages of Drew experienced meaningful In the 2007-2008 school year, 20 2008 2007 20 2008 2007 meeting percentage points percentage points and exceeding edn Increase of 2 Reading Increase of 11 Science

state with the highest gains

students in the meets

Drew was recognized as

one of 10 schools in the

in the percentage of

exceeds 20 2008 2007 20 2008 2007

sixth-grade science.

categories for percentage points percentage points

and Highlights from the 2007-2008 school year include: visited by “Fit Kids” lifestyle makeover program by the Students reaped the benefits of Drew’s many community partnerships including Schools Week. dance from Ghana Hotel under the direction of an artist in residence from Twelve eighth-graders from Drew’s than $1,000, which were matched in part by SunTrust Bank. customers. About 120 students opened accounts with total saving deposits of more to culminate a year-long cultural exchange program asnew a mentoring and outreach by With drums beating in the background, With Academy in Oahu. raiainr organization Drew Charter School Woodruff Arts Center. U.S. Department of Education SunTrust Youth Bank ecognizing academic achievement and leadership, was singled out as one of three outstanding Georgia schools at a “Share the World” luncheon at Atlanta’s Biltmore Oglethorpe University at Drew where students are both managers and

From teachers and staff to parents and volunteers, the Drew community works together to ensure student success by creating a learning environment that develop their talents Beta Club

24 fifth-graders performed a traditional empowers students to discover and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, representatives during National Charter

Our Triumphs , which is part of the national students and faculty, as well Young Audiences, with students at the Dole

. visited Hawaii A Drew education helps prepare students for the future: students to complete high school and prepare for higher education and careers. academic and the students were accepted to more than 30 colleges first-choice high schools Two thirds of Drew’s eighth graders were selected to attend their Drew’s inaugural eighth-grade class of 2004 interests students’ sixth grade to determine Connection Program. An the More than 200 Drew alumni and area high school students took advantage of University, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia. CREW Our Education Partners University of Georgia Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center Atlanta Speech School Rollins Center for Language & Learning at the and Computing Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, Georgia State University School of Music EdisonLearning Center for Teaching, The Westminster Schools Center for Civic Engagement, Oglethorpe University Atlanta Public Schools support program. Held at Drew, the program is designed to help (Creating Responsible, Educated and Working) TM advisor meets with students and families beginning in thanks to their hard work and Drew’s High School and the best fit for high school. completed high school in 2008, Photos by Duane Stork Photography Teens after-school including Emory