"What we see often is a fractional part of what it really is ."
- Unknown
Science and Mathematics
Mathematics and science are the areas in which students not only explore the problems, questions and phenomena that impact their communities but hone their abilities to observe, make claims, provide evidence and reason. In addition to interdisciplinary project based learning experiences, students engage in laboratory explorations, experiments and content based problem exploration.
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MATHEMATICS COURSES OFFERED
Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry
Advanced Mathematical Decision Making
Pre-Calculus
Advanced Placement: AP Statistics; AP Calculus*
* coming Fall 2022
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SCIENCE COURSES OFFERED
Environmental Science
Biology
Physical Science
Chemistry
Physics
Forensics
Advanced Placement: AP Biology
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Science and Engineering Fair
Students participate in the Science Fair each year either through a course or through independent study. Each year since the start of our STEM initiative we have had participants in the school Science Fair however in the last three years we have had participants who placed at the district level and a few that have been selected for state and International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) participation.
We are currently considering a Research course that will function separately from core content courses. The purpose of the course will be to give students the foundation and time to foster more research projects.
2019 - 2020
Atlanta Public Schools District Science Fair
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Jaleesia Flowers-Steele (Gold)
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Wendy Nevarez-Sanchez (Gold)
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Esmeralda Vazquez (Gold)
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Alexander Rivera-Nevarez (Silver)
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Sharon Stuart (Bronze)
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Georgia Science and Engineering Fair
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Jaleesia Flowers-Steele (Invited)*
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Wendy Nevarez-Sanchez (Invited)*
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Esmeralda Vazquez (Invited)*
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International Science and Engineering Fair
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Wendy Nevarez-Sanchez (Invited)*
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* Did not compete due to Covid-19 pandemic.
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2020 - 2021
Atlanta Public Schools District Science Fair
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Jaleesia Flowers-Steele (Gold)
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Wendy Nevarez-Sanchez (Gold)
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Georgia Science and Engineering Fair
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Wendy Nevarez-Sanchez (Invited)
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2021 - 2022
Atlanta Public Schools District Science Fair
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Jeremiah Longino (Gold). Also the recipient of special awards:
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Georgia Science and Engineering Fair
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Jeremiah Longino (Invited - currently competing)
Partnership: Georgia Audubon Society
South Atlanta has partnered with the Georgia Audubon Society to place an indigenous garden on the school property. At full maturity, the garden attracts various fauna particularly, birds and insects that students observe as part of learning experiences. They incorporate the use of mathematics in gathering quantitative data and science in understanding animal behavior and environmental factors that impact an ecosystem.
Partnership: MakeWater.org
MakeWater.org encourages students to address real world water issues through the use of a coagulator kit. Students participate in school-based classroom learning experiences and hackathons to learn about global water challenges and use creativity and collaboration to brainstorm solutions. They incorporate mathematics to gather and analyze data and science to make hypotheses and analyze results.
English Language Arts
In English Language Arts classes, students learn how to communicate their ideas through the use of spoken or written language. This year, they are employing the SOAPSTone (Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone) method to not only annotate complex technical texts but to create more intentional presentations. Students take the following courses during their high school tenure:
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COURSES OFFERED
9th Grade Literature
World Literature
American Literature
British Literature
Advanced Placement: AP Language; AP Literature
Social Studies
Eshe' Collins | APS Board Member and Chair
The S in STEM traditionally stands for Science but we also recognize Social Sciences. Most problems are not only scientific but social at the core so we recognize both subject areas as being equally important. Furthermore, considering our school's theme includes the advocacy for the community through STEM, we use social studies as a way to introduce students to the idea of advocacy and civic responsibility.
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COURSES OFFERED
World History
Government
American History
Economics
Advanced Placement: AP World History; AP U.S. History; AP Macroeconomics
Partnership: Empowrd
Our STEM Initiative at is heavily focused on using STEM to advocate for the community in which we exist. In order to effectively advocate, we have to create relationships with those we represent and partner with like-minded stakeholders to serve our community well.
Grade level interdisciplinary project based learning is a pillar of our STEM Instructional Framework. In accordance to our, theme - we try to ground each in a community issue. Since local government and community leaders make decisions that can impact these issues, South Atlanta has partnered with local company Empowrd to help students to engage in a manner that promotes change.
Empowrd is a non-partisan app that encourages local civic engagement by allowing users to engage with elected leaders, organizations and remain updated regarding local elections. The best way to ensure that an adult knows how to be civically engaged, is to build the habit in their formative years. Therefore, Empowrd has not only been introduced to every student in their social studies classes as part of an introduction to their community based projects Student Government officers were placed alongside local, city, state and federal leaders so that students can practice engagement in a safe space.
The founder of Empowrd has held workshops with classroom and student groups to demonstrate and explain how technology can be used to further civic engagement.
