The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Science. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on State Specialty Schools Ii- Atlanta Smart Academy
State Specialty Schools II - Atlanta SMART Academy is a state-chartered middle school district operating a single school that serves grades five through eight and draws students from across Georgia. The school opened with a middle-school focus and has just been renewed for a five-year charter term by the State Charter Schools Commission, with plans to expand into elementary grades during the new term.
The school enrolls a small population, with students distributed across the grade span. The student body is predominantly Black, with a small representation of other groups. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available, so a complete picture of economic and linguistic diversity cannot be drawn from the provided information.
In terms of state assessment performance, the school's proficiency rates are low across tested subjects. In English language arts, the overall proficiency rate sits in the low range, with fifth grade performing better than the higher grades. Math proficiency is notably weak, with sixth grade showing the lowest results among all grade levels tested. Science results are mixed, with fifth and eighth grades showing modest proficiency, though the current overall proficiency picture is slim. Social studies, tested at eighth grade only, also shows low proficiency. A parent may want to look into the school's approach to instruction and support structures with the school directly, particularly in math, where results warrant close attention.
When positioned among Fulton County's districts, Atlanta SMART Academy's overall proficiency sits slightly above the county median, placing it in the middle range. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is near the county median, a notable consideration for family planning. Per-pupil current spending is higher than the county median, in the upper-middle range of expenditure across the county's districts.
The school has undergone material facility expansion at its Hightower Station location, adding specialty rooms, a STEM lab, and dedicated studios for music, dance, and theater, alongside an expanded auditorium. This growth in physical space and programmatic infrastructure reflects capacity building and suggests an investment in arts and technical offerings alongside core academics.
The charter renewal and planned expansion into elementary grades mark a turning point for the school. The five-year authorization provides operational continuity, and the addition of grades K-4 signals intent to serve families with younger children and to grow from a middle-school-only model into a full K-8school. For families already considering grades five through eight, this expansion suggests expanding infrastructure and a school in a stable funding and operational position. For families interested in the school's elementary offerings once they become available, a parent may want to track enrollment opening timelines and the development of those grade levels with the school directly.
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