The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on State Specialty Schools Ii- Liberation Academy
State Specialty Schools II—Liberation Academy is a single-school state charter district operating in College Park that serves grades five through eight. The school opened in August 2023 as a brand-new tuition-free option with its first cohort in grades five and six, and has since expanded one grade per year toward its full grade span. It operates under a statewide attendance zone, meaning families from anywhere in Georgia can enroll their students, not just residents of College Park.
The school's charter authorization centers on a Problem-Based Learning model with cultural relevancy, coding and computer science embedded in the curriculum, and extended instructional time in English language arts and math. This is a durable pedagogical commitment written into the school's charter contract, so families considering Liberation Academy are choosing a STEAM-focused, project-based approach designed for middle-grades students—an unusual regional option that sets the school apart from traditional structures.
Current enrollment is small for a charter and remains in its growth phase. The student body is predominantly Black, with minimal racial diversity otherwise represented in the enrollment. Specific counts for students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, students in special education, and English learners were not available in the data, leaving a gap in understanding the economic and support-service profile of the population the school currently serves. A parent may want to inquire directly with the school about these details when evaluating fit.
State assessment results from the most recent school year show proficiency rates that are quite low across all tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, proficiency ranges in the low twenties among grades five and six. Mathematics proficiency is substantially lower, in single digits across all grades tested. Science proficiency in grade five was similarly low. These results position the school in the bottom quartile among Fulton County's districts on overall proficiency. For a school in its second year of operation, still building enrollment and experience, this represents early academic performance that departs significantly from state and district averages. Whether this reflects the transition inherent to a new school, staffing or resource factors, implementation challenges with the PBL model, or the starting academic profile of the enrolled population is not clear from the data alone. A parent interested in the school should ask directly about these outcomes and the school's plans to improve them.
The data provided does not include trend information or comparison points from prior years, so it is not possible to determine whether performance is stabilizing, improving, or declining as the school establishes itself. Graduation rate data do not apply, as the school does not yet serve high school grades. No information about attendance, discipline, staff retention, or other operational metrics was available.
For families drawn to the Problem-Based Learning curriculum, the STEAM focus, and the lower-barrier tuition-free model, Liberation Academy presents a deliberate choice. For families prioritizing near-term academic results or seeking evidence of strong student achievement, current performance data suggest the need for careful conversation with school leadership about the work underway to raise proficiency.
See more original research from School Decision →