The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on State Specialty Schools Ii- the Anchor School
State Specialty Schools II operates as a single-school district built around The Anchor School, a state-authorized public charter that opened in fall of 2023 in south DeKalb County. The school serves grades six through twelve and admits students from anywhere in Georgia tuition-free; enrollment so far is small, with the first cohort at the sixth-grade level as the school adds a grade each year toward its eventual six-to-twelve span.
The school's defining pedagogical approach centers on project-based learning, holistic adolescent development, and community-based partnerships. This is a lasting curricular identity, not a transient program label. A parent selecting The Anchor School is choosing that model as the core of their child's academic experience across all subjects and grades.
State testing data from 2024-25 show proficiency rates well below typical district performance. In mathematics, overall proficiency sits in the low single digits, with sixth graders at a very low threshold and seventh graders slightly higher. In English language arts, sixth-grade proficiency is around one-fifth of students; seventh grade reaches about one-third. Across tested grades and subjects combined, the school's proficiency index places it below the midpoint among DeKalb County's districts. A parent may want to look into this further with the school directly, particularly to understand how the school assesses its project-based, holistic model, how it supports students in meeting state benchmarks, and what academic trajectory the leadership expects as the school matures and adds higher grades.
The student population is predominantly Black, with a small number of Asian and multiracial students and very few white or Hispanic students represented. Specific counts of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, students with individualized education plans, and English learners were not available in the public data.
As a newly launched school still in its second operational year, The Anchor School remains in a growth phase. No graduation data exist because the school has not yet reached grade twelve. Attendance and chronic-absenteeism figures were also not reported. The school's trajectory and outcomes will become clearer as enrollment grows across multiple grades and as cohorts progress through the secondary sequence.
For families drawn to project-based, community-engaged learning and willing to support a young school through its formation years, The Anchor School represents a new and geographically accessible choice within Georgia's charter landscape. For families prioritizing early demonstration of state testing proficiency, the current data suggest this school is not yet that option.
See more original research from School Decision →