Overview

laptop-booksThe Georgia charter schools law provides the means to organize a charter public school subject to an academic or vocational performance-based contract approved by both the state and local boards of education.

A group of people (educators, parents, community leaders, or others) write the charter plan (i.e. charter contract) describing the school’s guiding principles, governance structure, and applicable accountability measures. Specific goals and operating procedures for the charter school are detailed in an agreement (or “charter”) between the school system, state department of education, and charter organizers. The charter contract often exempts the school from agreed upon state and local rules, regulations, policies, and procedures and from certain provisions of Title 20 of Georgia law.

Petitions

DeKalb High School for Accelerated Learning

The Spence Institute of Leadership and Learning

Destiny Achievers Academy of Excellence (Start-Up Renewal)

DeKalb Academy of Technology & Environment (Start-Up Renewal)

Chamblee Conversion Charter High School (Conversion Renewal)

Peachtree Charter Middle School (Conversion Renewal)

Performance Scorecards

DeKalb County School District evaluates charter schools using a comprehensive performance framework that includes academic, financial, and organizational performance measures. These measures establish expectations, guide practice, assess progress, and inform decision-making throughout the charter term and during the renewal or revocation process.

The three areas of performance covered by the framework—academic, financial, and organizational—correspond with the essential components of the charter school petition and serve as the foundation for ongoing evaluation. In each of these three areas, the framework poses a fundamental question:

  • Academic Performance: Is the charter school offering students a better educational opportunity than they would otherwise receive at their traditional local school?
  • Financial Performance: Is the charter school fiscally viable and responsible?
  • Organizational Performance: Is the organization effective, compliant, and well-managed?

Resources

Key Dates for Charter Petition Cycles
Letter of Intent Due to DeKalb County School District and State Charter Schools Commission (SCSC)
  • Renewals Seeking to Operate in School Year 2026-2027: January 6, 2025, by 12:00 PM EST
  • Start-Ups Seeking to Operate Beginning in School Year 2027-2028: July 1, 2025, by 12:00 PM EST
Petitioners Workshop
  • Renewals: January 27, 2025
  • Start-Ups: July 24, 2025
Petition Due to School Innovation Department
  • Renewals: November 12, 2025, by 12:00 PM EST
  • Start-Ups: February 11, 2026, by 12:00 PM EST

Charter School Petition Documents

Start-Ups

Renewals

Other Required Documents

Evaluation Rubrics

All applications should be submitted electronically via DropBox to:

Adrienne Lacey Griffin, Manager III, School Innovation
School Innovation Department
DeKalb County School District
Administrative & Instructional Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083
charterschools@dekalbschoolsga.org
For more information regarding the charter school petition process, please review the Office of Charter School Compliance’s resources. .

Funding Calculations

Funding for a DeKalb County School District (DCSD) charter school’s instructional and administrative programs will comply with the Georgia Charter Schools Act of 1998, Article 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, and applicable State Board of Education (SBOE) rules. The District shall fund charter schools pursuant to the funding formula provided by O.C.G.A.§ 20- 2-2068.1 and appropriate SBOE rules.

Department Services Guide

The Department Services Guide provides a description of in-kind and buy-back services available through the DeKalb County School District for charter schools authorized by the DeKalb Board of Education and the State Board of Education. The Guide is reviewed and published annually. The scope of services and costs contained in the Department Services Guide are subject to change at the sole discretion of the District. The Guide is organized by District division.

Start-Up Charter Schools

School Name Model Year Established Grades Served Enrollment (March 2025 FTE-3 Counts) Charter Term/Contract Website Contract
DeKalb Agriculture Technology and Environment, Inc. Agricultural, Technological, and Environmental Education 2005 K-8 756 2021-2026 Website Contract
DeKalb PATH Academy Refugee and Immigrant Communities 2002 5-8 368 2020-2027 Website Contract
Extension
DeKalb Preparatory Academy Project-Based Learning 2012 K-8 500 2024-2027 Website Contract
GLOBE Academy Dual Language Immersion 2013 K-8 1086 2023-2028 Website Contract
International Community School Refugee and Immigrant Communities 2002 K-5 500 2024-2029 Contract
Leadership Preparatory Academy Leadership Development 2010 K-8 255 2023-2028 Website Contract
Museum School of Avondale Estates Museum Model 2010 K-8 588 2022-2027 Website Contract
Tapestry Public Charter School Full Inclusion 2014 6-12 292 2022-2027 Website Contract

Contact