A Case Study of the Role of a School in a Community Undergoing Rapid Gentrification

Abstract

Atlanta, one of the fastest gentrifying cities in the United States, is comprised of neighborhoods near the city center amid urban wealth that suffer from severe poverty and low literacy rates. One neighborhood school has been ranked as one of the lowest in the state. To combat decades of underperformance, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) created an initiative that has helped bring this community together. The purpose of this case study, using interviews and survey data with thematic content analysis, was to understand the role of school district leadership in the creation of a new framework, replacing the original public school with a long record of failure.