This story has been updated. In Atlanta, 404 is more than just an area code. April 4th — or 404 Day (or “fo-oh-fo”) — is an annual celebration of all things unique to Atlanta. Since 2020, Official 404 Day with Atlanta Influences Everything and Butter.ATL has been producing programming around the holiday that honors and […]
Sydney Sims
Sydney Sims is the youth and education reporter for Capital B Atlanta. Twitter @bySydneySims
Posted inEducation, K-12
Why Black Students at One Atlanta School Are Excelling in Reading
When Heather Perry asked her third grade class at Warren T. Jackson Elementary last week what they love about her literacy lessons, a sprinkling of hands shot up into the air. One student noted the way Perry uses mnemonic devices like songs, chants, or popular TV characters to aid in conveying and retaining information. Another […]
Posted inEducation, Public Safety
Air Quality Concerns Prompt Virtual Learning for Rockdale County Students
Rockdale County Public Schools officials said the district will operate virtually through the first half of next week due to the aftermath of the BioLab chemical fire that displaced 17,000 residents in Conyers on Sunday. RCPS students were set to return to school this upcoming Monday after spending this week on recess for a pre-scheduled […]
Posted inPublic Safety
I’ve Lived Through Three BioLab Fires in 20 Years. I Fear the Impact.
In the midst of an environmental PR disaster, BioLab is quickly becoming a household name in America for all the wrong reasons, but I and other Conyers residents have long been familiar with the environmental hazards at the company. I’ve lived in Conyers for nearly 20 years, and for the past eight I’ve known of […]
Posted inCulture, Education, History
Georgia’s First High School for Black Students Celebrates 100-Year Legacy
The first-ever Georgia high school to serve Black students got its flowers in an elaborate centennial celebration hosted in the atrium of Atlanta City Hall last week. Dozens of Booker T. Washington High School alumni gathered on Sept. 16 to pay homage to the Atlanta school’s 100-year history, which includes graduating icons like Martin Luther […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Education
APS Board Greenlights Redevelopment of Former Lakewood Heights Elementary Site
Renovations will soon be underway at the former site of Lakewood Heights Elementary after the Atlanta Board of Education voted in favor of addressing deteriorated conditions of former APS learning sites. Board members voted last Tuesday to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation to determine recommendations for the former school grounds’ […]
Posted inEducation, Public Safety
Father of Suspected Apalachee High School Shooter Arrested as Atlanta Parents React
The father of the 14-year-old boy accused of opening fire at Apalachee High School in Winder and killing four people on Wednesday was arrested Thursday and charged with murder for allegedly allowing his son to possess a gun. Colin Gray, 54, has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, […]
Posted inEducation, Public Safety
4 Killed in Apalachee Shooting; Local Atlanta School Districts Boost Safety Measures
Local school districts in Atlanta say they are preparing for the days ahead with heightened security after a deadly shooting at a Georgia high school 45 miles outside of Atlanta left four dead and nine injured Tuesday morning. A 14-year-old student has been identified as the shooter at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, according […]
Posted inCity Politics, School Boards
How the City Council Post 3 Election Could Impact Atlanta’s Board of Education
The stage is set for November to be an important time of the year here in Atlanta. In addition to a highly contested presidential election looming between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump — in which Georgia will likely play a pivotal role — there are upcoming contests between public officials on the […]
Posted inEducation, Higher Education, K-12
How Georgia’s $36 Billion Budget Will Impact K-12 Schools and Higher Education
Budget season has officially wrapped for the state of Georgia, and Gov. Brian Kemp has released his finalized Governor’s Budget Report. The massive 420-page document details a $36 billion budget that will fund more than 40 state agencies, six judicial level entities, and four legislative bodies in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. For more than 2 […]