Connected Academy

Charter Schools

As a public start-up charter school, Connected Academy is tuition-free and open to all rising high school juniors and seniors living in the Fulton County School System attendance zone.  Like all other Fulton County high schools, Connected Academy is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). 

A charter school is a public school that operates under a renewable charter (or contract), generally 5-years, approved by the school system and the state board of education.  A charter school has waivers from specified local and state mandates in exchange for flexibility in its educational program and freedom to develop strategies to improve achievement levels of students.  Students, however, must still take state tests such as the End of Course Tests and the Georgia High School Graduation Tests.  Charter schools are funded by the local school system at the same per-student cost as regular schools. 

New charter schools are designated start-up charters and existing schools that apply for charter status are conversion charters.  Most start-up charter schools are managed by private entities or corporations.  Connected Academy is unique in that the author of the charter petition is Fulton County Schools.  It is therefore know as an LEA (local educational agency) or school system startup charter school. 

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