Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy

Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy
Location
California, Georgia, United States
Information
Type	Public Single Gender (Girls)
Motto	"CSKYWLA - To be empowered by scholarship, non-violence, and social change, my sister"
School district	Atlanta Public Schools- SRT 4
Principal	Dr. Dione D. Simon
Grades	6 through 10 with plans to expand to grade 12 by 2013
Color(s)	Pink ,White and Brown
Mascot	Lady Eagles
Website	http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Page/12900

The Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy (CSKYWLA) was opened in Atlanta, Georgia in August of 2007. For a short time the academy was simply referred to as "the girls' single gender academy," but was later named by its first principal, Melody Morgan, in honor of the life and legacy of Coretta Scott King, the civil rights leader and wife of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

At its inception, the school served girls in grade 6 with plans for expansion to grade 12 by 2013. CSKYWLA is a public school in the Atlanta Public Schools system. Among the staff and students, the acronym for the school's name, CSKYWLA (pronounced "see-skee-WAH-lah"), has been coined as a salutation to which this definition has given - "to be empowered by scholarship, non-violence, and social change, my sister."

Single Gender Education

CSKYWLA was initiated by Atlanta Public Schools based on the research of Michael Gurian, who asserts that girls and boys have different learning styles. To this effect, teachers at CSKYWLA employ teaching strategies that are geared toward the general learning styles of girls.

Curriculum

The students at CSKYWLA are immersed in a rigorous academic curriculum, which includes language arts, social studies, and reading, along with a very strong emphasis on math and science, subject areas in which, according to research and tradition, girls tend to struggle more than boys.

Connections

Students at CSKYWLA have an opportunity to take various connections classes. These classes include:
-Band
-Orchestra
-Art
-Physical Education
-Spanish

Extracurricular Activities

The following extracurricular activities are offered at CSKYWLA:
-Cheerleading
-Softball
-Basketball
-Track and Field
-Debate Team
-Afterschool Allstars - Wii Fit,Cooking, Boardgames, Chess, Dance, Show Choir, Jazz Band

Special Honors

Since 2008, sixth grade students at the Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy have had the honor of being guest speakers at the annual Martin Luther King Memorial Holiday celebration ceremony that takes place at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

2008 - Kia Sims
2009 - Tamira Johnson
2010 - Brianna Martin
2011 - Rim Adem and Jasmine Woodard

Student Creed

In addition to academic achievement, much focus is placed on leadership and character development. To this effect, the students recite the Student Creed each day.

The Student Creed was penned by Lyndsey Collins, one of the first science teachers at CSKYWLA. It is as follows:

"As much as I attempt to calm the chaos around me called life, I can’t.

I can only control myself.

However, I have been told countless times that I am

Intelligent, courageous, strong, and beautiful.

So from this moment on, every indelible mark I make

Upon myself or my community will embody a piece of me.

That indelible mark will embody intelligence, courageousness,

Strength and beauty because they are what make ME!"

Administration

The middle school is currently under the leadership of Dr. Dione D. Simon (Principal), Mr. Everett Barksdale (Assistant Principal) and Ms. Melanie Robinson (Dean of Academics), and the high school is currently under the leadership of Ms.Termerion McCrary (Principal), Mr. Lincoln Woods (Assistant Principal), Mrs. Tameka Alexander-Small (Academy Leader/Business and Entrepreneurship) and Ms. Tia Martin (Academy Leader/Engineering, Science and Technology).