Atlanta Starts New School Year Under Cloud of Cheating Scandal

Judy Woodruff

JUDY WOODRUFF: Now, the first of two stories about the nation's schools.

Students returned to Atlanta classrooms for the start of a new school year today. But students and teachers will be laboring under the cloud of a major cheating scandal that's raising big questions in Atlanta and in districts across the country.

JOHN TULENKO: Parks Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia, was a beacon of hope. Located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, it had built a reputation as a high-achieving school.

Chandra Gallashaw felt lucky to send her children to Parks.

CHANDRA GALLASHAW, mother: This was a college prep middle school. I had seen the change going on over there. And I was really impressed with that. That's what made me want my daughter to go there more so than ever.

JOHN TULENKO: Parks had made some of the largest gains anywhere in Georgia. Pass rates on the state tests climbed from 35 percent to 78 percent in reading, and from 24 percent to 86 percent in math.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at August 11, 2011 2:46 AM
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