In addition to being the social, economic, and cultural hub of the southeast, Atlanta is a city with a prolific past that has borne witness to some of the most significant moments in American history. In the 1960s, Atlanta was a major organizing center of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and students from Atlanta's historically black colleges and universities playing major roles in the movement's leadership.

Today, we find Atlanta at another critical juncture in time when we must draw upon the strength of determined leaders to eliminate our region’s most pressing civil rights injustice: the disparity in education that is severely limiting the life opportunities for more than 400,000 students growing up in poverty in the region. Just one out of every five low-income students in Metro Atlanta will attend a high-quality pre-k program, compared to four out of five in more affluent nearby areas. Students from low-income communities are also twice as likely to attend a school that has not met adequate yearly progress, and just 31% will go on to college, as compared to 79% of their higher income peers.

In partnership with schools, districts, and community supporters, Teach For America is working to provide equal educational opportunities for all Metro Atlanta students, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. Our 450 corps members and 900 alumni are a source of talent and energy for our schools and city. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of these teachers and leaders, now, more than ever, Teach For America - Metro Atlanta is positioned to significantly impact the life trajectories of students in our region’s high-need communities.