Advancing educational justice for refugee and immigrant youth.
ABOUT GFACS
Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School (GFACS) is a tuition free, community-based, public charter school designed to meet the needs of refugee and new American students through English language acquisition and foundational skill study, culturally relevant curriculum and wraparound supports, arts programming, and soccer participation. Every student works as a team member on and off the field to bridge significant gaps in formal schooling to graduate on time.
The core pillars of our academy model are:
Year-round programming
Integration of soccer for all
Holistic English acquisition
Scaffolded, Data-Driven Small Group Instruction
Relational, Trauma-Informed Approach to Schooling
GFACS contracts Fugees Family, Inc as an Educational Services Provider to operate the school based on their decades long experience and successful track record with the community.
OUR MISSION
The mission of GFACS is to level the playing field for refugee and new American students by empowering them to become independent thinkers, high-achieving scholars, and productive citizens.
As a school committed to meeting the needs of refugee and new American students, GFACS will provide a unique schooling environment that provides rigorous academic support and English proficiency; holistic, trauma-informed supports; the confidence and socio-emotional skills to navigate a new culture and country; and a community wholly invested in each student through college graduation and beyond.
SUCCESS THROUGH SOCCER
Soccer also supports students’ mental health given connections between exercise and positive functioning and emotional health. These supports are critical for a population that may have, at worst, experienced trauma, and at best, are navigating a new identity in a new country. At GFACS, every student practices soccer every day, and every student is on a competitive team. This provides common experience and means of collaboration, which circumvents barriers of language and culture and connects students and their coaches. Students are uniquely motivated to do well in their classes given the academic performance prerequisites for playing on the team.
Weekend games are an incentive for students who get to participate in travel teams and games with their friends at no charge. The cost of equipment and participation is wholly covered by the school budget.
At Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School, P.R.I.D.E is at our core.
P – Perseverance
R – Respect
I – Integrity
D – Dedication
E – Excellence
We carry it with us in all we do– whether we’re solving a new math equation, sharing our cultures, learning a new song, or preparing for our next soccer match, we are always Fugees proud!
Watch our video for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a Fugee.