Division of Academics

The Atlanta Public Schools’ Physical Education and Health programs are designed to support students’ appreciation of wellness and fitness. Through exposure to various sports and activities, students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM (Grades K-12)

K-5 Physical Education Program

The elementary curriculum is designed to support students’ physical, neuromuscular and social skills development.  Courses focus on the development of motor skills, strength, cardio-vascular fitness, aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, and flexibility. These courses also provide students with skills to work cooperatively. The goal of these courses is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and fitness that will empower them to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Grades 6-8 Physical Education Program

The middle school curriculum is designed to expose students to a variety of physical activity focused on personal health and wellness, fitness, individual and team sports. Students will also focus on acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle by demonstrating responsible personal and social behavior while engaged in physical activity.

Grades 9-12 Physical Education Program

The high school curriculum is designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills learned in middle school individual and team sports, fitness, and health programs to establish lifelong healthy habits.

K-5 Health Program

The elementary curriculum is designed to support students’ development of healthy lifestyle habits, which include nutrition, safety, healthy decision making, and relationships.

Grades 6 – 8 Health Program

The middle school curriculum is designed to support students’ development of healthy lifestyle habits, which include nutrition, safety, substance abuse prevention, disease prevention, healthy decision-making, relationships and life skills.

Grades 9-12 Health Program

The high school curriculum is designed to support students’ development of skills and habits that contribute to overall health and well-being. Emphasis is placed on safety, nutrition, mental health, substance abuse prevention, disease prevention, healthy decision-making and relationships.

Textbooks are resources to support instruction; they are not the Health or Physical Education curriculum.  Since no current textbooks are 100% aligned to the National Standards, it is important that teachers take care in selecting activities that are aligned with the Physical Education content

outlined in the concept overviews.