Xanadu

Xanadu is a summer enrichment program serving gifted and high-achieving students in the metro Atlanta area.

Xanadu is offered by the Office of Gifted and Talented Education in Atlanta Public Schools. The program began over twenty-five years ago.

Xanadu teachers take academic content and turn it into fun and exciting ways for students to be enriched while still enjoying the sunny days of summer! Students are allowed to select courses that are focused on academics and fine arts/athletics. Course offerings include everything from courses like “Xtreme Xperiments” where students explore the science behind lava lamps to courses like “IMPACT” where students work to make a difference in their immediate community and understand the value of their civic contributions.

The program concludes with a culminating activity where parents and the community are presented with student work.

Rising 1st - 8th-grade gifted-identified, talented, and/or high-achieving students in the metro Atlanta area who meet program criteria are eligible to apply to the Xanadu Summer Program.

Yes, children of APS employees can apply for admission to the program if they meet the program's criteria. Students of APS employees pay the in-district tuition rate.

Yes, children enrolled in APS charter schools can apply to the program if they meet the criteria. Families of APS charter school students pay the in-district participation fee.

Yes. Students who do not attend an Atlanta Public School may apply. If accepted, the participation fee for out-of-district students is $675.

Possibly. APS traditional* school students who are accepted into the program may apply for need-based scholarships with a reduced participation fee. However, there are a limited number of scholarships available, so not all requests may be approved. APS traditional* school students who qualify for free- or reduced-priced lunch may also pay a reduced participation fee. *Traditional schools are those that are not charter, partner, private, or home schools.

No. Enrollment in Xanadu Summer Camp is limited by program capacity by grade level, and not all applicants will be admitted.

Our goal is to ensure each student has a safe, enriching, and fun experience with our program.  These students enjoy being challenged and are goal-oriented; they enjoy extracurricular activities and the ability to learn new skills. Therefore, no single factor guarantees admission. Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of multiple factors, which may include, but are not limited to:

• Gifted identification status
• Demonstrated talent or high academic achievement
• Teacher recommendations
• Student behavior records
• Past attendance and engagement

Considerations:

• Xanadu does not give preference to any child, regardless of whether they have siblings in the program.
• Xanadu’s goal is to serve students from all clusters within the Atlanta Public Schools district.  The selection committee closely reviews the distribution of students across clusters in addition to the criteria above.
• Competition for Xanadu has been growing significantly over the past 5 years. Xanadu caps class sizes to ensure scholars have a positive, safe experience in the program. This may also impact student selection.

For all students, supporting documentation is required, including all of the following, which must be uploaded at the time of registration. Students with incomplete documentation will not be considered for acceptance:

1. The email address of the student’s current teacher. Xanadu will email the teacher for additional details on the recommendation  
2. Student’s APS identification number (if applicable)
3. For charter, out-of-district, and any students who are not gifted-identified, at least one of the following must be provided. Gifted-identified APS students are not required to upload any of these:
   • Gifted eligibility report
   • Most recent test scores (For example: MAP, Milestones, STAR, iReady, or ITBS)
   • Most recent report card/progress report
4. If your child has a 504 plan, an IEP, or needs medical accommodations, documentation is required.

Please note that APS student demographic information will load directly into the application from Infinite Campus. Any changes to this information must be made at the local school or through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

For internet or computer support, every APS school has a parent center.  Please contact your local school.  Computer support is also available at your local library.  

For Application Questions, please use the Contact Us button on the Xanadu registration portal for questions regarding the online application or the registration process. You may also reach the Office of Gifted and Talented Education at (404) 802-7585 or at Xanadu_gifted@atlanta.k12.ga.us. Our office hours are 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Please use the Contact Us button on the Xanadu registration portal if you have additional
questions regarding the online application or the registration process. You may also reach the Office of Gifted and Talented Education at (404) 802-7585 or at Xanadu_gifted@atlanta.k12.ga.us.

Our office hours are 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.

All payments must be made through the MySchoolBucks online payment portal. If you have further questions, email Xanadu_Gifted@atlanta.k12.ga.us. Families will only pay fees after their child has been invited to participate.

Acceptance or non-acceptance is based on the teacher or principal’s recommendation, a completed application, and program criteria listed above. Notification of acceptance or non-acceptance to the program can be accessed through the online portal (https://apsxanadu.org) during the week of March 23rd.  

Daily instruction is a combination of academic and fine arts/athletics courses.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide transportation to Xanadu.

1. Specific instructions for online registration, along with a video tutorial, will be provided to guide you through the online application process.  Continue to monitor the website at https://apsxanadu.org  for additional information.
2. Students accepted into the program will log in to the Xanadu portal to rank their course preferences.  Parents and guardians will approve course schedules before submitting program fees.
3. Online payment will include a non-refundable vendor processing fee for credit or debit cards. MySchoolBucks is a service that is provided by Heartland Global Systems and its affiliates. Other than the receipt of payments made by you (less applicable fees charged by APS or credit card company), neither the school district, the school, nor any individuals employed by the school district profit from this service.

Courses are assigned once the full registration process is complete: application, payment, and course selection. Once a class is full, course placement will be based on the second choice and, if needed, the third choice. There is no guarantee of first-choice course placement.

No. A specific student-teacher ratio is maintained, and changing classes disrupts it. Classes will not be changed once confirmation letters have been sent. Review course descriptions with students before submitting rankings. Once a class is full, course placement will be based on the second choice and, if needed, the third choice. There is no guarantee of first-choice course placement. We encourage families to review the course description together before making final decisions.

Yes, before care is available. Before care begins at 7:00 am for a drop-in fee of $5.00 per student per day. CASH ONLY. Beforecare is sponsored by XANADU. Please note that before-care payments are in addition to Xanadu tuition.

Yes, aftercare is available. Aftercare is sponsored by Preferred School Care. Parents must register with Preferred School Care before the 1st day of Xanadu.   Aftercare runs from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm daily. The after-care program focuses on technology, visual arts, fitness, and character education. After-care program participants will receive an afternoon snack. The fee for aftercare is $75.00 per week plus a one-time $20 registration fee. Preferred School Care is a private entity and accepts all forms of payment for its services. Please note that aftercare payments are in addition to Xanadu tuition. Preferred School Care does not offer drop-in services. See https://www.pscafterschool.com/ for more information.

Breakfast and lunch are included in the programming fees for each student.

Email Xanadu_Gifted@atlanta.k12.ga.us.