Health and PE Curriculum

The Atlanta Public Schools Health & Physical Education Department is committed to empowering every student with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors to live healthy and active lives. Through high-quality instruction, aligned curriculum, and community partnerships, we support the whole child and help students develop the lifelong habits needed for physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

Health and Physical Education in Atlanta Public Schools 

Atlanta Public Schools provides a comprehensive, standards-based, and skills-focused Health and Physical Education program for all students in grades K–12. Grounded in the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE), APS health and physical education instruction equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions, build healthy relationships, and support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Concepts and skills are introduced and reinforced through a developmentally appropriate progression from elementary through high school. The curriculum emphasizes equity and inclusivity, ensuring all students receive consistent and essential health education that promotes lifelong wellness.

K-12 Physical Education Progression:

1. Learn to Move (K–2)
   Foundational motor skills and basic movement exploration.
2. Move with Purpose (3–5)
   Skill development, cooperative learning, and introductory fitness concepts.
3. Apply Skills and Strategies (6–8)
   Sport-specific tactics, fitness applications, and teamwork.
4. Take Ownership of Wellness (9–12)
   Personal fitness planning, health decision-making, and lifelong activity habits.

FIT GA Fitness Assessment

The FIT GA Fitness Assessment is Georgia’s statewide health-related fitness assessment program designed to support student wellness and physical literacy. Atlanta Public Schools uses FIT GA to help students understand their personal fitness levels, set meaningful goals, and build lifelong habits that contribute to overall health.

 

K-12 Health Education Progression:

1. Learn the Basics (K-2)
   Body awareness, feelings, safety, hygiene, and kindness. 
2. Build Healthy Habits (3-5)
   Nutrition, emotional skills, conflict resolution, puberty, and safe choices.
3. Apply Health Skills (6–8)
   Peer relationships, stress management, refusal skills, digital safety, human growth and development.
4. Take Ownership of Health (9–12)
   Lifelong wellness planning, healthy relationships, decision making, human growth and development, and ADAP

 

Human Growth and Development in Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Public Schools offers its students a comprehensive health education curriculum to provide them with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate real-world health decisions. As part of this program, APS uses the FLASH Curriculum to teach the Human Growth and Development/Sex Education unit in grades 5–12. FLASH is an evidence-based program designed to help students build the skills necessary to make safe, healthy, and responsible choices. The curriculum aims to prevent teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual violence, while supporting healthy communication, consent, and respectful relationships. Lessons are age-appropriate, inclusive, and aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence, ensuring consistent and comprehensive instruction for all students. Families have the right to review all instructional materials used in this unit and may choose to opt their student out of the Human Growth and Development/Sex Education lessons. Students who are opted out will receive alternative assignments on another health-related topic during this time. For more information about the FLASH curriculum or to request an opt-out form, please contact your child’s health teacher.

Parent Resources: 

GADOE: Georgia Department of Education:

Georgia DDS ADAP Program  

Hands only CPR from American Heart Association: 

Vaping Prevention Resources For Families