The Atlanta Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to authorize the district’s oldest charter school to continue to operate for another five years.

Charles R. Drew Charter School, which opened in 2000 in the East Lake neighborhood, enrolls about 1,900 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.

The school’s current charter, authorized by Atlanta Public Schools, expires on June 30, 2022.

The board agreed to renew the contract for another five years, allowing the school to continue to operate through June 30, 2027.

The renewal now goes to the State Board of Education for final approval.

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Sheree Smith (left) casts her ballot at Wolf Creek Library in Atlanta on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. In addition to municipal races for mayors, city councils and school board members, this year’s election also will decide the members of the Georgia Public Service Commission. (Miguel Martinez / AJC)

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Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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