Atlanta Public Schools Employment: How to Find and Land a Job with APS

Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is one of the largest and most visible employers in the city. Whether you are a teacher, school support professional, or looking for central office work, APS employment can offer steady work, strong benefits, and a direct way to impact students and neighborhoods across Atlanta.

This guide walks you through how APS employment works in Atlanta, Georgia—from job types and requirements to the application process, pay basics, and where to get help locally.

Overview: Working for Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Public Schools serves students across the City of Atlanta through neighborhood schools, charter schools, and specialized programs. The district employs thousands of people in roles that range from classroom teaching to bus driving to IT and finance.

Many Atlanta residents consider APS jobs because they typically offer:

  • Stable, government-backed employment
  • Health insurance and retirement benefits
  • School-based schedules (especially for instructional staff)
  • A chance to serve local communities from Bankhead to Buckhead, SW Atlanta to Midtown

If you live in Atlanta or are planning to move here, APS can be a cornerstone employer—especially if you’re building a career in education or public service.

Main Types of Jobs in Atlanta Public Schools

APS employment covers far more than just teaching. Below are the major categories you’ll see when searching for jobs in Atlanta.

1. Teaching and Instructional Positions

These are frontline classroom roles in schools across the city.

Common positions include:

  • Classroom Teachers (Elementary, Middle, High)
  • Special Education Teachers
  • ESOL / ELL Teachers
  • Fine Arts, PE, and Career/Technical Teachers
  • Paraprofessionals / Instructional Aides

To teach in APS, you typically need:

  • A bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution
  • A Georgia teaching certificate (or eligibility for one) through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)
  • For paraprofessionals, a high school diploma plus additional requirements (such as passing an approved assessment or having some college credits)

Many people move to Atlanta from other states and work with GaPSC to transfer or convert their out-of-state teaching license to Georgia.

2. School-Based Support Staff

These roles keep schools running smoothly day-to-day:

  • School secretaries and front office staff
  • Clerks and registrars
  • Clinic aides and some health support roles
  • Campus security/support monitors
  • Media center (library) assistants

These jobs are good options if you want to work on a school campus but do not have a teaching credential.

3. Student Services and Specialists

These positions directly support student learning and well-being:

  • School counselors
  • School social workers
  • School psychologists
  • Speech-language pathologists
  • Occupational and physical therapists

Most of these require a master’s degree or specialized graduate training, along with appropriate Georgia licensure.

4. Transportation, Operations, and Facilities

APS has a large operations workforce across the metro area:

  • Bus drivers and bus monitors
  • Custodial and maintenance staff
  • Groundskeepers
  • Warehouse and logistics staff
  • Food service workers and nutrition managers

These positions often have more flexible educational requirements and can be practical options if you’re looking for:

  • Work with predictable hours
  • Jobs spread across neighborhoods in Atlanta
  • Opportunities for overtime in some departments

APS typically provides training for many of these roles (for example, commercial driver licensing support for school bus drivers).

5. Central Office and Administrative Roles

At the district level, APS employs professionals in:

  • Human resources
  • Finance and accounting
  • Information technology
  • Communications and community engagement
  • Curriculum and instruction
  • Data and assessment

These roles are mostly based in central office locations and require relevant degrees or background experience in the field.

Where APS Jobs Are Posted and How to Search

Most APS jobs are posted through the district’s online employment portal. Job seekers in Atlanta generally use these steps:

  1. Go to the official Atlanta Public Schools careers page (search “Atlanta Public Schools Employment” or “APS Careers” in your browser).
  2. Choose the category that fits you:
    • Certified (teachers, counselors, specialists)
    • Classified (support staff, operations)
    • Leadership / Administration
  3. Filter by:
    • School or location (e.g., South Atlanta, Midtown, North Atlanta)
    • Job type (full-time, part-time)
    • Grade level (elementary, middle, high)

You can often create an online profile, upload your resume, and apply to multiple positions.

Application Process for APS Jobs

Step 1: Prepare Your Documents

Most APS job applications in Atlanta will ask for:

  • Updated resume
  • Cover letter (especially for teaching and administrative roles)
  • Copies of:
    • College transcripts (unofficial initially, official if hired)
    • Teaching or professional certificates, if applicable
  • Professional references (with contact information)
  • For some roles, test scores or licensure documents (such as Praxis or GACE for teachers)

📝 Tip for Atlanta applicants: If you attended a local institution like Georgia State University or Clark Atlanta University, keep your transcripts accessible—APS may request them more than once during licensure or verification steps.

Step 2: Submit Online Application

You’ll complete an online application for each vacancy or a general “pool” (for example, an elementary teacher pool).

Common sections include:

  • Work experience and education
  • Specific skills or certifications
  • Short-answer questions about your teaching or work philosophy

Step 3: Screening and Interviewing

If your application matches what a principal or hiring manager in Atlanta is looking for, the next steps may include:

  • A phone or virtual screening with HR or school leadership
  • An in-person interview at the school or central office
  • For teaching roles, a sample lesson or discussion of classroom scenarios

Hiring timelines can vary by time of year. Late spring and summer (April–August) are often the busiest times for teacher hiring in metro Atlanta.

Step 4: Background Checks and Onboarding

Before starting work, APS typically requires:

  • Criminal background check and fingerprinting
  • Verification of work eligibility
  • Final verification of education and licensure
  • Completion of new employee orientation

New employees may attend orientation at a central APS facility in Atlanta and then move into school-based or department training.

Credentials and Licensing for APS Employment

Teaching and Certified Positions

To work in certified roles (teachers, counselors, many specialists), you typically need:

  • A Georgia teaching certificate or service certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
  • For out-of-state teachers:
    • Submit your previous state license and transcripts to GaPSC
    • GaPSC may issue a temporary or provisional certificate while you meet any remaining Georgia requirements

Many APS applicants in Atlanta complete their teacher preparation through:

  • Local universities (e.g., Georgia State, Georgia Tech for some STEM, Atlanta University Center schools)
  • Alternative certification programs that partner with metro Atlanta school districts

Classified and Support Roles

Most classified roles (bus drivers, clerical staff, custodial, food service, paraprofessionals) do not require a teaching certificate, but may require:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Clean driving record (for transportation roles)
  • Some prior work experience in a related field
  • Ability to pass APS background checks

For paraprofessionals, Georgia often requires:

  • Either a certain number of college credits or
  • Passing an approved paraprofessional assessment

Pay, Benefits, and Work Schedules

Pay Basics

APS pay varies by:

  • Job classification (teacher vs. support staff vs. administrator)
  • Experience level
  • Education level (bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctorate)
  • Additional duties (coaching, clubs, department chairs)

Teacher salaries are typically set by a salary schedule, which is public and updated periodically by the district.

Support roles (bus drivers, custodians, clerical staff, etc.) also follow APS pay scales that take into account job grade and years of service.

Benefits

Employees of Atlanta Public Schools commonly have access to:

  • Health insurance
  • Retirement plans (including state teacher retirement for certified roles)
  • Paid leave (sick leave, sometimes personal days)
  • Holiday and school break schedules (for school-based employees)

The details can differ by position, so it’s important to review the benefits section of job postings or ask during the hiring process.

Work Schedules

School-based staff in Atlanta generally follow:

  • 180–190 day school-year calendars for teachers and many support staff
  • Longer-year schedules for 12-month positions (administrators, many central office roles, some custodial and maintenance jobs)

Transportation, maintenance, and some operations staff may have early morning, evening, or split shifts depending on bus routes and school operations across the city.

Working at Specific Types of APS Schools in Atlanta

APS includes a variety of school formats within city limits:

  • Neighborhood zoned schools (the majority of elementary, middle, and high schools)
  • Magnet and choice programs (such as arts, STEM, or language-focused)
  • Charter schools authorized by APS
  • Alternative and specialized schools

While charter schools may have some differences in employment conditions, many are still part of the APS ecosystem and recruit heavily within the Atlanta area.

If you are interested in a specific community—like West End, East Atlanta, Buckhead, or Southwest Atlanta—you can look for APS schools in those clusters and focus your applications there.

Where to Get In-Person Help with APS Employment in Atlanta

If you live in or near the city and prefer talking to someone locally, you can connect with APS directly.

Atlanta Public Schools Main Administrative Offices

While office locations can shift over time, APS central administration and human resources operations are typically housed in a central Atlanta office building. To find the current primary address and HR contact, you can:

  • Search online for “Atlanta Public Schools Human Resources” or “APS HR contact”
  • Call the main APS central phone number listed on the district’s official website and ask for Human Resources or Recruitment

Once connected, HR staff can help with:

  • Questions about current job openings
  • Requirements for teaching, paraprofessional, or classified positions
  • Instructions for submitting documents or verifying licensure
  • Information about job fairs and hiring events in Atlanta

Local Job Fairs and Hiring Events

APS often participates in:

  • District-hosted job fairs (especially before each school year)
  • Metro Atlanta education recruitment events
  • Community career fairs held at local colleges, convention centers, or city facilities

Watching announcements through APS communications and local Atlanta channels can help you time your applications to coincide with peak hiring seasons.

Tips for Standing Out as an APS Job Applicant in Atlanta

Here are some practical ways Atlanta-based applicants can strengthen their chances:

  1. Tailor your resume to APS roles.
    Highlight experience in urban or diverse school settings, community work in Atlanta neighborhoods, or previous roles serving youth.

  2. Show familiarity with Atlanta communities.
    In your cover letter or interview, be ready to speak about:

    • Why you want to work in Atlanta specifically
    • Any experience with local organizations, churches, after-school programs, or community groups

  3. Be flexible about location within the city.
    Let APS know if you’re open to different school clusters (for example, both South Atlanta and Midtown), which can increase your options.

  4. Stay responsive.
    Hiring teams often move quickly when positions need to be filled—check your email and voicemail frequently once you’ve started applying.

  5. Consider substitute, temporary, or part-time roles.
    Subbing or working part-time in APS schools can be a way to:

    • Get your “foot in the door”
    • Build Atlanta references
    • Learn the culture of different schools before committing full-time

Common Questions About APS Employment from Atlanta Residents

Do I have to live in the City of Atlanta to work for APS?
Not necessarily. Many employees commute from surrounding areas like Decatur, East Point, College Park, or other parts of metro Atlanta. However, familiarity with Atlanta communities is often a plus.

Can I switch schools within APS once I’m hired?
Internal transfer policies allow current employees to apply to vacancies at other schools or departments, typically following district timelines and rules.

Is there remote work in APS?
Most APS roles are in-person, especially school-based positions. Some central office or specialized jobs may allow limited hybrid or remote work, but this depends on the specific department.

Are there opportunities for advancement?
Yes. Teachers may move into roles like instructional coaches or assistant principals. Support staff may move into supervisory or administrative roles. APS is large enough that many employees build long-term careers within the district.

If you are in Atlanta and considering a public school career, exploring Atlanta Public Schools employment is a practical way to align steady work with service to local students and neighborhoods. Start by reviewing roles that match your background, prepare your documents, and connect with APS HR or school-based leaders to move forward in the hiring process.