title: The B.E.S.T. Academy
text: # The B.E.S.T. Academy
  
  The B.E.S.T. Academy at Benjamin S. Carson (BEST) was opened in Atlanta, Georgia, United States in August 2007. For a short time the academy was simply referred to as "the boys' single gender academy," but was later named by its first principal, Curt R. Green, in honor of the renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin S. Carson. B.E.S.T. is an acronym for Business, Engineering, Science, and Technology. Dr. Ben Carson's name was later dropped from the school name.
  
  At its inception, the school served boys in grade 6 with plans for expansion to grade 12 by 2013. The B.E.S.T. Academy is a public school in the Atlanta Public Schools system.
  
  ## Single-gender education
  
  The B.E.S.T. academy was initiated by Atlanta Public Schools based on the research of Michael Gurian, who asserts that girls and boys have different learning styles. To this effect, teachers at B.E.S.T. employ teaching strategies that are geared toward the general learning styles of boys.
  
  ## Curriculum
  
  The students at B.E.S.T. are immersed in an academic curriculum which includes language arts, social studies, reading, math, and science.
  
  ### Connections
  
  Students at BEST have an opportunity to take various connections classes. These include:
  
  * Art
  * Band
  * Business Education and Computer Technology
  * Chorus
  * Heath & Physical Education
  * Sex Ed
  * Spanish
  * Strings
  
  ### Extracurricular activities
  
  The following extracurricular activities are offered at B.E.S.T.:
  
  * Afterschool Allstars
  * Baseball
  * Basketball
  * Cross Country
  * Debate team
  * Football
  * JROTC
  * Robotics
  * Swimming
  * Track and field
  * Fencing
  