Atlanta School Guide | Summer/Fall 2013 issue

Summer/Fall 2013Atlanta’s Leading Education Resource

An Education That Goes Beyond Academics

Plus!

Covering: Independent | Boarding | Public | Charter | Early Education | Summer Camps | Field Trips and More

Building ChArACTEr

Is VirtualLearning Rightfor Your Child?

Important Dates, Terms

and Trends

Standardized Tests and How

to Take Them

6 How to Use This Guide

8 Critical Communication

21 Headmaster’s Corner Betsy Box, The Bedford School

18 Special Needs Schools

36 Independent School Guide

80 Boarding School Directory

89 Public Schools by County

98 Educational Resources Tutoring, summer camps and

activities, field trips and more. 112 Advertiser Index

In Every Issue

SummEr/fall 2013

Co

NTE

NTS

22

Standardized TestsWe break down some of the most common standardized tests, as well as resources to help your child prepare to take them.

26

fEaTurES

30 26

4 aTlanTa School GuIdE Summer/fall 2013

22

30

Building Charactermany atlanta schools incorporate some form of character education, teaching students to be involved and respect others.

Virtual Educationonline schools provide educational opportunities for students who travel, are home-schooled or just need help.

We graciously thank our advertisers for their support of the Atlanta School Guide.

Publisher/President

PaTrIck kIllam

Editor

kEvIn forEST morEau

Marketing & Promotions

JEff ThomPSon

Account Director

lacEy JamES

Contributing Writers

danIEl BEaurEGard,

murIEl vEGa

Atlanta School Guide, Summer/Fall 2013, Volume 8, Issue 2. Published bi-annually by killam Publishing, Inc., 200 market Place, Suite 230, roswell, Ga 30075. Atlanta School Guide assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Information may have changed since press time, so please verify all information when contacting a school or educational resource. reproduction in whole or in part of any elements of this publication is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. © 2013 killam Publishing, Inc.

for additional copies, further information or advertising,

please contact:

KILLAM PUBLISHING, INC. P: 770-992-0273 f: 770-649-7463

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TO ADVERTISE CALL770-992-0273

Space closing for Winter/Spring 2014 issue:

oct 18, 2013

Find an Independent School in

Use ThisGuide

How To

4Easy Steps!

Metro Atlanta Area MapTo search for independent schools by region or neighborhood, turn to page 34 and use the color-coded map to direct you to each region’s page number.

Education At-a-Glanceonce you’ve selected your region of interest, the charts beginning on page 36 include a comparison of features for each school in that region, along with the page number for each school’s ad.

Region Maps and Listingsdivided into regions of atlanta, the color-coded maps beginning on page 39 provide each school’s location and page number for their ad.

Advertiser IndexTo find a school or resource by name, turn to the advertiser index on page 112 to find the appropriate page number.

1

2

3


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DAY OF CLASS1ST


10 ATLANTA SCHOOL GUIDE Summer/Fall 2013

First Montessori Becomes SpringmontFirst Montessori School of Atlanta, the oldest Montessori school in the Southeast, has changed its name to Springmont. The name change is part of a yearlong series of events commemorating the school’s 50th anniversary.

Atlanta Public Schools Educators Indicted in Cheating ScandalA grand jury indicted 35 Atlanta Public Schools educators and officials, including former super-intendent Beverly Hall, in March. Hall and others were indicted for their alleged roles in cheating to produce favorable test scores on state-adminis-tered standardized tests.

Westminster President to RetireBill Clarkson, president of the Westminster Schools, has announced his retire-ment. Clarkson will retire

following the 2013-14 school year. Westminster has launched a search for his replacement, who will take over on July 1, 2014. Fayette County Votes for School ClosingsThe Fayette County School Board has voted to close four of the county’s 30 schools as part of an ef-fort to address the school district’s shrinking budget. The affected schools are Fayette Middle School, Fayette Intermediate School, Brooks Elementary and Tyrone Elementary.

Greater Atlanta Chris-tian Named Apple Distinguished SchoolGreater Atlanta Christian School has been named an Apple School of Dis-tinction for the 2012-2013 school year. The honor, given by Apple, Inc., is awarded to schools that integrate technology into their curricula in innova-tive and effective ways.

President Visits DeKalb Early Learning CenterPresident Barack Obama visited Decatur’s College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center in Febru-ary, and met with students at the City Schools of Decatur school before speaking at the Decatur Rec Center to promote a universal pre-K program.

Pace Academy to Erect New FacilityPace Academy will soon be home to the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School, a 75,000-square-foot facility that will in-clude a three-story library with 21st-century technol-ogy and a 1,500-square-foot commons area. The building is set to open for the start of the 2014-15 school year.

Atlanta May End Year-Round SchoolingAtlanta Public Schools is investigating whether it should discontinue the

Trends and Happenings in Georgia EducationWhat You Need to Know to Stay Up to

Date with Atlanta and Georgia Education

Critical Communication

www.atlantaschoolguide.com 11

year-round class calendar it currently employed at three elementary schools, in the face of evidence that the calendar has little to no effect on student performance.

Providence Christian Offers STEM ProgramLilburn’s Providence Christian Academy (PCA) has become the first independent school in a nine-county area to offer a leading STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer-ing and Math) education program through Project Lead The Way. PCA’s Zoë Gadegbeku, a national spokesperson for STEM education, was recently honored as a National Young Woman of Dis-tinction for establishing

W.I.S.H. (Women In Sci-ence and Health), a network for high school girls study-ing in STEM fields.

Appleton Learning Makes Georgia DebutAppleton Learning, an education support organi-zation providing individu-alized academic coaching, tutoring and test prepa-ration, recently opened two Georgia locations, in Roswell and East Cobb.

Woodward Students Score at National Arts CompetitionStudents at College Park’s Woodward Academy earned high honors at the National Scholastic Art Competition, the nation’s largest and most prestigious student art

event. Eighth graders Cashington Callaway and Cheyenne Early received gold medals, and seventh grader Samuel Riviere received a silver medal.

State Lawmakers Expand Private School ScholarshipsDuring its 2013 session, the Georgia Legislature increased the amount of state income tax credits available to taxpayers for contributions that provide scholarships for students who wish to transfer from public to private schools. The approved bill ex-panded the program’s cap from $52.4 million to $58 million per year.

C2 Education Center Opens in CummingC2 Education, a leading test-preparation and tutor-ing provider, has opened a new location in Cumming, Ga. The center provides services including SAT and ACT preparation, subject tutoring and academic and college counseling.

Gwinnett School Ranked in Top 10The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology was ranked No. 3 in U.S. News and World Report’s list of the nation’s 10 best high schools of 2013.

ACCREDITATION official certification that guarantees a school provides an educationofareasonablyhighquality.Schoolsmustprovelevelsofquality and maintain continuous standards of improvement.

ACT an alternative to the SaT, this national college admissions examination consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, reading and Science, with an optional 30-minute writing test.

ADEqUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP) a measure of year-to-year student achieve-mentonstatewideassessmentsasrequiredby the no child left Behind act.

Education 101Terms to know in your search for the

right educational experience for your child

CHARTER SCHOOL a tax-sup-ported public school that is inde-pendently run, allowing for greater educational choice for parents in the community.

ExPERIENTIAL LEARNING an educational approach using applied, hands-on methods of learning.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) a specifically designed comprehensive academic program emphasizing traditional disciplines while instilling a global perspective in its students.

MAGNET SCHOOL a public school that offers a specific or enhanced curriculum designed for students of special interest or ability.

MONTESSORI a school following the principles developed by dr. maria montessori focusing on the uniqueindividuality,self-relianceand independence of children.

SPECIAL NEEDS a school or pro-gram for children who have mild-to-moderate learning differences. It usually features smaller class sizes, individualized attention and multi-sensory learning methods.




CRITERION-REFERENCED COMPETENCY TESTS (CRCT) Tests designed to measure how well studentsingrades1through8acquirethe skills and knowledge described in the Georgia Performance Standards.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Education that applies to children from birth to age eight, focusing specifically on their development, including physi-cal, emotional, sensory, communicative, cognitive and social needs.

GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TESTS (GHSGT) all students seeking a Georgia high school diploma must pass four content areas as well as the Georgia high School Writing assessment.

GEORGIA PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Statewide standards of academic content for all subjects k-12, to which every school must adhere and on which students are annually tested.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) a scholarship in Georgia, funded by the Georgia lottery, that rewards academi-cally achieving students with financial assistance to attend eligible public and private Georgia colleges and universities.

MISSION/PHILOSOPHY a statement outlining the guidelines a school follows to achieve its goals or maintain perfor-mance standards.

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT a federal law passed in 2001 designed to ensure that all children have a fair and equalopportunitytoobtainahigh-qual-ity education and meet state academic standards of proficiency.

NOTIFICATION DEADLINE The date by which an independent school notifies families of the acceptance of a child for enrollment to the school.

OPEN HOUSE an event held at a school, at which parents can learn more about the school and its offerings.

PSAT a standardized test that offers stu-dents practice for the SaT reasoning Test andallowsthemtoqualifyfortheNationalmerit Scholarship Program.

REPLY DEADLINE The date by which parents must notify an accepting school of their commitment to enroll their child.

SAT This standardized test measures the critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills of students planning to attend college.

SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST (SSAT) The admissions test that manyindependentschoolsrequirestu-dents to take in order to be considered for enrollment.

SUMMER CAMP a common destination for children and teenagers during the summer, at which they can participate in a variety of activities or classes.

Did You Know: Georgia seniors

scored an average of 1,452 on the SAT in 2012, a seven-point increase from 2011.

AdvancED www.advanc-ed.orgThe parent organization for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, AdvancED advances education excellence through accreditation and school improvement.

American Camp Association (ACA)www.acacamps.orgAccredits camps that meet industry-accepted and

government-recognized standards, educates owners and directors and establishes guidelines.

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)www.boardingschools.comThis organization of 300 boarding schools serves the professional develop-ment needs of boarding schools and provides information to potential students and their families.

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) www.acsi.orgACSI strives to enable Christian educators and schools worldwide to effectively teach using Christ-centered curricula and programs.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)www.montessori-ami.orgRecognizes schools that strongly adhere to Montes-sori principles and practices.

Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools (AAAIS) www.aaais.orgAlthough not an accredit-ing agency, AAAIS is an affiliation of independent schools and operates under analogous principles and a common code of ethics.

The Council of International Schools (CIS) www.cois.orgThe premier organization in international education for the accreditation of schools and the develop-ment of best practices.

Department of Education (DOE) www.doe.k12.ga.usA statewide, policy-driven organization governing the public school system of education in Georgia for K through 12, the DOE operates under the direc-tion of the State Superin-tendent of Schools.

Deciphering Associations and

Organizations


Many local and national organizations work to bring out the best in summer

camps and public, private and boarding schools by identifying schools that meet certain standards through accreditation.

These groups also set policies, research educational advancements and offer services to the educational communities both in Atlanta and in

Georgia. The following are just some of the associations and organizations you should know in your search for the best educational experience for your child.


Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC)www.coe.uga.edu/gacGAC offers four levels of approval: preparation status, provisional accredi-tation, accreditation and accreditation with quality.

Georgia Association of Christian Schools (GACS)www.gacs.orgUses generally accepted indicators of quality, volun-tary self-improvement and peer review to measure Christian schools.

Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) www.gael.orgThis statewide umbrella organization of six profes-sional associations pro-vides unity among school leadership organizations in Georgia.

Georgia Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (GAPSEC) www.gapsec.orgThis state organization is for schools that serve stu-dents with learning issues.

Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) www.gacharters.orgA membership organization whose mission is to be an ef-fective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia.

Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) www.gisaschools.orgAn association of private, independent and paro-chial schools throughout the state whose mission is to advance excellence and collaboration among private, independent and parochial schools.

Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) www.gpee.orgThis non-profit organiza-tion of business, education, community and govern-ment leaders aims to shape policy and reform public education in the state.

Georgia Private School Accreditation Council (GAPSAC) www.gapsac.orgAssociation of K-12 private schools whose students are recognized and ap-proved by the Georgia DOE for transferring cred-its to public schools on the same basis as students from public schools.

Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) www.gapsc.comA state organization responsible for setting and applying high standards for the preparation, certification, and contin-ued licensing of Georgia public educators. Prepara-

tion and conduct of public school teachers and staff.

Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA)www.gsba.comRepresenting Georgia’s 180 elected boards of education, GSBA provides leadership and services to local boards of education.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)www.naeyc.orgThe NAEYC focuses on the quality of educa-tional and developmental services for children, from birth to age 8, including daycare and pre-K centers. It is a national network of more than 300 local, state, and regional affiliates, and a growing global alliance.

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) www.nais.orgThe association values and works to maintain the independent nature of each member school by promoting high standards of educational quality and ethical behavior.

National Association of Private Special Educa-tion Centers (NAPSEC) www.napsec.orgRepresents private specialized education pro-grams and their leaders u


For more information about these and other organizations and associations that ensure quality education among camps and schools, visit the websites of the Georgia Department of Education (www.k12.ga.us) or the U.S. Department of Education (www.ed.gov).

by promoting high-quality programs and services for individuals with disabilities and their families.

National Christian School Association (NCSA)www.nationalchristian.orgAdministrators from accredited schools, univer-sity educators and public schools preside over the accreditation process for NCSA.

National Council for Private School Accredi-tation (NCPSA) www.ncpsa.orgA consortium of several private school organi-

zations dedicated to preserving the integrity of the accreditation process for thousands of private schools across the nation.

Southeastern Associa-tion of Boarding Schools (SABS) www.sabs.orgAn association of 23 board-ing schools committed to promoting and supporting boarding education op-portunities in Southeastern states, including the Caro-linas, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) www.sacs.orgMember schools meet research-based standards and maintain continuous school improvement and quality assurance.

Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) www.sais.orgMembers meet quality standards, receive peer evaluation and implement a school plan focused on strategic improvement.


PUBLIC SCHOOLSFIRST DAY OF SCHOOLJuly 15 atlanta (Y)aug. 1 decatur, Paulding, rockdaleaug. 5 cherokee, henryaug. 6 cowetaaug. 7 atlanta (T), Bartow, Buford, cobb, douglas, Gwinnett aug. 8 forsyth, marietta aug. 12 clayton, dekalb, fayette, fulton, Gainesville city, Griffin-Spalding, hall

Important dates


JULY-AUG

SEP-oCT

NoV

oCT-MAR

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLSOpen Houses oct. to mar., in generalApplication Deadlines late Jan. to late feb., in general

Dates subject to change. Please check with your local school district for updates.T = Traditional Calendar Y = Year-round Calendar

THANKSGIVING BREAK nov. 25-29 atlanta (T,Y), Bartow, Buford, cherokee, clayton, cobb, coweta, decatur, dekalb, douglas, fayette, forsyth, fulton, Gainesville city, Griffin-Spalding, Gwinnett, hall, henry, marietta, Paulding, rockdale

FALL BREAK Sept. 9-13 decaturSept. 16-20 cherokeeSept. 23-27 atlanta (Y), Pauldingoct. 7-8 cobb, mariettaoct. 7-11 henry, rockdaleoct. 10-14 claytonoct. 11-14 atlanta (T), coweta, douglas

oct. 14 dekalb, fayette, Gwinnettoct.14-15 Bartow, Buford, fulton, Gainesville city, halloct. 14-18 Griffin-Spaldingoct. 18 forsyth

TESTING DATES oCT-DEC

SAToct. 5, nov. 2

and dec. 7www.collegeboard.org

dates apply to both public and independent schools. for registration deadlines, visit the appropriate websites.

SSAToct. 12, nov. 9

and dec. 7www.ssat.org



Special Needs Schools

What is a Special Needs School?Special needs schools are those that serve children who struggle with learn-ing disabilities or don’t perform well in a conventional school environment. These schools use alternative approaches to instruction in order to help children learn more effectively, and achieve success in the classroom and in social settings.

What is a Learning Disability?A learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects how your child processes certain information. Children with learning disabilities are as smart as or even smarter than other children, but may face challenges with reading, writing, spelling, reasoning and other functions. As a result, they often struggle to achieve in traditional classrooms. Common learn-ing disabilities include Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

If your child exhibits more intelligence than his or her schoolwork demonstrates, contact your physician or a licensed psy-chologist for an evaluation.

How Do I Find the Right School?As you begin searching for the right school for your child’s situation, here are some questions to keep in mind:

• Will your child fare better in a school that focuses on his or her specific learning disability, or would you

rather that he be able to interact with students with a wide range of learning capabilities?

• Does the school serve a specific age range, or work with students on all grade levels? Many students with learning disabilities have trouble transitioning to new schools.

• Does the school offer a variety of sports, after-school activities and arts programs?

• Is the school accredited? If so, by which organizations?

• Is the staff certified to instruct students with your child’s particular learning difficulty?

• Does the school offer financial as-sistance?

Resources for Finding a School for Children with Learning Difficulties



www.atlantaschoolguide.com 19www.atlantaschoolguide.com 19

with severe and multiple disabilities. Pre-K through 12. 678-874-7000. www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/margaretharris.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Alexsander AcademyStudents with learning difficulties. Grades 2 through 8. 404-839-5910. www.alexsanderacademy.org.

The Bedford SchoolDyslexia, Asperger’s syndrome and other learning disabilities. Grades 1 through 9. 770-774-8001. www.thebedfordschool.org.

Center AcademyADD, Asperger’s syndrome, dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Grades 5 through 12. 770-333-1616. www.centeracademy.com. u

Where to Turn: A Directory of Special Needs SchoolsThe Atlanta area boasts many public and private schools that serve students with learning difficulties. Here is a sampling of schools to help you with your search.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS H.A.V.E.N. Academy Students with emotional behavior disorders and autism. Grades 1 through 12. Two campuses in Smyrna. 678-842-6930 (Hawthorne School), 678-842-6899 (Fitzhugh Lee School). www.cobbk12.org/haven.

Margaret Harris Comprehensive School Special education school for students


ClearWater AcademyADD/ADHD, Asperger’s and other learn-ing differences. Grades 1 through 12. 770-631-3650. www.clearwateracademyga.org.

Cumberland AcademyADD/ADHD, autism, Asperger’s syndrome and learning disabilities. Grades 4 through 12. 404-835-9000. www.cumberlandacademy.org.

Eaton AcademyAverage, gifted and students with learn-ing challenges who have not responded to traditional methods. K through 12. 770-645-2673. www.eatonacademy.org.

The Hirsch AcademyChildren 5 to 13 with learning differences.404-378-9706. www.hirschacademy.org.

The Howard SchoolLanguage-learning disabilities and learning differences. K through 12. 404-377-7436. www.howardschool.org.

Mill Springs AcademyADHD and learning disabilities. Grades 1 through 12. 770-360-1336. www.millsprings.org.

Porter AcademyADHD, dyslexia and other differences. Pre-K through 8. 770-594-1313. www.porteracademy.org.

The Schenck SchoolStudents with dyslexia. K through 6. 404-252-2591. www.schenck.org.

For an index of additional special needs schools, please turn to page 113.


Betsy BoxDirector, The Bedford School

headmaster’s corner

Betsy Box is director of The Bedford School, which for 28 years has served children in grades 1 through 9 who have been professionally identified as hav-ing specific learning differences. Prior to founding the school, she worked at the reading research foundation in Berea, ky., and pioneered a program for students with learning disabilities at Woodward academy.

What is your educational philosophy?I believe that every child should have the opportunity to become the very best per-son possible. for children with learning disabilities, it is vital that they receive the proper testing and intervention in order to maximize their potential.

What do you love most about your job?I love watching the transformation for children and their families when they start feeling successful!

How can parents best contribute to the educational process?once you have found the right setting for your child, trust the school and work with them as a team.

How is the field of education changing?Education is changing because society is changing. The vast amount of information that has to be processed makes it very difficult for many children, especially for those who learn differently.

What advice would you offer parents about their children’s education?different children in the same family may need different educational settings. If you feel that there is something different about your child and that he is not get-ting what he needs, seek the appropriate advice from professionals, visit as many schools as you can, talk to other parents and children, and then follow your our gut instinct. you know the child best! don’t wait for your child to “grow out of it.” Get help as early as possible.

THE ESSENTIALS:THE BEDFORD SCHOOL

Emphasis: The mission of The Bedford School is to maximize the potential of children with learning differences.

Year Founded: 1985

Grades: 1-9

Students: 136

Avg. Class Size: 10

Tuition Range: $16,950

Accreditations or Affiliations: SacS, Georgia accrediting commission

Location: fairburn, Ga.

Contact: 770-774-8001 www.thebedfordschool.org


For many parents, a good educa-tion means much more than aca-demics. While reading, math and

science are all important, such values as kindness, respect and empathy for others are just as important, if not more so. For-tunately, most Atlanta-area public and independent schools incorporate some form of “character education” in their curricula, guiding children to become caring, involved members of society.

On the public school side, the Geor-gia Department of Education mandates character education as part of its Geor-gia Quality Core Curriculum Standards, meaning it’s required in all elementary, middle and high schools throughout the state. This “character curriculum” focuses on citizenship, respect for others and re-spect for oneself.

The citizenship portion stresses the importance of such values as democracy,


BY DANIEL BEAUREGARD

TEACHING CHILDREN TO BECOME GOOD CITIZENS

EDUCATIONCharacter



equality, respect for au-thority, justice, patriotism, liberty and respect for the natural environment. Students learn to respect others with an emphasis on altruism, humility and integrity, and are taught accountability, respect for themselves and a strong work ethic.

The Cobb County School District boasts its own focus on character devel-opment, with a calendar that emphasizes different character traits including re-spect, integrity and responsibility, among others. Instead of students receiving a separate lecture on self-respect, that lesson is incorporated into the regular curriculum, across all disciplines, says spokesman Doug Goodwin.

That approach is similar to the one taken by the Atlanta International School (AIS), an independent school in Buck-head that uses the framework of the

International Baccalau-reate (IB) program to instill positive character traits in its students. At the heart of each grade’s IB program are several distinct traits such as communication, open-mindedness and risk-taking.

At the beginning of each year, teachers work those character traits and principles into their lesson plans with an eye toward sculpting students into ideal “global citizens” who will use what they’ve learned to make a difference in their community and in the world at large throughout their lives.

“Every time we sit down to think about what we’re doing with the students, it’s not only the [academic] objectives but it’s the IB learner program that’s at the heart of what we’re trying to do with our kids,” says Jennifer Weyburn, AIS’ head of mid-dle school. u


Georgia’s Quality Core

Standards stress such values as

democracy and respect for the environment.

Atlanta International School uses the International Baccalaureate program to instill positive character traits in its students.

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At The Children’s School, an indepen-dent school in Midtown Atlanta, guid-ance counselor Kathy Roberts visits each classroom twice a month to present a 40-minute class on the character trait of the month. During the month of Febru-ary, the trait was courage, with tenacity and conviction as secondary traits. Each student learns the definition of each word and how to apply the trait in daily life.

During each session, Roberts teaches the students tools they can use to man-age and communicate each character trait. In the case of courage, the students practice using the tools to conquer their nightmares, try something new, tell their parents that they’ve made a mistake or tell a friend that something is bothering them.

During the weeks Roberts doesn’t vis-it their classroom, teachers incorporate the school’s character and community-

building curriculum by having students journal about the traits and write reports on heroes that exemplify those traits, among other activities.

Learning From MistakesPolly Williams, director of admissions at the Galloway School in Atlanta, says she’s seen a paradigm shift in education over the years, with more and more schools emphasizing project-based learning and collaborative problem-solving—an approach the Galloway School has em-ployed since it was founded in 1969.

Students at the Galloway School are encouraged to come up with their own ideas and to learn from their mistakes. As a process school rather than an outcome-based school, Galloway encourages its students to take risks, and provides a safe environment for them to do so.

Thinking for oneself, learning from failure and respecting the views of others are all key components of a character-based education.



“They can learn a lot by trying some-thing,” Williams says, “and perhaps not having the outcome they anticipated, but learning from that.”

Students are also encouraged to ex-plore their passions and beliefs, to ask questions and speak out on a regular ba-sis in what Williams calls a “lively, discus-sion-rich environment.”

“It’s coming from them internally, in-stead of somebody telling them what to think or believe,” she says. “We think that’s incredibly important.”

Respecting DifferencesAlong with thinking for oneself and learn-ing from failure, learning to respect the viewpoints of others is a key component of character-based education. At AIS, says Weyburn, students are taught that different people have different frames of

DID YOU KNOW?

Georgia devotes an entire month to the importance of character. A group of students and teachers at Cobb County’s Durham Middle School wrote their state senator proposing a “Georgia Day” to honor character and good choices. Gov. Nathan Deal extended the idea to a whole month spotlighting state history and the positive character traits of Georgians past and present. The first “Georgia Month” was observed in September 2012.

reference. The school exposes students to other cultures and different view-points, and teaches them to value others’ opinions, even when they don’t agree with them.

Similarly, each classroom at The Chil-dren’s School has a “peace table,” says Roberts, where students are taught to sit down and talk out solutions when they have disputes with others. The students are also encouraged to use statements such as “I feel angry when…” to commu-nicate their feelings. “These things teach the core values of respect, responsibility and cooperation,” she says.

“All of that has to be part of what you’re using to interact with people to try and develop solutions,” Weyburn says. “Part of our mission statement [at AIS] says, ‘Others with their differences can also be right.’”

In the end, Weyburn says, students who ask questions, think critically and take risks are more likely to develop into lifelong learners.

“It’s very well to learn things in the classroom,” she says. “But if you can’t take that knowledge out there into the world and activate it in the messy real-ity and complex situations that are out there, then what’s the point of learning all of those wonderful academic things?”

EDUCATIONVIRTUAL

ONLINE PROGRAMS ENHANCE CLASSROOM LEARNING

BY DANIEL BEAUREGARD



or reside there most of the time.“We provide our families with the en-

tire school program—we provide the cur-riculum and hard-copy textbooks to our younger students and e-books for older students,” Robinson says.

Like any public school, Georgia Con-nections Academy is free, and authorized by the state board of education. The dif-ference is that instead of sitting in a tra-ditional classroom, students work from home at their leisure, although they are required to work daily with a “learning coach,” usually a parent or guardian, in addition to working with their teacher.

Students are required to log atten-dance hours each day, as well as on an hourly basis, but they can start and end whenever they want. The only time stu-dents are required to be online is when they are scheduled to participate in a live session or meet with their teachers and fellow students in a virtual classroom. All of the teachers are certified by the state and work at a teaching center in Duluth and are available by phone or email. u


In today’s technology-driven world, the definition of what a school is, or can be, is quickly changing. School

systems and independent schools are of-fering new options in addition to the tra-ditional brick-and-mortar school setting. These programs provide an education no less demanding than conventional class-rooms for students who travel a great deal, are homeschooled, or are simply looking to supplement or speed up their current coursework.

What’s more, online learning can give students more attention than they might receive in the classroom. “In this environ-ment, we are able to personalize instruc-tion, and we have a wealth of information about our students,” says Heather Rob-inson, principal of Georgia Connections Academy, a K-12 virtual school.

A Different OptionGeorgia Connections Academy is a char-ter school with a statewide attendance zone. The only requirement for admit-tance is that the student live in Georgia,


“I can’t say that Connections Acad-emy is better than a traditional school,” Robinson says. “I can just say it’s a differ-ent option.” Currently, the school serves more than 2,000 students across the state.

Atlanta-Area SchoolsThere are several online schools avail-able to metro Atlanta students. Georgia Cyber Academy, a charter virtual school, is the largest public school in the state, with 12,000 students in grades K-11. (The academy plans to add 12th grade for the 2013-2014 school year.) It uses a special-ized curriculum developed by its parent company, K12.

The Georgia Virtual School, run by the Georgia Department of Education, offers middle- and high-school courses to students across the state. The Georgia Virtual School uses the approved Geor-

gia Performance Standards and Com-mon Core Georgia Performance Stan-dards curriculum, ensuring that students receive the same education they would in a school setting.

Decatur High School Assistant Prin-cipal Rochelle Lofstrand says her school uses Georgia Virtual School as an enrich-ment option for its students. “If we don’t offer courses or different levels here at the school, we don’t want that stopping a child in enriching their lives academi-cally,” she says.

DeKalb County’s virtual high school, the DeKalb Online Learning Academy, is a branch of the DeKalb County sys-tem rather than a statewide charter. The DeKalb Learning Academy offers students the chance to take such core courses as language arts, business, social studies and more, as well as Advanced



Placement classes. Students can also make up classes they may have failed previously so that they can graduate on time. Students may take two classes per semester in addition to their regular coursework.

Virtual learning isn’t limited to pub-lic schools. Some independent schools have developed their own virtual learning programs. Eaton Academy in Roswell, for example, offers online courses for grades K-12. Students complete their work and submit it online, where it is graded by a teacher, says admissions coordinator Margie Cohan.

“There’s a lot of flexibility,” Cohan says. “For example, we can take a child who has been out and missed a great deal of school due to illness. The public schools would say he or she had to re-peat the entire semester.”

Through its ELCA Connect program, Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Ga., offers traditional core classes as well as electives, foreign lan-guages and other courses that aren’t avail-able in a classroom setting. These courses are available to students in all grades and to non-Eagle’s Landing students, such as homeschool students, as well.

And some schools that don’t offer their own online courses will allow stu-dents to take courses from online pro-viders in certain circumstances, such as to fulfill a graduation requirement or enrich their academic experience. At Mount Pisgah Christian School, for in-stance, “a student might transfer to us and need or want additional credit in a world language that we don’t offer, such as German,” says Dr. Bryan Smith, head of Mount Pisgah’s upper school. “That student would be allowed to take that online course, provided the online pro-vider is accredited.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Georgia Connections Academywww.connectionsacademy.com

Georgia Cyber Academywww.k12.com/gca

Georgia Virtual Schoolwww.gavirtualschool.org

DeKalb Online Academywww.dekalbonlineacademy.org

Eagle’s Landing www.elcaonline.org

Eaton Academywww.eatonacademy.org

Mount Pisgah Christian Schoolwww.experiencepisgah.org

Best of Both WorldsVirtual learning programs like those provided by Connections Academy and Georgia Virtual School can help students in rural areas get the same coursework as those in more populated regions. Ad-ditionally, if a student excels in a given course and needs a more rigorous cur-riculum, virtual schools can provide that.

“Research is showing that students want a more rigorous and engaging learning environment,” says Christina Clayton, the GDOE’s director of instruc-tional technology.

Ideally, online learning doesn’t re-place classroom learning, she says, but rather offers the best of both worlds.

“I believe the best educational expe-rience for a student is when an opportu-nity is provided for a blended environ-ment—some face-to-face courses and some online,” she says. “However, there are cases, like students who are home-bound and need to take all of their cours-es online, that we can provide that option for them to stay on track to graduate.”

Whether your child attends a public or independent school, he or she will be required

to take some form of standardized test.


WHY THEY’RE IMPORTANT AND HOW TO PREPARE

BY MURIEL VEGA

STANDARDIZED TESTS

Your Guide to


Astandardized test is one that is administered and graded in a consistent manner, usually given

to students across an entire school or school system or even nationally, as op-posed to one created by a teacher for a specific class.

These tests are often used to deter-mine whether your child passes to the next grade level and what kind of college he or she attends.

On the pages that follow, we break down some of the most common stan-dardized tests your child may encounter, as well as resources like websites, classes and tips on how to prepare your child for these important examinations.

Elementary and High SchoolIf your child is enrolled in a Georgia pub-lic school, there are a number of tests he or she will be required to take. These include the Criterion-Reinforced Compe-tency Test (CRCT), which measures how

well students in grades 1 through 8 have absorbed lessons in reading, arts, math-ematics and English and language arts; students in grades 3 through 8 are also tested in science and social studies.

The End of Course Test (EOCT) simi-larly measures competency in science, social studies, mathematics and Eng-lish language arts in grades 9 through 12. Students in the 11th grade currently are required to take the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) in or-der to graduate from from high school. (Students who entered high school after fall 2011 will not be required to take the GHSGT.) The Georgia Department of Education website contains links to study guides for the CRCT, EOCT and GHGST. The Georgia Online Assessment System provides access to tests with the same kinds of questions that appear on the abovementioned tests.

Students at independent schools may also be required to take standardized



tests, such as the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). This test is administered to stu-dents in elementary (grades 3 through 5) and middle school (6 through 8). Accord-ing to state law, public school districts may elect to administer the test as well.

Another standardized test inde-pendent school students are likely to encounter is the Secondary School Ad-mission Test (SSAT), which helps inde-pendent schools to assess a student’s academic skills.

College Aptitude Tests One test all college-bound students are guaranteed to take is the SAT (formerly the Scholastic Assessment Test), a col-lege admissions test that evaluates read-ing, writing and math skills.

A number of Atlanta-area schools, including St. Pius X and Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC), offer prep cours-es or workshops for the SATs. “We do offer an elective for SAT prep,” says Lori Davis, a college counselor at GAC. “You can also find practice tests at the College Board and Georgia College 411 web-

sites.” Emory University offers an SAT prep class, as well.

Another popular college admissions test, the ACT (originally an acronym for American College Testing), covers Eng-lish, math, reading, science and an op-tional writing component. Students can find test preparation materials on the ACT’s website.

Students seeking additional prepa-ration for the SAT may elect to take the PSAT, which provides firsthand practice for the SAT and also determines a stu-dent’s eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship program. Practice test ques-tions are available through the College Board website.

Testing TipsNo matter what test your child is prepar-ing to take, there are some things he or she can do to make the experience easier and less intimidating. “I tell students that they need to understand the test they are taking and know the test structure,” says GAC’s Davis. “For example, are you go-ing to lose points for a wrong answer?”



Students who are preparing to take a standardized test should take practice tests, reading each question carefully and identifying key words so that they understand exactly what the question is asking. Encourage your child to evaluate multiple-choice questions, eliminating each answer until only the correct one remains. It’s also important for children to manage their study time effectively, review their basic skills and work on im-proving their vocabulary.

Above all, make sure your child main-tains a positive attitude, gets enough sleep and has a proper breakfast on the day of the test. With the right physical and mental preparation, including prac-tice tests and parental support, he or she will be well on their way to acing these important tests on the road to academic success.

STANDARDIZED TEST RESOURCES

Georgia Department of Educationwww.doe.k12.ga.us

Georgia Online Assessment System www.georgiaoas.org

Georgia College 411www.gacollege411.org

College Boardwww.collegeboard.org

SATwww.sat.collegeboard.org

PSATwww.collegeboard.com/student/testing/

psat/about.html

SSATwww.ssat.org

ACTwww.act.org

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INDEPENDENT SCHooLS

PAGE School PhonE An

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39 REGIoN 1: ATLANTA NoRTH/NoRTHwEST 40 Alexsander Academy 404-839-5910 $6,500-

$18,000 6-18y • 5 15 5 • Appt. Rolling

41 Atlanta International School 404-841-3840 $19,652- $22,434 3K-12th • • • 142 1,130 16 • Oct. Jan. 31

43 Casa Montessori School 770-973-2731 $7,500- $11,000

2.5y-6th • • 7 150 20 Appt. Call

47 Chrysalis Experiential Academy 770-649-7077 $10,500- $20,000 5-12th 10 50 8-10 • • Appt. Rolling

50 Cumberland Academy of Georgia 404-835-9000 $21,500 4-12th • 12 80 6-10 • • • Appt. Rolling

45 Eastside Christian School 770-971-2332 $5,680-- $8,228 K5-8th • • 51 345 12 ND • • Oct. Rolling

47 Eaton Academy 770-645-2673 $5,000- $22,000 K-12th • • 30 150 5 • Appt. Rolling

46 Faith Lutheran School 770-973-8921 $4,000- $7,000 2y-8th • • • 17 230 15 L • Call Rolling

2 Fulton Science Academy Private School 678-366-2555 $9,000 PK-8th • • • 20 210 15 • Dec. Rolling

41 The Galloway School 404-252-8389 $10,650- $21,370 3y-12th • • • 89 747 15 • Oct. Feb.

42 The Heiskell School 404-262-2233 $4,800- $14,200 2y-8th • • • 29 261 14 C • Appt. Rolling

3 High Meadows School 770-993-2940 $5,400- $16,510 PK-8th • • • 56 400 18 • Call Feb. 15

49 Holy Spirit Preparatory School 678-904-2811 $5,620- $20,195 PK-12th • • • 100 641 20 CC • • • Appt. Call

40 Mill Springs Academy 770-360-1336 $21,084- $22,406 1-12th 50 330 9 • • Sept. Rolling

46 Mt. Bethel Christian Academy 770-971-0245 $9,730- $11,050 K-8th • • 64 488 18 ND • Jan. Rolling

42 Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool 404-842-5809 $3,000-

$6,750Toddler-

6y • • • 50 400 14 P • Aug. Nov. 1

43 Porter Academy 770-594-1313 $18,701- $19,526 PK-8th • • • 16 69 10 • N/A Rolling

48 Roswell International Math & Science School 770-649-8383 $5,850 PK4-

PK5 • • 4 14 14 Appt. Rolling

44 Shreiner Academy 770-953-1340 $11,571- $14,887

Toddler-8th • • • 22 200 12 Call Rolling

48 Springmont School 404-252-3910 $10,810- $18,530

18mo-8th • • • 21 275 Varies Oct. Call

51 REGIoN 2: ATLANTA NoRTH/NoRTHEAST 53 Atlanta North School 770-316-9297 $4,100-

$7,500 PK-8th • • • 5 70 16 • Appt. Rolling

54 The Aurora Schools 770-558-6605 $15,000- $27,000 2-12th • 6 • • Appt. Rolling

57 Brandon Hall School 770-394-8177 $28,750- $55,500 5-12th • 37 160 6 • • • Appt. Rolling

52 Bridgeway Christian Academy 770-751-1972 $3,800- $10,600 PK-8th • • • 35 200 Varies ND • • • Nov. Rolling

54 Lakeview Academy 770-532-4383 $6,120- $15,345 K3-12th • • • 61 588 15 • • Appt. Rolling

52 McGinnis Woods Country Day School 770-664-7764 $7,900-

$10,600Infant-

8th • • • 55 400 15 • Appt. Rolling

56 Mount Pisgah Christian School 678-336-3443 $5,870- $16,635 PK-12th • • • 225 995 16 C • • Appt. Call

Education At-a-GlanceThis information reflects the latest available data at publication time. Please confirm with each individual school.

*KEY:religious Affiliation: B = Baptist c = Christian cc = Catholic E = Episcopal Ec = Evangelical Christian l = Lutheran M = Methodist nd = Non-denominational P = Presbyterian Q = Quaker SdA = Seventh Day Adventist


INDEPENDENT SCHooLS


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53 North Georgia Christian School 678-828-8350 $5,765- $8,075 K5-12 • • 25 220 16 C • • Appt. Rolling

56 Northwoods Montessori School 770-457-7261 $7,055- $10,185 2.5-12y • • • 8 180 25 Appt. Rolling

57 Omega Private Academy - Suwanee 770-932-8363 $7,900-

plus fees K-12th 4 30 8:1 C • • June Rolling

55 Seigakuin Atlanta International School 770-730-0045 $7,000-

$9,200 PK3-6th • • • 16 95 12 ND Oct. Rolling

55 Victory World Christian School 678-684-2030 $6,100- $6,200 PK4-5th • • • 10 125 15 ND • Appt. Rolling

58 REGIoN 3: ATLANTA EAST60 Arbor Montessori School 404-321-9304 $8,394-

$15,400 PK-8th • • • 19 305 26 Nov. Feb. 15

64 The Children’s School 404-873-6985 $18,110 3y-6th • • • 71 400 22 Nov. Mar. 3

61 The Friends School of Atlanta 404-373-8746 $15,400- $17,800 PK-8th • • • 29 168 11:1 Q • Dec. Call

62 Gerard Preparatory School 770-277-4722 $2,995- $7,500

PK3-12th • • • 18 234 12-15 C • • • Feb. Rolling

63 Greater Atlanta Christian School 770-243-2000 $11,540- $16,960 K3-12th • • • 198 1,800 20 C • • • Oct. Rolling

60 Hebron Christian Academy 770-963-9250 $6,100- $7,850 K-12th • • 69 946 20 C • • Jan. Rolling

59 Heritage Preparatory School 404-815-7711 $4,850- $14,600 PK4-8th • • 24 152 11 C • Oct. Feb.

61 The Hirsch Academy 404-378-9706 $28,500 5-13y • • 10 25 6 • Monthly Rolling

62 Intown Community School 404-633-8081 $6,000- $9,300 K-8th • 30 245 15 C Nov. Rolling

64 Midtown International School 404-542-7003 $15,500 K-5th • • 10 50 10 Nov. Jan.

59 Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School 706-433-0223 $9,800 9-12th 18 130 18 CC • • Appt. Nov.

65 Mount Carmel Christian School 770-279-8443 $6,700- $7,200

PK4- 8th • • • 25 140 12 C • • Call Rolling

63 Providence Christian Academy 770-279-7200 $8,500- $14,000 K-12th • • 119 645 15 C • • • Oct. Rolling

66 REGIoN 4: ATLANTA SoUTH/SoUTHEAST/SoUTHwEST72 The Bedford School 770-774-8001 $16,950 1-9th • 22 135 10-12 • • Call Rolling

72 ClearWater Academy 770-631-3650 $20,000- $25,000 6-17y 11 20 6 • Call Rolling

68 Harvester Christian Academy 770-942-1583 $3,975- $6,800 K4-12 • • • 28 301 18 C • Jan. Rolling

74 The Heritage School 770-253-9898 $7,485- $14,180

PK4-12th • • • 71 428 8 • • Appt. Mar. 15

68 Landmark Christian School 770-306-0647 $4,375- $13,975 K4-12th • • • 77 840 17 • • Oct. Feb. 28

73 McDonough Methodist Academy 770-957-4131 $2,100- $3,900 3K-5th • • • 14 155 12-16 M • Call Rolling

67 The Ron Clark Academy 678-651-2100 Sliding Scale 5-8th • 10 110 25 • Oct. Nov. 1

71 St. Stephen Christian Academy 404-305-0161 $7,000- $10,000 K-8th • • 5-7 50 8 C • • • Appt. Rolling

73 Strong Rock Christian School 678-833-1200 $8,000- $11,000

PK3-12th • • • 70 765 Varies • • Call Rolling



Education At-a-Glance Continued on Page 38 u

INDEPENDENT SCHooLS


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70 Woodward Academy 404-765-4001 $10,000- $21,950 PK-12th • • 281 2,778 18 • • Jan. Mar. 1

75 REGIoN 5: ATLANTA wEST 76 Atlanta Girls’ School 404-604-0900 $19,800-

$20,500 6-12th • 28 207 13 • • Oct. Feb.

79 Center Academy 770-333-1616 $5,000- $14,680 5-12th • 6 48 16 C • • Appt. Rolling

78 Midway Covenant Christian School 770-590-1899 $2,645-

$5,700 K4-8th • • 25 300 16 EC • Feb. Call

77 Mount Paran Christian School 770-578-0182 $2,574- $14,309

PK3-12th • • • 100 1,210 18 C • • • Appt. Rolling

76 St. Joseph Catholic School 770-428-3328 $5,966- $7,756 K-8th • • 36 490 28 C • Jan. Feb.

78 Trinity Chapel Academy 678-831-1062 $6,800- $8,900

K3-12th • • • 35 266 20 • • • Nov. Rolling

79 Whitefield Academy 678-305-3000 $9,920- $19,800

PK4-12th • • • 65 650 18 C • • Oct. Feb.

80 BoARDING SCHooLS87 Ben Lippen School 803-807-4000 $33,470 K-12th • • 55 750 15 C, ND • • Appt. Rolling

84 Brehm Preparatory School 618-457-0371 $41,400- $66,900 6-12th • 25 90 5 • • Appt. Rolling

82 Florida Air Academy 321-723-3211 $31,500- $33,000 6-12th 28 300 14 • • Appt. Rolling

88 Massanutten Military Academy 888-466-6222 $31,500 7-12th 15 150 10 • • Appt. Rolling

86 New York Military Academy 845-534-3710 $14,000- $36,000 7-12th 17 125 12 ND • • Appt. Rolling

85 Oneida Baptist Institute 606-847-4111 $6,000- $12,000 6-12th 42 260 11 B • • Appt. Rolling

81 Pomfret School 860-963-6100 $33,000- $52,175 9-12th 80 356 8-10 • Oct. Jan. 15

83 Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School 706-746-7467 $17,330- $42,890 5-12th 53 350 16 P • • Appt. Call

83 Riverside Military Academy 800-462-2338 $18,575- $30,950 7-12th 125 475 15 • • Call Rolling

86 Saint Mary’s School 919-424-4000 $20,000- $42,720 9-12th 35 250 12.5 E • Appt. Jan. 30

88 St. Margaret’s School 804-443-3357 $17,200- $44,500 8-12th 35 105 7 E • • Call Feb. 1

82 St. Thomas More School 860-823-3861 $44,000- $46,000 8-12th 38 165 6-10 CC • Appt. Rolling

85 The Stony Brook School 631-751-1800 $46,700 7-12th 46 324 14 C • July Rolling

20 Talisman Academy & Transitions 828-697-1113 $74,000- $84,000 12-24y • 6 40 8 • Appt. Rolling

84 Tallulah Falls School 706-754-0400 $8,750- $32,500 6-12th 40 400 12 • • Oct. Call




Region

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neighboRhoods of note

Schools PageAlexsander Academy 40Atlanta International School 41Casa Montessori 43Chrysalis Experiential Academy 47Cumberland Academy of Georgia 50Eastside Christian School 45Eaton Academy 47Faith Lutheran School 46Fulton Science Academy Private School 2The Galloway School 41The Heiskell School 42

High Meadows School 3Holy Spirit Preparatory School (2 locations) 49Mill Springs Academy 40Mount Bethel Christian Academy 46Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool 42Porter Academy 43Roswell International Math & Science School (RIMS) 48Shreiner Academy 44Springmont School 48, 50

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independent schools

Roswell With its mix of stately neigh-borhoods and new developments, its quaint downtown area and miles of trails through forests and along the Chat-tahoochee River, Roswell attracts many families and nature-loving residents to its city limits.

Sandy Springs Newbie, Sandy Springs became its own city in 2005, and multi-tudes of boutiques, bars and restaurants line Roswell Road, its main thorough-fare. Residents also enjoy the commu-nity’s many family-centered events held throughout the year.

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The Heiskell School

2 Years - 8th Grade

The Heiskell School’s accelerated academic program and its focus on building Godly

character have had a life-changing impact in the lives of children for more than 60 years.

3260 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30305

404-262-2233 • www.heiskell.net

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Campus Tour andInformation Session

OPEN HOUSESeptember 20, 2013

October 18, 2013

3260 Northside Drive NW, W, W Atlanta, GeoAtlanta, GeoA


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4 Pre-K through 8th Grade4 Small group instruction using multi-sensory techniques4 Academic programs matched to individual’s strengths4 Therapeutic support for all: Speech, OT, Music Therapy4 Art, Drama, Sign Language, and Daily PE

www.porteracademy.org • 770-594-1313 • 200 Cox Road, Roswell

Helping children with learning differences succeed


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u K5 - 8th grades

u Foreign language

u Small student/teacher ratio

u Visual & performing arts

u Athletics

u Computer technology education

Your Neighborhood Christian School Wherever Your Neighborhood May Be!

2450 Lower Roswell Road • Marietta, GA 30068770-971-2332 • www.eastsidechristianschool.com

Eastside Christian School does not discriminate on the basis of race or national origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies or employment practices.

EastsideChristian SchoolEstablished 1983

• October 23, 2013, 9:30 a.m.• January 15, 2014, 9:30 a.m.• February 5, 2014, 9:30 a.m.

Open HOuse Dates:

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A unique morning prekindergarten for ages 4 and 5• Hands-on Math and Experiential Science• Two Language Tracks: Japanese & Spanish• Enrichment and Character Education• Children’s Center for Critical Thinking/Logic Lab• Exploration and Discovery• Respecting the Rights of Others• Art and FUN!

Roswell International Math & Science School

Roswell Budokan Educational Center11516 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075770-649-8383 • www.RIMSschool.com

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650 Mt. Vernon Highway, NE • Atlanta, GA 30328 • 404-835-9000 www.cumberlandacademy.org

College prep and vocational programs designed for grades 4-12 and postgraduate students with high functioning Autism, Asperger’s, ADD, ADHD and other learning differences.

• SACS & GAC Accredited• Open Enrollment• Robotics, Drama, Chess

• SB10 Approved• Social Skills• Athletic Programs

SuMMEr CAMp proGrAMS

“An Exceptional School for Exceptional Students”

• Low Student-Teacher Ratio• Certified Special Education Teachers• Private Tours Available by Appointment

Independent SchoolsSchools PageAtlanta North School of Seventh-day Adventists 53The Aurora Schools 54Brandon Hall School 57Bridgeway Christian Academy 52Lakeview Academy 54

McGinnis Woods Country Day School 52Mount Pisgah Christian School 56North Georgia Christian School 53Northwoods Montessori School 56Omega Private Academy - Suwanee 57Seigakuin Atlanta International School 55Victory World Christian School 55

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Norcross Founded in the late 1800s as a resort town for wealthy Atlantans, Norcross is Gwinnett County’s second oldest city. Today, with over 8,000 residents, it is a quiet city filled with upscale residential and retail developments.

Cumming Called the “Gateway to Leisure Living,” Cumming offers the best of small-town living, but in recent years, it has seen rapid commercial and residential development, attracting residents with its prime location near Lake Lanier.

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Preschool - 8th Grade• Christ-centered Program• ACSI and SACS Accredited• Small Class Sizes

Celebrating 15 yrs

Bridgeway Christian aCademy

678.942.1126 or bridgewayca.org

daily tours availaBle

Learn More, visit www.McGinnisWoods.org 5368 McGinnis Ferry Road, Alpharetta, GA 30005 • 770-664-7764

Come See What Other Families Have DiscoveredInspIrInG students WIth the passIon to excel

• Private non-parochial Preschool, Elementary and Middle Grades

• Challenging Hands On Academics• SACS, GAC and NAEYC accredited

We strive to help children reach their highest potential, while developing a life-long love of learning in a warm and nurturing environment

where students matter most.


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HPreparing Children for God’s Kingdom through

Christian Education. Atlanta North School is committed to the provision of a stimulating, happy

and safe environment where each child has the opportunity to fully develop

spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally and physically.

Accredited by: (SACS), (NCPSA), (GAPSAC), Adventist Edge School of Excellence, Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA)

Challenging Academic CurriculumSmall Class Sizes

Quality Leadership Up-to-Date Technology

Music Program Fully-equipped Science and Art Studio

ATLANTA NORTH

SCHOOL

(770) 316-9297www.atlantanorthschool.com

5123 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd. Dunwoody, GA 30338

ANS1990SDA

School ofExcellence

Adventist


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5905 Brook Hollow Parkway, Norcross, Ga 30071

Phone: 678.684.2030 Fax: 678.684.2031 www.vwcs.org

Victory World Christian School is a multicultural community of learners committed to Christian

discipleship, academic excellence & world transformation.

1 Pre-K (4) through 5th grade elementary program

1 High curriculum standards & creative learning environments

1 Interactive Technology in every classroom (whiteboards & laptops)

1 Rosetta Stone Spanish in all classes

1 Extracurricular Activities (ballet, jazz, chorus, drama, Tai-Kwon-do, piano)


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770-932-83633429 Lawrenceville Suwanee Rd.

Suwanee, GA 30024

www.omegaprivateacademy.com

Independent Schools

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Schools PageArbor Montessori School 60The Children’s School 64The Friends School of Atlanta 61Gerard Preparatory School 62Greater Atlanta Christian School 63Hebron Christian Academy 60

Heritage Preparatory School of Georgia 59The Hirsch Academy 61Intown Community School 62Midtown International School 64Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School 59Mount Carmel Christian School 65Providence Christian Academy 63

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Stone Mountain More than just a moun-tain park, Stone Mountain also refers to a charming community of antique shops, art galleries and restaurants. Residents of Stone Mountain enjoy the miles of walking and biking paths available in the nearby park.

Lawrenceville Strolling the brick-paved sidewalks in the revitalized historic down-town of Lawrenceville, you’ll feel instantly at home. Chartered in 1821, the city has gone through many changes over the years but has maintained its small-town Southern charm.

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404-378-9706 • www.hirschacademy.org705 S. Candler Street, Decatur, Georgia 30030

MEETING THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN

WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES

• Individual Academic Programs for ages 5-13• Full-time emphasis on critical thinking • Consulting Occupational and Speech Therapists• Therapeutic Recreation Program• Social and Emotional Support/Floortime Therapy• Serving students to include: ADHD, Sensory

Processing Disorder, PDD-NOS, Autism• Open Enrollment


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Intown Community School excels at promoting a Christian worldview, creating a nurturing

environment and achieving academic excellence.

For More Information:404-633-8081

[email protected]

Open HOuses:

Nov. 19, 2013 @ 7 p.m. & January 28, 2014 @ 7 p.m.

Grades K-8GaC aCCredited

Inviting our students on a journey of

discovery that will last a lifetime.

770.277.4722 • www.gerardprep.comRecommended on PrivateSchoolReview.com

Preparatory School

Fully Accredited

Established 1989 Instill Inspire Ignite

Gerard

1288 Braselton Hwy.Lawrenceville


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Midtown International School is uniquely designed for gifted, high-achieving, and twice exceptional students.

• Small class sizes with 12 students per class

• Curriculum infuses critical thinking and problem-solving across all disciplines

• STEAM Integration (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math)

• Foreign language instruction (Spanish, French, Chinese)

Exceptional Education for Innovative Learners

www.midtowninternationalschool.com | 404.542.7003

Serving Grades K-6


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We’ve got a better way!Advertise in Atlanta School Guide and get results!

770.992.0273Call today for more information or to reserve your space!

Wishing a genie will bring you

success in 2013?

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Independent Schools

NeIghborhoodS of Note

Schools PageThe Bedford School 72ClearWater Academy 72Harvester Christian Academy 68The Heritage School 74Landmark Christian School (2 locations) 68

Little Scholars Academy 70McDonough Methodist Academy 73The Ron Clark Academy 67St. Stephen Christian Academy 71Strong Rock Christian School 73Woodward Academy 70

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Newnan Established in 1828 and home to more than 30,000 residents, Newnan is one of the fastest-growing cities in Georgia. It has many new residential developments and boasts five historic districts filled with stately Southern homes.

College Park College Park is home to a small-town main street and the busiest airport in the world—Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The city is attracting young professionals and families by combining the historic ele-ments with new developments.

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Harvester CHristian aCademy

• Individualized College Counseling Program• Dual Enrollment College Credit

• SACS/ACSI Accredited• College Preparatory• Athletic Program• Affordable Tuition

• Extended Day Program• HD Projectors & Touchscreen Computers

• Award Winning Visual and Performing Arts

770-942-1583 • www.harvesteracademy.com4241 Central Church Road, Douglasville, GA 30135


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2591 Jerome Road -College Park, Georgia 30349

404-761-9026www.littlescholars-daycare.com

RegistRation has staRted!

Constructing a strong Foundation for the FutureWelcome to a place where every child is an explorer. We provide a clean, safe, nurturing and intriguing environment for your child.

• We offer full time/part time• Before and After Care• Preschool Curriculum ages 2-6• Two Lottery Funded Georgia Pre-K Programs 2013-2014.

Limited space is available.

Please attend our open house on saturday June 29 at 10:00 am.


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Addressing the whole child and promoting his spiritual and moral growth, academic and intellectual

progress, physical and social development.

d Serving grades K-8

d Core curriclulum includes: English, Literature and Creative Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Word Building, Foreign Language, Arts & Crafts, Music and Physical Education

d Individualized Instruction

d Accredited Curriculum (A.C.E.)

d Tuition assistance / Scholarships available

Now Accepting applications for enrollment2670 Hogan Road, East Point, GA 30344 • Ph. 404-305-0161 • Fax: 404-305-0016

“We Enter to Achieve; We Depart To Succeed and Serve”


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Independent SchoolsSchools PageAtlanta Girls’ School 76Center Academy 79Midway Covenant Christian School 78

Mount Paran Christian School 77St. Joseph Catholic School 76Trinity Chapel Academy 78Whitefield Academy 79

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Kennesaw Home to the popular Ken-nesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, the city of Kennesaw takes pride in its excellent recreation opportuni-ties and parks, rich history and thriving downtown. Kennesaw State University, the third largest university in Georgia, is well known for academic programs in business, education, and nursing.

Smyrna With its unique charm, solid government and city services, the city of Smyrna offers many fresh, trendy lifestyle options, and the Market Village plays host to numerous restaurants, bars and upscale shops. Known as the “Jonquil City,” because of the thou-sands of jonquils that flourish in gardens and along the streets in early spring.


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here are many benefits of a boarding school education. Boarding schools are an option for students seeking a more independent learn-ing experience. Because students generally live on campus, learning

takes place in and out of the classroom almost on a 24-hour basis. When selecting a boarding school, it is important to visit the school campus, but representatives from many boarding schools visit metro atlanta throughout the year—contact each school for specific dates.

Boarding SchoolSchools PageBen lippen School 87Brehm Preparatory School 84florida air academy 82massanutten military academy 88new york military academy 86oneida Baptist Institute 85Pomfret School 81

rabun Gap-nacoochee School 83riverside military academy 83Saint mary’s School 86St. margaret’s School 88St. Thomas more School 82The Stony Brook School 85Talisman academy 20Tallulah falls School 84

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These are the faces of success

We are a Christian boarding school for students in grades 6-12. The school offers an

11:1 student/teacher ratio, a Tutoring Lab, Advanced Placement courses, multiple co-

curriculars, and a student work program.

P.O. Box 67 Oneida, KY 40972 • 606-847-4111 • www.oneidaschool.org

Oneida Baptist Institute

may be the answer.

• trouble in school?• negative influences?• conflicts at home?• a need to start over?

Is your teenager having...


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ACADEMICS • ATHLETICS • CHARACTER • LEADERSHIP

NEW YORK M I L I T A R Y A C A D E M Y

Established in 1889, on a 120 acre Campus, conveniently located in the beautiful Hudson Valley, just 60 miles north of New York City. Utilizing the military model for leadership and development, and a rigorous curriculum grounded by a demand for classical disciplines, our graduates are well equipped to succeed in their college career and in life.

Please schedule a visit with our admissions office and come see for yourself why our cadets are Set Apart for Excellence by being inspired, engaged and ready for their future.

78 Academy Avenue, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520 CALL TODAY at 888-ASK-NYMA Or visit www.nyma.org

COED 7TH-12TH GRADE COLLEGE PREPPRIVATE BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL

SET APART FOR EXCELLENCE


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Ben Lippen SchoolA Christian, coed, college and calling preparatory

boarding and day school for 7th-12th grade students

www.BenLippen.com • (803) 807-4145

Join our globally diverse community instilling respect, responsibility, and integrity in the lives of young people. Stretch yourself academically as you develop your interests and pursue God’s calling for your life.

Located on the campus of Columbia International University in Columbia, SC

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www.militaryschool.com

Massanutten Military acadeMy 614 S. MAin St. • WoodStock, VA 22664 • (540) 459-2167 ext. 1

2Five-week acadeMic or Jrotc leadership prograM June 23 to July 27

six one-week suMMer adventure caMps June 16 to July 27

1two great

suMMer prograMs:


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SPoTlIGhT on mETro aTlanTa’S School SySTEmS

variety of improvements and innovative programs in Georgia’s public school systems have resulted in many stellar elementary, middle and high schools across the

metro area. different school systems feature specialized programs and academic opportunities, such as magnet, charter, vocational or alternative schools to suit their respective students, parents and communities. however, despite variations in programming and ac-ademic offerings, all public schools must offer the core curriculum as determined by the Georgia Board of Education.

here is a county-by-county guide to metro atlanta’s public school systems. for more information about the Georgia depart-ment of Education, call 404-656-2800 or visit www.gadoe.org. u

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770-536-5275 • www.gcssk12.net

AcAdemics

Arts

Athletics

ArtisAns

Alumni

Open to parental choice

Non-resident students accepted

Celebrating

120 years

Gainesville City SchoolsA Georgia Charter School System

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ADAIRSVILLE

Number of SchoolsElementary 24Intermediate 1 Middle 7 High 6 Alternative 1 Evening 1Centers 1

Total # of Students: 38,679 Spending per Student: $7,744

Board of Education770-479-1871www.cherokee.k12.ga.us

What’s NewCherokee County School District students continue to top national and state averages on Advanced Placement exams, with a test passage rate of 80 percent compared to Georgia’s rate of 53 percent and a national rate of 57 percent.

Number of SchoolsElementary 34Primary 2Middle 15High 9Transition 1Charter 2 Special Education Centers 2Magnet 1

Total # of Students: 51,052

Spending per Student: $7,579

Board of Education770-473-2700www.clayton.k12.ga.us

What’s NewSix Clayton County schools have been named “High Progress” schools by the Georgia Department of Education: Lovejoy, Riverdale, Forest Park, Jonesboro and North Clayton High Schools, and Lee Street Elementary School.

Cherokee

Clayton

2012 Average CRCT Scores3rd: (R) 857.13 (M) 848.405th: (R) 842.24 (M) 841.138th: (R) 849.71 (M) 840.95

2012 Average SAT: 1587

Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT Score Etowah High 1615Cherokee High 1597Creekview High 1593Woodstock High 1576Sequoyah High 1570

2012 Average CRCT Scores3rd: (R) 830.75 (M) 820.745th: (R) 826.72 (M) 823.908th: (R) 832.71 (M) 814.01 2012 Average SAT: 1254 Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreLovejoy High 1314Riverdale High 1285North Clayton High 1272Jonesboro High 1253Forest Park High 1251

CLAYTON

CHEROKEE

Number of SchoolsElementary 12Middle 4High 3



Board of Education770-606-5800www.bartow.k12.ga.us

What’s NewThe Bartow County College and Career Academy is slated to open in August of 2013. Bartow County Schools students who meet certain criteria will be able to participate in a dual college enrollment program.

bartow 2012 Average CRCT Scores3rd: (R) 848.47 (M) 845.135th: (R) 838.16 (M) 848.478th: (R) 840.10 (M) 818.49


Top 3 Schools by Average 2012 SAT Score Cass High 1441Woodland High 1440Adairsville High 1402

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Number of SchoolsElementary 19 Middle 6High 3Charter 3Alternative 3 Central Education Center 1



Board of Education770-254-2800www.coweta.k12.ga.us

What’s NewAll three Coweta County Schools high schools have been named as “AP STEM Schools” in The College Board’s most recent Report to the Nation, based on Advanced Placement course offerings and student performance on the Advanced Placement exam.

Number of SchoolsElementary 71Middle 18High 18Charter 11Magnet 4Transition 1Centers, Special Education and Alternative 11



Board of Education678-676-1200www.dekalb.k12.ga.us

What’s NewThe DeKalb County School District has received more than $600,000 in grants to launch dual language-immersion programs at three elementary schools: Rockbridge, Evansdale and Ashford Park.

Coweta

Dekalb



Top 3 Schools by Average 2012 SAT Score Northgate High 1528Newnan High 1475East Coweta High 1428

2012 Average CRCT Scores3rd: (R) 835.75 (M) 825.935th: (R) 827.10 (M) 825.838th: (R) 833.02 (M) 816.43 2012 Average SAT: 1343 Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreChamblee High 1613DeKalb School of the Arts 1559Lakeside High 1529Dunwoody High 1509DeKalb Early College 1480

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Number of SchoolsElementary 60Primary 3Intermediate 2Middle 25High 15Magnet 6Charter 5Special Education Centers 2Virtual Academies 2



Board of Education770-426-3300www.cobb.k12.ga.us

What’s NewAcworth’s Ford Elementary School has been selected to represent Georgia in the National Green Ribbon School Program due to its environmental efforts. Winners will be announced in June in a special ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Cobb2012 Average CRCT Scores3rd: (R) 850.01 (M) 848.925th: (R) 839.60 (M) 852.938th: (R) 846.56 (M) 837.80


Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT Score Walton High 1743Pope High 1645Lassiter High 1636Wheeler High 1611Kennesaw Mountain High 1572

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Number of SchoolsElementary 16 Middle 6 High 5 Intermediate 1Primary 1 Alternative 1open Campus 1



Board of Education770-460-3535www.fcboe.org

What’s NewAll five of Fayette’s public high schools made Georgia’s 2013 list of AP (Advanced Placement) Honor Schools, with each earning recognition in multiple categories based on the results of AP exams.

Number of SchoolsElementary 20Middle 9 High 5 Alternative 1Charter 1Virtual 1Evening 1


Board of Education770-887-2461www.forsyth.k12.ga.us

What’s NewIn March, Forsyth County welcomed more than 300 educators for Breaking Barriers, a three-day conference exploring digital education and highlighting Forsyth’s successes in employing technology in the classroom.

ForSyth



Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreMcIntosh High 1633Starr’s Mill High 1605Whitewater High 1516Sandy Creek High 1456Fayette County High 1423



Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreLambert High 1609South Forsyth High 1606West Forsyth High 1567Forsyth Central 1518North Forsyth High 1518

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FORSYTH

Number of SchoolsElementary 20 Middle 8 High 5 Centers 2


Board of Education770-651-2000www.douglas.k12.ga.us

What’s NewLithia Springs High School’s Reading Bowl team took home top honors at the Helen Ruffing Reading Bowl State Championship in the high school division.

DoUGlaS 2012 Average CRCT Scores3rd: (R) 843.60 (M) 842.315th: (R) 833.97 (M) 834.718th: (R) 839.66 (M) 816.066


Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT Score Alexander High 1418Douglas County High 1401Chapel Hill High 1384New Manchester High 1276Lithia Springs High 1264

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FUlton Number of SchoolsElementary 58 Middle 19 High 17 Charter 8 Centers 2


What’s NewHolcomb Bridge Middle School was one of three schools named to the state’s “Lighthouse Schools to Watch” program for its academic excellence and commitment to helping all students achieve at high levels.



Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreNorthview High 1769Johns Creek High 1729Milton High 1681Roswell High 1677Chattahoochee High 1674 FULTON

Board of Education404-768-3600www.fultonschools.org

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Number of SchoolsElementary 11Middle 4 High 2 Alternative 2Center 1


Board of Education770-229-3700www.spalding.k12.ga.us

What’s NewGriffin High School student Ronnie Ross took home a gold medal in Electrical Construction Wiring at the SkillsuSA State Competition in March, and will go on to the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City in June.

Number of SchoolsElementary 77Middle 26 High 18Alternative 2 Charter 3open Campus 1Virtual School 1Special Education 4 Total # of Students: 164,455


Board of Education678-301-6000www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us

What’s NewGwinnett County eighth-graders continue to excel on the Grade 8 State Writing Test, with 15 percent of county students scoring in the “exceeds” performance level in 2013, compared to a statewide average of 6 percent.

GrIFFIn-SPalDInG

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Top 2 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreSpalding High 1372Griffin High 1322



Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreBrookwood High 1614North Gwinnett High 1595Parkview High 1587Collins Hill High 1557Peachtree Ridge High 1547

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Number of SchoolsElementary 29 Middle 10High 9Alternative 2Virtual School 1



Board of Education770-957-6601www.henry.k12.ga.us

What’s NewEighteen Henry County schools were presented with monetary awards equaling $30,000 by the Kroger Earning Plus Learning program in March. Walnut Creek Elementary received a $5,000 award to support student learning.

Number of SchoolsElementary 19 Middle 9High 5 Alternative 2



Board of Education770-443-8000www.paulding.k12.ga.us

What’s NewTen Paulding County schools were awarded $1,000 each by united Health Care in March to continue funding “Fuel upTo Play 60,” a youth health program founded by the NationalDairy Council, the uSDA and the National Football League to promote nutrition and physical activity.

henry

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Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT Scoreunion Grove High 1533ola High 1487Woodland High 1440Eagles Landing High 1428Dutchtown High 1406



Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreNorth Paulding High 1451Hiram High 1377East Paulding High 1374Paulding High 1328South Paulding High 1327

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Number of SchoolsElementary 12 Middle 6High 5Charter 10Career Academy 1



Board of Education770-534-1080www.hallco.org/boe

What’s NewStarting in the fall of 2013, The Earhart-Edison Exploration Academy will operate as a school-within-a-school on the North Hall Middle School campus, emphasizing a rigorous, project-based education with instruction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.



Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreNorth Hall High 1536Chestatee High 1449West Hall High 1441Flowery Branch High 1425Johnson High 1400

HALL

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Board of Education404-802-3500www.atlanta.k12.ga.us

Number of SchoolsElementary 50Middle 15High 20Charter 12Alternative 6




Top 5 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreGrady High 1508North Atlanta High 1426Carver Early College 1336South Atlanta High Schoolof Law and Social Justice 1320Carver School of the Arts 1306

What’s NewAtlanta Public Schools was recognized by the Governor’s office of Student Achievement for significantly improving security procedures related to the Criterion-Reinforced Competency Test.

atlanta PUblIC SChoolS

Board of Education770-945-5035www.bufordcityschools.org

Number of SchoolsElementary (K-1) 1Middle 1High 1Academy (2-5) 1




2012 Average SAT: 1498What’s NewBuford High School student Grant Hall was named a STAR student at the annual STAR Student and Teacher luncheon in February. STAR students are seniors in the top 10 percent of their class with the highest SAT score. English teacher Tim Harris was also recognized.

bUForD CIty SChoolS

Number of SchoolsElementary 11 Middle 4 High 3 Alternative 1Charter 1Magnet 1open Campus 1 Virtual School 1



Board of Education770-483-4713www.rockdale.k12.ga.us

What’s NewRockdale County Public Schools was one of 25 state school districts honored in March for taking the 5 Million Meals challenge, an initiative aimed at increasing the amount of local food served to students.

roCkDale2012 Average CRCT Scores3rd: (R) 845.00 (M) 845.465th: (R) 836.85 (M) 839.488th: (R) 839.60 (M) 824.92


Top 3 Schools by Average 2012 SAT ScoreHeritage High 1400Rockdale High 1353Salem High 1306

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Board of Education404-370-4400www.csdecatur.net

Number of SchoolsElementary 4 Middle 1 High 1 Intermediate 1 Early Learning Center 1




2012 Average SAT: 1570What’s NewDale Duncan, a chorus teacher at Henderson Middle School, was named a 2013 LifeChanger of the Year in March. The award was one of 10 given to teachers across the country for making a positive difference in the lives of students. More than 400 teachers in 33 states were nominated for the award.

CIty SChoolS oF DeCatUr

Board of Education770-536-5275www.gcss.k12.net

Number of SchoolsElementary 5Middle 1High 1Magnet (6-12) 1





Top School by Average 2012 SAT ScoreGainesville High 1383

What’s NewEighty-one percent of Gainesville City Schools eighth-graders met or exceeded standards on the most recent Eighth Grade Writing Assessment, up from 76 percent in 2012. In other news, the system expects to increase its budget by more than $2.5 million for the 2013-2014 school year.

GaIneSvIlle CIty SChoolS

Board of Education770-422-3500www.marietta-city.org

Number of SchoolsElementary 7Sixth Grade 1 Middle 1 High 1 Alternative 1Magnet 1





What’s NewVoters in March approved the continuation of a 1-cent sales tax that could give Marietta City Schools more than $55 million over five years to renovate facilities, repay debt and improve technology and infrastructure at its schools.

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EducaTIonalrESourcESWays to enhance your

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Index Tutoring & Study Skills 99Summer camps & activities 102field Trips & outreach Programs 107

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ADVERTISER INDEXBoarding SchoolsThe academy at Soar .....................................19Ben lippen School ............................................87Brehm Preparatory School ................................84florida air academy ..........................................82massanutten military academy ........................88new york military academy ..............................86oneida Baptist Institute ....................................85Pomfret School ..................................................81rabun Gap-nacoochee School ........................83riverside military academy ..............................83Saint mary’s School ...........................................86St. margaret’s School ........................................88St. Thomas more School ...................................82 The Stony Brook School ....................................85Talisman academy .............................................20Tallulah falls School .........................................84

Early Educationlittle Scholars academy of atlanta ..................70 medlock Bridge montessori .............................33montessori at Brookstone .................................33 montessori unlimited ........................................33nesbit ferry montessori ....................................33Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool ....................42Preston ridge montessori .................................33Sugarloaf montessori ........................................33

Field Trips & Outreach Programsatlanta cyclorama ...........................................110atlanta history center .....................................110The atlanta opera ...........................................107cherokee historical association ....................111deSoto caverns family fun Park ...................107GeorgiaAquarium ...........................................108Georgia Sports hall of fame ..........................111Interactive neighborhood for kids ................111legoland discovery center atlanta ...............111lookout mountain attractions ........................108Pine mountain Gold museum.........................109Sandy Springs hospitality & Tourism .................9Spivey hall ........................................................109Zoo atlanta .......................................................110

Independent Schoolsalexsander academy ........................................40arbor montessori School ..................................60atlanta Girls’ School ..........................................76

atlanta International School ............................41atlanta north School ........................................53The aurora Schools ...........................................54The Bedford School ..........................................72Brandon hall School .........................................57Bridgeway christian academy..........................52casa montessori ................................................43center academy ...............................................79The children’s School ........................................64chrysalis Experiential academy .......................47clearWater academy ........................................72cumberland academy of Georgia ...................50Eastside christian School ..................................45Eaton academy .................................................47faith lutheran School ......................................46The friends School of atlanta ..........................61fulton Science academy Private School ........................ Inside front coverThe Galloway School .........................................41Gerard Preparatory School ...............................62Greater atlanta christian School ......................63harvester christian academy ...........................68hebron christian academy ..............................60The heiskell School ..........................................42heritage Preparatory School ............................59The heritage School .........................................74high meadows School .......................................3The hirsch academy .........................................61holy Spirit Preparatory School .........................49Intown community School ................................62lakeview academy ............................................54landmark christian School ...............................68mcdonough methodist academy ....................73mcGinnis Woods country day School ............52medlock Bridge montessori .............................33midtown International School ..........................64midway covenant christian School .................78mill Springs academy .......................................40monsignor donovan catholic high School .....59montessori at Brookstone .................................33mount Bethel christian academy ....................46mount carmel christian School .......................65mount Paran christian School ........................77mount Pisgah christian School ........................56nesbit ferry montessori ....................................33north Georgia christian School .......................53northwoods montessori School .......................56omega Private academy - Suwanee ...............57


Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool ....................42Porter academy .................................................43Preston ridge montessori .................................33Providence christian academy ........................63The ron clark academy ....................................67roswell International math & Science School.......48Seigakuin atlanta International School ............55Shreiner academy ............................................44Springmont School ......................................48, 50St. Joseph catholic School ..............................76St. Stephen christian academy ........................71Strong rock christian School ...........................73 Sugarloaf montessori ........................................33Trinity chapel academy ....................................78victory World christian School .........................55Whitefield academy ..........................................79Woodward academy ....................................... 70

Montessori Schoolsarbor montessori School ..................................60casa montessori ................................................43medlock Bridge montessori .............................33montessori at Brookstone .................................33montessori unlimited ........................................33nesbit ferry montessori ....................................33Preston ridge montessori .................................33Springmont School ......................................48, 50Sugarloaf montessori ........................................33

Neighborhoods city of college Park ...........................................69city of East Point ...............................................71

Public Schoolsatlanta heights charter School ........................90Gainesville city Schools ....................................90

Resources & ServicesGwinnett online campus .................................16kroger ................................................. Back cover

Project Identity at morehouse college ..............7radio disney ........................... Inside Back coverSaE Institute .........................................................5Sandy Springs hospitality & Tourism .................9The School Box ...............................................44

Special Needs & Learning DifficultiesThe academy at Soar .....................................19alexsander academy ........................................40The Bedford School...........................................72Brehm Preparatory School ................................84center academy ................................................79clearWater academy ........................................72cumberland academy of Georgia ...................50Eaton academy..................................................47The hirsch academy .........................................61mill Springs academy........................................40Porter academy .................................................43SquirrelHollowCamp .....................................105Talisman academy .............................................20

Summer Camps & Activities alexsander academy Summer camp ............106atlanta Ballet centre for dance Education ...102atlanta Girls’ School Summer camp .............103The children’s School Summer camp ...........103Georgia Ballet ..................................................106 Georgia Shakespeare ......................................106 high meadows Summer day camp ...............104mcGinnis Woods country day School Summer camp ....................................105midtown athletic club – Tennis Explorers.....106SquirrelHollowDayCamp .............................105

Tutoring & Study Skillsappleton learning ...........................................100c2 Education ......................................................99Eye level ..........................................................100In-home Tutors of atlanta...............................101Total learning concepts .................................101



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Documents

Atlanta School Guide | Summer/Fall 2013 issue