We are Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, where students pursue their passions and are challenged to reach their full potential.
This is The 805, the home of the GOLDEN BEARS.
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School’s 43-acre campus boasts a pedestrianfriendly quad surrounded by state-ofthe-art STEM and Humanities buildings, alongside Primary, Lower, Middle and Upper School facilities. Students take advantage of multiple fine arts and performance spaces, two modern gymnasiums and athletic training facilities, as well as four expansive athletic fields.
What does it mean to be an Episcopal school?
HIES is the nation’s largest Episcopal parish day school and the only PK3 through 12th-grade Episcopal school in Georgia.
At HIES, we are steeped in the Episcopal intellectual tradition of academic excellence, servant leadership, global awareness and creating well-rounded academic adventurers. All are welcomed and affirmed here, no matter your faith background.
HIES is a place where the full spectrum of God’s presence in the world and in our lives is explored, deepened and celebrated. As an Episcopal school, we believe that learning is a critical and life-long skill we wish to instill in all. We gather as a community of students, faculty and staff in weekly chapel services and beyond that affirm both our Christian traditions and religious diversity. We celebrate values that unite rather than divide and we nurture the ethical and moral lives of all involved.
“I love my profession and believe that it allows me to continue using my passion and skills to make a positive impact on the community, the state and our country...my foundation at HIES, built on faith, friendship and service, has directly contributed to my career and personal growth.”
-WILL KEYES ’05
Before they were ...
Sarah Kallis ’18
(top-left to right)
Kallis is a politics reporter for Georgia Public Broadcasting, where she covers statewide political news across radio, television, digital and social media. She is a regular contributor to the TV program Lawmakers. Previously, she founded Georgia Tech’s student news magazine, 3484mag, after leading the C&G Magazine at HIES.
(B.S. – Georgia Institute of Technology)
Will Keyes ’05
Keyes is the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, where he serves as the district’s top law enforcement official overseeing federal criminal prosecutions and civil cases across 70 counties and more than 2 million residents. He brings nearly a decade of federal and military prosecutorial experience to the role. A Captain in the U.S. Army, he deployed to Iraq in 2016 and continues to serve as a Major with an airborne unit of the U.S. Army Reserves.
(B.B.A., B.S., M.A. & J.D. - University of Georgia)
Mikey Bennett ’22
Bennett is an offensive lineman for Yale, earning 2024 First Team All-Ivy honors after starting all 10 games. He was an honorable mention All-Ivy selection in 2023 and helped the Bulldogs finish second in the league in scoring offense. A standout while at HIES, he was a GACA/RecruitGeorgia all-state selection and led his team to the state quarterfinals. As a senior, he was awarded a grant for a social venture capstone project addressing accessibility to youth sports for underserved communities.
(B.A. – Yale University, expected)
Hillery Champagne ’06
Champagne is the Executive Director of FinTech Atlanta, a coalition advancing Georgia’s position as a global leader in financial technology. She connects startups with established companies, develops talent pipelines, works with legislators on public policy and leads industry events.
(B.A. – University of Georgia)
Dr. Jason Harms ’05
Harms is a spine surgeon with Resurgens Orthopaedics Atlanta, where he specializes in treating complex spinal conditions. He trained at the Medical College of Georgia, completed a residency in orthopedic surgery and pursued a fellowship in spine surgery at West Virginia University School of Medicine.
(B.S. – Emory University; M.D. – Medical College of Georgia)
... they were like you, discovering how they could make a difference in the world.
BY THE NUMBERS
HIES Students
24% self-identified students of color
10+ faith traditions & Christian denominations represented
68 zip codes represented 19% students receive financial assistance
5,000+ ALUMNI throughout the country and beyond
$6.5M+ in financial assistance
140 PRIMARY SCHOOL students
360 LOWER SCHOOL students
350 MIDDLE SCHOOL students
Among the 142 students in the Class of 2026, 27 are Alpha & Omega students attending HIES from Primary School through Upper School.
1,400 TOTAL ENROLLMENT
LARGEST EPISCOPAL PARISH DAY SCHOOL in the United States
550 UPPER SCHOOL students
In the past decade, 135+ GRADUATES PLAYING COLLEGE ATHLETICS
43 acre campus in North Atlanta
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School was founded by Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church in 1959 and initially served ages 3 through first grade.
Since the beginning of our Global Citizenship Program in 2008, Golden Bears have visited Canada, Spain, Colombia, Ireland, Peru, Thailand, Bermuda, Bolivia, Morocco, China, France, South Africa, England, South Korea, Chile, Ghana, Guatemala, Panama, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Haiti, Argentina, Senegal, Greece, Morocco and India
Academics + Beyond
12:1 student-faculty ratio
27 Advanced Placement courses offered to Upper School students
94% seniors take two or more AP exams
85% of AP exams scoring 3 and above in 2025
9 2025 graduates will participate in NCAA athletics and 7 graduates will continue study in visual and performing arts at the collegiate level
CLASS OF 2025
148 seniors will attend 51 different colleges and universities, including Ivy League universities, liberal arts colleges, public research universities, institutes of technology, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, US Service Academies and more.
100+ College/University visits to HIES each year
Fine Arts
STUDENT GLOBAL EXPERIENCES
in more than 40 countries
4 Global Exchange Relationships: Japan, Ghana, France, Bermuda 1st Round Square School in Georgia
and HIES has hosted students from Canada, Bermuda, France, South Africa and Ghana
85% of school involved in a Fine Arts class as part of curriculum
35+ nominations and honorable mentions for the Shuler Hensley Awards in the last 10 years and Region winners of the GHSA One Act Play Competition
40+ recognized works for Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
40+ musicians accepted into District or All State Band & Orchestra and playing as part of GYSO, EYSO, Atlanta Young Singers or Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony
Primary School
PK3, PK4, K-Prep and Kindergarten
From the start, HIES inspires minds and hearts for the future! The Primary School offers an academically focused, age-appropriate early-childhood program. Beginning with 3-year-olds and progressing through the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten years, students have the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment of love and support, with an emphasis on striving for excellence, personal responsibility and service to others.
Lower School
First-Fifth Grades
In the Lower School, it’s our responsibility to sharpen curiosity, spark passion and help each child grow into their full potential. We are a school of today for the world of tomorrow. Our curriculum focuses on critical and creative thinking, connecting ideas and collaboration. It is challenging, engaging and exciting for all our growing intellectual adventurers.
Middle School
Sixth-Eighth Grades
The Middle School experience offers all students a relevant, innovative and globally competitive education. Our Middle School faculty understand middle schoolers and know how best to inspire them. Through our college prep and honors classes, we challenge students’ creativity and intellect in new ways and from new perspectives to form deeper connections to the world around us.
Upper School
Ninth-Twelfth Grades
In an Upper School with offerings more typical of a college, the paths to success are many. When a student arrives in Upper School, we partner with the family to create a four-year plan. We talk about interests and goals. We discuss academic challenges and enriching activities. With guidance and support, we position each student to carve their own road to success at Holy Innocents’ and beyond.
Academics & Technology
PK3-12th Grades
Opportunities at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School are challenging, engaging and memorable in this college preparatory environment. HIES invites students to increase their scientific literacy, leverage technology and think creatively to become effective problem solvers and collaborators.
The accomplished and dedicated faculty is our driving force at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. Providing an unparalleled college-preparatory education is our guiding principle. We stay on the leading edge of academic inquiry by keeping an eye on the future. What we teach is shaped by
the expectations that colleges have for students they admit, and by what we believe we should pass on from generation to generation.
HIES aspires to graduate young men and women of integrity who will achieve their goals, serve the world and persevere in challenges of heart and mind. Students learn in small classes and actively participate in classroom discussions. We are a community where close connections between students and teachers flourish within the curriculum.
Primary School
Brainstormers
Global Explorers
Visual & Performing Arts
Language & Literacy
STEAM Academic Opportunities
World Languages
Library & Media Studies
Lower School
Accelerated Reader Program
Innovations Lab
Service Learning & Ambassador Program
Digital Citizenship
Amazing Race Competition
Middle School
Honors (Math, Science, History, English)
Coding & Computer Science
Bible & Faith Traditions
Media Production & Technology
3D Printing & App Design
Leadership Seminar
Speech & Communications
Sports Marketing & Event Promotions
Upper School
Multivariable Calculus: Post AP
Engineering: Design & Analysis
English 12 Honors: Monsters in British Lit
English 12 Honors: Craft of Creative Writing
Sports Psychology & Peak Performance
Post AP Hispanic Culture & Film
Music Production & Engineering
Biblical Studies
Sports Broadcasting
Sports Medicine
One Act Play Performance
Film and TV Production
Anatomy & Kinesiology
AP Seminar: Global Issues
AP Research: Global Capstone
Global Capstone: Social Entrepreneurship
Technology
Laptop Program (Grades 4-12)
Immersive Screen
MS Drone Experience
Fine Arts
PK3-12th Grades
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School offers one of the most vibrant, comprehensive arts programs in the state. Our students are given every opportunity to discover their innate creativity within through our award winning Fine Arts programs taught by experienced and talented faculty across a multitude of genres.
Perform music in orchestra, band, chorus and keyboarding or become a sound engineer and learn skills that overlap computer science, event management and entertainment as part of our Music Production and Engineering course.
Create visual art through drawing, painting, printmaking, photography (digital and darkroom), graphic design, ceramics, sculpture, woodworking, jewelry design - or try your hand at coding for art and game design and explore how classic concepts of computer science and art come together to create interactive art.
Tell meaningful stories through film and TV production and watch as your concept goes from story board to City Springs Movie Theatre. Be an on-camera anchor, field reporter or producer for our weekly WHIS broadcast.
Fine Arts Opportunities
Band | Grades 3-12
Orchestra | Grades 3-12
Chorus | Grades 3-12
General Music | PK3-Second Grade
Other Music Options | Grades 7-12
Tour of Music
Advance Keyboarding
Music Production & Engineering
Visual Arts | Grades PK3-12
Visual Arts Classes
Drawing & Painting
Advanced Drawing & Painting Honors
Photography
Advanced Photography Honors
Sculpture & Multimedia
Advanced Sculpture & Multimedia Honors
Coding for Art
Advanced Coding for Art: Game Design & Digital Fabrication
Jewelry & Metalworking
Pottery on the Wheel
AP Drawing
AP 2D Design: Art & Design
AP 2D Design: Design & Photo
AP 3D Design
AP Art History
Exhibitions
Annual Exhibition at the High Museum of Art
Sandy Springs Library Exhibition
Media Literacy | Grades 6-12
Computer and Media Production
Sports Marketing and Event Promotion
Film and TV Production I-IV
Broadcast Journalism
Journalism
Yearbook
Publications and Festivals
Rhyme & Reason Literary Magazine
C&G Magazine
Ursidae Yearbook
Film Festivals
Theater Arts | Grades PK3-12
*This is a sample list. Visit hies.org
Athletics
Sixth-Twelfth Grades
Athletics are a significant part of HIES life. Whenever and wherever our Golden Bears compete, it is a community affair that brings out classmates, parents, faculty and alumni, all supporting the Golden Bears.
With 59 Middle School and Upper School sports teams, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a sport—and if you are like many of our students, you will participate in two or three. 80% of students participate in sports here at HIES.
Ours is a proud athletic tradition at HIES. We set out each season to build winners on and off the
field, emphasizing personal excellence, commitment, discipline, teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship.
In addition to the 74 individual state championships, HIES Girls Cross Country, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Boys Tennis, Girls Basketball, Girls Tennis, Baseball, Wrestling, Girls Track and Field, Volleyball, Girls Soccer and Boys Golf Golden Bear teams have all won state championships.
In the past decade, more than 135 HIES athletes have continued their athletic careers at the collegiate level.
Athletics Opportunities
Cheerleading | JV & V
Cross Country | Grades 6-12
Drumline
eSports
Football | MS, JV & V
Softball | MS & V
Volleyball | MS, JV & V
Swimming & Diving | MS & V
Wrestling | MS & V
Baseball | MS, JV & V
Golf | JV & V
Lacrosse | MS, JV & V
Soccer | MS, JV & V
Tennis | JV & V
Track & Field | MS & V
*This is a sample list. Visit hies.org for more info.
Beyond the Classroom
Second-Twelfth Grades
Clubs and organizations exist to provide students with opportunities to continue their educations outside of the classroom. Involvement in organizations is a great way to enhance social skills, problem-solving, leadership qualities and other transferable life skills. Leaders of clubs and organizations play an important role in helping students build relationships and strengthen their connection to the entire HIES community. With over 50 clubs and organizations, there is a group (or more) for every student to join and feel a sense of purpose and belonging.
Clubs & Organizations
Academic Clubs
National Honor Societies
Community Service Organizations
Cultural Affinity Groups
Faith-Based Organizations
Issue Awareness Groups
Student-Run Publications & Media
Interest & Hobby-Based Clubs
Ambassador Programs
International Organizations
Environment-Related Clubs
*This is a sample list. Visit hies.org for more info.
Global Education
Experiential Learning | International Travel | Learning Experiences
Explore | Primary School
The Global Education program empowers students across all divisions to become thoughtful global citizens. It seeks to encourage students and faculty to explore the world, discover new perspectives about themselves and others, create meaningful connections to bridge understanding and develop abilities to lead with compassion and integrity. Recognizing that every person is called to be a global citizen, our program cultivates the ability to solve problems creatively, serve others with compassion and think analytically about complex challenges. We foster a deep curiosity about the world that inspires an enduring love of learning as we prepare students to make meaningful contributions to their community and world.
Primary School students become global explorers, discovering diverse landscapes, people, places and traditions through purposeful play and creative inquiry, while developing curiosity, compassion and a deep respect for the world around them.
Discover | Lower School
Lower School students discover a respect for themselves and others through meaningful international opportunities, developing integrity, compassion, respect and a strong foundation for character and servant leadership.
Connect | Middle School
Middle School students deepen their understanding of our interconnected world by connecting with peers and diverse communities through academic study, international conferences, cultural exchanges and collaborative projects, fostering mutual respect and meaningful cross-cultural understanding.
Lead | Upper School
Upper School students grow as leaders in their communities and on the global stage, cultivating empathy and integrity through international conferences, off-campus programs, and opportunities for meaningful dialogue that prepare them to navigate an interconnected world with confidence and understanding.
The Program for Global Citizenship, a selective three-year pathway beginning in 10th grade, prepares students for engaged global citizenship through interdisciplinary study, fieldwork and advanced research, blending cultural exploration with practical experience to address complex international challenges.
ROUND SQUARE INTERNATIONAL
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School is proud to be the only Round Square International member in the state of Georgia, joining an association of nearly 250 schools across six continents and more than 50 countries. Round Square encourages students to adventure beyond academic excellence to develop their full potential through discovery and the power of experiential education. Round Square schools share a commitment to character education and experiential learning built around six themes—the IDEALS—Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service.
PEAK Leadership Institute
The PEAK Leadership Institute, serving grades eight through twelve, guides student exploration of emerging interests and passions through experiential learning, project work and broader career discovery supported by a network of mentors and professionals.
PUTTING IDEAS INTO ACTION AND EXPLORING NEW OPPORTUNITIES
P - Passions - Students pursue their interests and discover new passions through coursework including PEAK Seminar, the PEAK Capstone Project in the Upper School and Sports Marketing and Event Promotions in the Middle School.
E - Experiential Learning - Students can visit companies, talk with CEOs and learn new skills through on-campus internships.
A - Authentic Tasks - Students complete real-world projects that are needed and valued. They have the opportunity to receive and incorporate feedback through presentations to professionals and executives.
K - Knowledge Building - In PEAK, students not only get a chance to learn and explore their own interests, but they will gain valuable experience in leadership and career industries.
Multiculturalism at HIES
We strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of all human beings.
-FROM EPISCOPAL BAPTISMAL COVENANT
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School provides a welcoming and supportive environment, embraces differences inherent in a diverse community and embodies the inclusive Episcopal tradition of respect for the beliefs and cultures of others. We offer programs and activities that enhance each student’s sense of self, purpose and potential, and we foster a spirit of respect and open-mindedness. Inclusiveness, compassion, kindness, integrity—these are values that are taught, modeled and instilled across our school life.
Respectful of all persons and traditions, ours is a uniquely diverse and close community. We are an active community of faith engaged in local, national and international service to others.
A FEW EXAMPLES OF OUR PROGRAMS:
HIES Cultural Awareness and Acceptance Partners (HICAAP)
National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Affiliate Partner
Latino Student Summit
Horizons Atlanta
Beliefs and Values
Black Student Union
Jewish Student Union
Student Diversity Leadership Council
Genders and Sexuality Alliance
People of Color Conference (NAIS)
Parent Education Seminars
Faculty and staff teach that through investigation and understanding of experiences outside of our own, we come to a greater understanding of ourselves.
College Bound
Be more than ready to take the next step. One hundred percent of HIES students go on to colleges across the nation and around the world to pursue a wide variety of disciplines.
Last year’s graduating class: 148 graduates in the Class of 2025 are attending 51 different colleges and universities, chosen from offers of admission at over 157 institutions. Our most recent alumni will attend Ivy League universities, liberal arts colleges, public research universities, institutes of technology and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. They can be found on college campuses from California to New York, from Texas to Michigan, from Florida to Boston, and many points in between. Among those choosing to attend in-state universities, 25 are attending the University of Georgia and eight are attending the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Our expert team of five college counselors begins partnering with students to plan for life beyond our campus as early as sophomore year. Throughout the college search, our team builds trusting relationships with students and their families. During senior year, they support every step of the application experience, assisting with essay writing, planning ACT and SAT prep and helping students navigate deadlines. Our college counseling curriculum emphasizes reflection and selfknowledge, paired with strategic planning to develop competitive college applications. Each student has a story to tell. Our team helps students craft and share these stories with college admission officers, many of whom are among the more than 100 college representatives who choose to visit HIES each fall.
We believe every student’s journey towards higher education is unique, and we work in partnership with families to discover each graduate’s next best educational home. Our alumni graduate from Holy Innocents’ ready to thrive on college campuses around the US and the world. Our outstanding college counseling team helps students identify destinations that will support them in further cultivating the unique talents and interests they have uncovered during their time at HIES.
