If you feel your local public school isn’t the right environment for your child or simply want to explore all your options, there are many quality independent schools in metro Atlanta devoted to helping children with special needs and learning issues. Visit the Georgia Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children’s website (gapsec.org) or our listings for special needs schools on page 90 to help you with your search.
How Do I Find the Right School?
All special needs schools are not the same. The first step is to identify those schools that can address your child’s specific learning difficulty, and offer the level of special needs instruction that you (and perhaps a professional) feel is best for your child.
You may be more comfortable enrolling your child in a school that focuses specifically on his or her needs, or you may want a more diverse environment where he or she can interact with many different kinds of students. Familiarize yourself with the different options offered by each kind of school.
Traditional independent schools that offer special needs programs as part of a larger curriculum can offer that kind of environment, but may have larger class sizes than schools that specialize in specific learning disabilities. These kinds of schools may also focus more on academics than on the therapeutic aspects of special
needs education. Independent special needs schools can offer more individualized instruction and a more structured and predictable environment, and are likely to address nonacademic issues such as social skills and self-esteem.
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 or she 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.
Identify those schools that can best address your child’s specific learning difficulty.
Critical Communication
• Does the school offer a variety of extracurricular activities, including arts and sports programs?
• Is the school accredited? If so, by which organizations?
• Is the staff certified to instruct special needs children or those with your child’s specific learning difficulty?
• Does the school focus more on academics or on addressing the child’s therapeutic needs?
Financial Assistance
Many independent special needs schools participate in the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship program (GSNS), a school choice program available to special needs students attending Georgia public schools. It offers funds to offset tuition and
fees at participating private schools authorized by the State Board of Education. According to the Georgia Department of Education, scholarship amounts range from $2,500 to $13,500, with an average amount of around $6,000.
The Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit program provides another scholarship option. Donations are made to an organization known as a Georgia Student Scholarship Organization (GaSSO), which uses the money to award scholarships to students in pre-K through grade 12. Many schools also offer their own scholarships or tuition assistance programs as well. Contact individual schools for details.
For more information on special needs schools and resources, please see our listings on page 90.
HELPING YOUR CHILD JUGGLE SCHOOL AND OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES BAL ANCE
BY H.M. CAULEY
We live in a fast-paced world, with many parents struggling to balance the demands of home life and a busy career. And that world is increasingly affecting our children, who are enrolled in extracurricular activities and organized sports in an effort to help them become well-rounded individuals and increase their chances of getting into a good college. On top of that, changing to a new school can
bring the added pressures of fitting in and making new friends.
The result can be a crushing weight of activities that keeps students rushing from one to another at breakneck speed. Too often, this hectic approach can backfire, creating stressed-out students who can suffer both academically and socially. Striking the right balance is crucial for kids’ health. So how can parents keep them from getting overloaded?
ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION
The struggle to find the right mix of activities and the amount of hours to spend on those activities should never take a backseat to academics, cautions Lauren Wilson, school counselor at White Oak Elementary School in Sugar Hill.
“There are some students who can do all their academics and three or four extracurricular activities and others who can’t juggle them as well,” she says. “It’s very important for the parents to know their child and what one sibling can do and what another can’t do. But I think there’s room for both academics and extracurriculars.”
Wilson says White Oak does not assign its students a lot of homework, with the exception of reading, so students have time to participate in extracurricular activities, including sports. “We have parents who are involved as coaches,” she says.
Natasha Moon, head counselor at Tucker Middle School in DeKalb County, added, “Let me start off by saying I wholeheartedly endorse children to participate in extracurricular activities if their grades are high enough. Research shows if students are involved with extracurriculars, they have a higher belonging to their school. Those who don’t tend to drop out of school.”
At Tucker Middle, students can sign up for academic clubs that focus on robotics, languages, science and reading, as well as off-campus activities.
“Here at Tucker, we work with students to help them prioritize their schedules,” Moon says. “We go into the classrooms and give them classroom guidance and learning how
to balance your school and home activities. We also help provide how to work smarter. Particularly with the sixth grade, we always encourage them to get involved with at least one extracurricular activity, and it provides a more solid transition from elementary and middle school.”
She also says the school will intervene with students’ schedules if their extracurriculars are causing their grades to slip.
LET KIDS BE KIDS
While communication and time-management skills are important, it’s essential that children be given time to just be themselves but not overdo it. “For the parents in particular, I encourage them to help their
WHILE COMMUNICATION AND TIMEMANAGEMENT SKILLS
ARE IMPORTANT, IT’S ESSENTIAL THAT CHILDREN BE GIVEN TIME TO JUST BE THEMSELVES BUT NOT OVERDO IT.
kids prioritize because they know their kids’ talents and skillsets the best,” Moon said. “It’s important they look at the big picture and the activities. If they’re too tired, they can’t do their homework.”
Letting kids be kids can be even more important when those children are dealing with learning difficulties. Parents of children with special needs can feel compelled to push their kids further than is helpful, says Catherine Trapani, head of school at The Piedmont School of Atlanta, which serves children with autism.
“We have students putting in more than 40 hours a week, going to school and a combination of therapies,” she says. “Parents of children with autism are constantly afraid they’re not doing enough, when sometimes, too many things are torture.”
Trapani says parents absorbed in meeting a child’s special needs often overlook a key point.
“I tell them, ‘Your child is still a child.’ They need to learn on their own, and they
can do that by allowing them to be like other children—to fall down, get hurt, get dirty and experience negotiating with other kids.”
What’s more, children need unstructured time to just play, relax or socialize—and to process what they’ve learned and experienced.
WHAT COLLEGES REALLY WANT
Juggling school and extracurricular activities can be stressful enough for kids. But that stress can multiply when parents push them to take on more projects and activities in the hopes of getting into a good college.
For many parents, it’s never too soon to start building a child’s resume for higher education.
“Kids think they have to be good at everything,” says Susan Reilly, director of college counseling at Mount Pisgah Christian School in Johns Creek. “But often, that’s not what colleges are looking for. Colleges want them to pursue what they really enjoy with
HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR CHILDREN, MAKING SURE THEY DON’T TAKE ON TOO MANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT THE EXPENSE OF SCHOOLWORK.
integrity and commitment. The big word right now is ‘authentic’—they want their applicants to be who they are, and not present themselves as someone they think that college is looking for. They should pick an activity because of the positive experience they’ll have, not because they think it will look good to a college.”
Part of the problem, Reilly says, is the misconception that all those juggled activities are the key to being accepted into college. “The truth is colleges accept more kids than they reject. But many parents and students still work themselves into a frenzy, thinking they have to do it all.”
And parents can feel the pressure to get their students into a variety of activities well
before high school.
“We find even eighth-grade parents want to know what their students should do to prepare for college, when they really should be asking, ‘What is my child interested in?’” Reilly says. “Look at their strengths and let them increase their level of commitment so they can really make an impact in that area, whether it’s sports, student government or academics.”
By having realistic expectations for your children, making sure they don’t take on too many extracurricular activities at the expense of schoolwork, and allowing time for them to be themselves, you can best help position them for success in school and beyond.
TIPS FOR KEEPING BALANCE
• Set limits on the number of extracurricular activities you feel your child should be involved in concurrently.
• Create an activity budget. Figure out how many hours in a week your child can safely spend on outside activities while still keeping up with schoolwork.
• Check in with your kids often. Are they enjoying their current activities? Do they feel overwhelmed?
HELP YOUR CHILD STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
BY ANNA BENTLEY
It’s a topic on the minds of many high-school students and their parents: college admissions. With an ever-growing number of prospective college students—and an average of seven to 10 applications per student—colleges are seeing more competition than ever before. So, how do students stand out in the sea of applicants? According to some of metro Atlanta’s college and admissions counselors, the strongest applications are ones that show a pattern of success—and a little personality.
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
The most important aspect of a student’s application is his or her academic record.
Strong academic performance is important, as well as the relative rigor of the class load. Admissions officers value strong grades, but they also consider classes taken in the context of classes offered at particular schools.
“At UGA we take a whole-student approach to our application review meaning not only do we look at a students’ academic credentials, but we also review their extracurricular involvement, ultimately asking the question how did they impact their community?” says Amanda Sale, senior associate director for undergraduate admissions at the University of Georgia. “To understand how we review students, it’s helpful to start with
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO TO HELP
Here are some ways you can help nudge your child in the right direction:
• Check in with your child’s college counseling department or guidance counselor to ask about his or her progress.
• Encourage your child to polish his or her resume by pursuing community service, like a church mission trip to another country.
• Likewise, help your child choose extracurricular activities that complement each other and illustrate personal growth and commitment.
asked, they should be careful not to overthink it, too.
Regarding the college-specific essays, Acosta says students should do their research on each school, adding, “Those collegespecific questions are the (colleges’) most important piece to find a match for them.”
Essays are also a great chance for students to show a side of themselves not represented
in other parts of their application. Sant recommends that students take this opportunity to let the reader learn more about their personality, their values and who they are as an individual.
For letters of recommendation, Sant recommend seeking teachers from the student’s junior or senior year, and preferably one humanities teacher and one math/ science teacher. And while students might be tempted to choose teachers who saw them at their best, Sant recommends considering teachers of classes students have struggled in instead.
“When I was reading applications, the best letters of recommendation that I read were from teachers who actually observed the student struggle and overcome,” she says. “It’s those teachers who can speak to that student’s ability to overcome adversity the best.”
Ultimately, the application that stands out is the one that is organized, conveys a sense of personality and shows a history of academic performance and initiative.
“I would recommend students think about their application as kind of like an interview on paper,” Sale says. “We don’t have an opportunity to talk with you in person and, as a result, we’re using that application as the opportunity to get to know you both academically and within your community. As you pull together your application, be authentic and tell us about you.”
HOW AT L ANTA SCHOOLS DEAL WITH BULLYING TACKLING THE BULLY PROBLEM
BY LAURA RAINES
The educational experience is constantly changing, as technology and teaching methods evolve. But one aspect of school life remains as present as reading, writing and arithmetic—bullying. It’s a problem that torments many children, and can have long-lasting effects long beyond a child’s school years. Fortunately, public and independent Atlanta schools have procedures in place to deal with the issue and aim to tackle the problem through their curricula as well.
WHAT IS BULLYING?
About 20 percent of U.S. high school students reported being bullied in school in
2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bullying continues to make the news—and awareness is critical, says Maurice Granger, coordinator of student discipline for Atlanta Public Schools (APS).
“We have to make sure that students, parents and all stakeholders are aware of bullying and of the impact bullying has on our community at large,” he says. “Through awareness, we’ve learned we can intervene and therefore decrease the number of bullying incidences we have by teaching individuals to learn from their behavior.”
Attacking the problem begins with having a clear definition. The website StopBullying.gov
defines bullying as “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.” Examples of bullying include making threats, spreading rumors and either verbal or physical abuse.
APS has a zero-tolerance policy regarding bullying, from its board of education to its code of conduct, which is included in its student handbook. “It makes it very clear that bullying will not be tolerated and there will be consequences for bullying,” Granger says. “There are consequences ranging from one day of out-of-school suspension to expulsion.”
APS maintains an anti-bullying page on its website, with multiple resources for students, teachers and parents. Last year the district added to its website a code of conduct video, which it also shows students in class. The video includes bullying scenarios to educate them on the issue.
TEACHING POSITIVE BEHAVIORS
Curtailing negative behaviors is necessary, but educators are finding that teaching positive behaviors and creating inclusive, supporting school environments can make a bigger impact.
About 250 metro Atlanta public and independent schools have adopted No Place for Hate campaigns, sponsored by the AntiDefamation League (ADL). Melissa Licali, associate director of No Place for Hate for the ADL’s Southern division, which includes Georgia, says any K-12 school can sign up for the campaign, which is free. She says the key to the campaign’s success is it addresses bullying or cyberbullying “through the lens of identity and bias,” adding it focuses on “the root of bullying and not just the behaviors or the symptoms.”
“We were able to look at (each school)
and ask, ‘Why is this student doing this to another student?’” Licali says. “We can always look at bullying as a piece of identity, whether it’s ableism, race or ethnicity, maybe physical appearance. I know a lot of our data is anecdotal, and at the school I was in, we saw our bullying incidents decrease, we saw more student engagement and teachers were getting more valuable time back because students were now self-directing.”
Teaching responsibility and respect for others begins early at Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia, where students range in age from 15 months to 6 years old. As a result, the school has no bullying issues because of its preventative measures, including teaching conflict-resolution skills.
“I think the hallmark is respect for the child,” says Debra Markham, the school’s director, referring to Montessori school founder Maria Montessori’s teachings. “One of Maria Montessori’s biggest inspirations was the idea that children have a great capacity for learning if you prepare their environment. … The classroom is designed and set up so the children can learn in every
function of the classroom, not just academics. … They’re taught how to care for themselves.”
The Lovett School also believes that creating the right school atmosphere is most important. It has a no-tolerance policy and addresses any reports of bullying. Every student also signs a character pledge that says he will honor the values of honesty, respect, responsibility and compassion. And counselors visit classes regularly for guidance sessions. “In kindergarten, we talk about valuing the differences in others,” says Gayle Greenwood, director of lower school counseling. “In fourth and fifth grades, when peer pressure kicks in, we discuss what it means to be a friend.”
In middle school, counselors meet with sixth-grade boys and girls separately in small groups to address bullying, body image and online etiquette. “The point is to get them thinking and talking to each other about topics that are important to them,” says middle school counselor Sara Friedman.
Character and values are also reinforced in class through book discussions, papers and projects. “Anti-bullying can’t just be a sign or a slogan,” says counselor Chase Jones. “It has to be in the fabric of your school culture.”
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO ABOUT BULLYING
1. If you suspect your child is being bullied, ask him—he may not volunteer the information.
2. Look for warning signs. He may show decreased interest in school, have angry outbursts or even hurt himself.
3. If he tells you he’s being bullied, listen calmly, without getting upset, and offer your support.
4. Help him figure out appropriate responses to the bullying behavior. It’s important that he feel as if he’s handling the problem himself, rather than you “solving” it for him.
5. If the bullying behavior is severe enough, contact the child’s teacher, counselor or principal and work with them to determine what next steps may need to be taken.
area map
REGIONS FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS N
For features of independent schools, turn to Education At a Glance on pg. 30. For public school system information by county, turn to pg. 74.
3 3
2
2
1 1
5 5
Boarding Schools Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
REGION 4: Atlanta South/ Southeast/Southwest Fairburn, Fayetteville, Locust Grove, Metro-Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg/Peachtree City, Stonecrest p.60
REGION 1: Atlanta North/Northwest
Educational Resources Tutoring, Summer Camps and Activities, Field Trips and Education Programs.
REGION 5: Atlanta West Austell, Buckhead, Kennesaw, Smyrna, Smyrna/Vinings
REGION 2: Atlanta North/Northeast Alpharetta, Brookhaven, Duluth, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Peachtree Corners, Roswell p.49 p.54
Buckhead, Chastain Park, Crabapple, Holly Springs, Marietta, Roswell p.43
REGION 3: Atlanta East Ansley Park, Athens, Dacula, Decatur, Midtown, Morningside, Northeast Atlanta
REGION 3: Atlanta East Athens, Bethlehem, Brookhaven, Dacula, Decatur, Norcross, Watkinsville
Education At a Glance
REGION 1: ATLANTA NORTH/NORTHWEST
REGION 2: ATLANTA NORTH/NORTHEAST
Education At a Glance
This information reflects the latest available data at publication time. Please confirm with each individual school.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
49 REGION 3: ATLANTA EAST
Education At a Glance
BOARDING SCHOOLS
Chris Cleveland
Head of School, Wesleyan School
Chris Cleveland, an Atlanta native, has been at Wesleyan School since 2002, first serving as the middle school principal. He became the high school principal two years later and was named the assistant headmaster for advancement in 2010. In 2014, he became head of school.
What is your educational philosophy?
Children thrive in an environment where teachers challenge, support and love students. Education is best delivered in the context of relationships.
How is the field of education changing?
Schools are being asked with increasing frequency to provide services for which we were not designed, trained or staffed, and yet those support needs beyond traditional learning are critical to the overall health and wellness of our students.
What do you love most about your job?
I love our aspirational mission to be a Christian school of academic excellence and the incredible people I work with each day.
How can parents best contribute to the education process?
Make sure your child is at a school where he or she can flourish and become the
best version of who God created them to be, and then fully support the teachers, coaches, mentors and leaders who are making a direct impact on your child.
What advice would you offer parents about their children’s education?
Invest deeply in your child’s character. Place a higher value on who your child is than on his or her accomplishments. We need smart people who can work together to solve incredibly complex problems and men and women of character who will do what is right and lead.
WESLEYAN SCHOOL
Emphasis: Christian school of academic excellence; independent, non-denominational
Year Founded: 1963
Grades: K-12
Students: 1,173
Avg. Class Size: 15
Tuition Range: $18,560-$26,500
Accreditations or Affiliations: NAIS, SAIS, Cognia (formerly AdvanceEd or SACS), CESA
Location: 5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
Contact: 770-448-7640, wesleyanschool.org
REGION 1
ATLANTA
NEIGHBORHOODS OF NOTE
Marietta Beautiful parks, charming streets, 19th-century Victorian homes and historic sites make Marietta a desirable place to call home. Residents enjoy the vibrant downtown square, with its many restaurants, antique shops and happenings.
Woodstock Located in Cherokee County, Woodstock is, as locals say, “where modern amenities meet old Southern charm.” Historic Olde Towne pays a continual tribute to Woodstock’s pioneers through vintage shops and good old-fashioned Southern hospitality.
BUCKHEAD
CHASTAIN PARK • CRABAPPLE
HOLLY SPRINGS
ROSWELL
REGION
ATLANTA NORTH • NORTHEAST
Independent Schools
NEIGHBORHOODS OF NOTE
Alpharetta Offering exceptional shopping, entertainment and dining, Alpharetta also boasts many awardwinning parks and numerous housing options.The city is also home to a 12,000-seat outdoor concert venue, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.
Chamblee This DeKalb County suburb attracts diverse residents, thanks to its International Village, a 394-acre neighborhood that is home to people representing more than 30 countries. Chamblee’s Antique Row is the South’s largest antiques area.
Serving children in grades Kindergarten to High School with language, learning and social challenges.
Call for a private tour!!!
Certified masters-level teachers deliver a regular-education curriculum combining:
• Georgia Standards and National Core
• Differentiated Instruction
• PE, Art, Foreign Language, Theatre and Culinary Arts
• Technology in every classroom
Rolling Admissions. Fully Accredited GAC! 2022-2023
DULUTH • DUNWOODY
JOHNS CREEK
JOHNS CREEK • PEACHTREE CORNERS
Independent Schools
NEIGHBORHOODS OF NOTE
Decatur A great mix of history and modernity, Decatur is home to more than 200 shops, restaurants, galleries and performance venues located along tree-lined streets. Events take place throughout the year at the city’s historic downtown square.
Stone Mountain With a revitalized downtown and a variety of family oriented activities, Stone Mountain has much to offer. The city’s four city parks, as well as Stone Mountain Park, make this one of the cleanest and “greenest” areas in Metro Atlanta.
ATLANTA EAST
EAST
BROOKHAVEN • DACULA
ATLANTA SOUTH
Independent Schools
NEIGHBORHOODS OF NOTE
East Point The up-and-coming East Point area combines the charm of a small town with conveniences of a big city. Residents enjoy the city’s prime location near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, MARTA and Downtown Atlanta.
Fairburn Less than half an hour from Atlanta, Fairburn is filled with historic buildings and boasts a peaceful, smalltown atmosphere. The city is home to the annual Georgia Renaissance Festival and the local campus of Georgia Military College.
LOCUST GROVE •
SHARPSBURG/PEACHTREE
ATLANTA WEST
Independent Schools
FULTON
NEIGHBORHOODS OF NOTE
Acworth Just 35 miles northwest of Atlanta, Acworth is convenient to the city while offering its own unique smalltown appeal. Its historic downtown is a charming mixture of past and present. Surrounded by Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona, this thriving city is a popular destination for fishing, boating and many other recreational activities.
Douglasville A quick trip west of Atlanta on I-20, Douglasville has easy access to all that Atlanta offers—including Six Flags, 10 minutes away—but plenty of its own charm, too. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Downtown Douglasville’s historic district is an outstanding example of a turn-ofthe-century southern railroad town.
SMYRNA • KENNESAW
There are many benefits of a boarding school education. Boarding schools are an option for students seeking a more independent learning 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 Schools
FLORIDA
NORTH CAROLINA •
NORTH CAROLINA
TENNESSEE
TENNESSEE
THE BROOK HILL SCHOOL
Bullard, TX
As one of the leading Christ-centered, college preparatory boarding schools in the USA, Brook Hill’s goal is that every student who walks the halls will become a better learner, leader, listener, problem-solver and friend. Students are given the opportunity to excel academically, mature spiritually and engage globally. Brook Hill's hope is that all students will graduate knowing their full potential and walk into the world as confident men and women of Christ-like character.
Brook Hill is a Christian day and boarding school in Texas, about 90 minutes east of Dallas and three hours north of Houston. The school has over 750 students in grades PK-12 with 120 boarding students in grades 8-12. Students come from 30 different countries and 12 different states. Brook Hill has been nationally recognized as one of the “best Christian
boarding schools in America.”
At Brook Hill, students discover their potential through athletics and the arts while receiving a world-class, collegepreparatory education through its handson Business Lab, on-campus American Freedom Museum, interactive robotics and fabrication lab and engaging Socratic teaching method. For more information, visit brookhill.org or call 903-894-5000.
ADMIRAL FARRAGUT ACADEMY
St. Petersburg, FL
Admiral Farragut Academy provides a collegepreparatory environment that promotes academic excellence, leadership skills and social development within a diverse global community of young men and women. Its graduates enjoy 100 percent college acceptance and succeed in college as organized, accountable, self-disciplined and respectful young men and women.
Farragut is situated on the waterfront in one of the most picturesque places you will ever find. St. Pete Beach which is minutes away
SALEM ACADEMY
Winston-Salem, NC
A day and boarding school for girls in grades 9 through 12, Salem Academy is located on a beautiful and safe campus with Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Salem Academy’s rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, individualized support and nurturing community leads to lifelong success. It is the nation’s only all-girls, boarding and day high school located on a college campus with a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) focus.
In addition to the emphasis on STEAM, Salem Academy offers a college-exploratory curriculum including the opportunity for students to attend Salem College classes beginning in 11th grade. Students may earn up to 40 college credits and AP credits as well as undertake individualized study to pursue their passions. Students participate in high school sports as well as clubs including robotics,
by car or bicycle is routinely ranked by travel magazines and websites as one of the top vacation spots in the United States.
The academy accepts local day students entering kindergarten-12th grade and boarding students entering 8th-12th grade or their postgraduate year. In addition to the traditional K-12 curriculum, Farragut students have the following opportunities:
· Earn their AP Capstone Diploma
· Learn multiple languages: Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and sign language
· Take aviation courses and earn a private pilot license
· Hands-on marine science at the campus’ waterfront
· Earn up to four SCUBA certifications
· Make robots come to life in engineering classes and clubs
For more information, visit farragut.org or call 727-384-5500.
Model UN and debate programs. Salem Academy is focused on developing the entire person with an emphasis on student wellness. Leadership development is cultivated with specialized programs designed for each grade level. Recognizing that today’s world is a truly international environment, the academy works toward ensuring students develop global perspectives. For more information, visit salemacademy.com or call 336-721-2643.
SPOTLIGHT ON METRO ATLANTA’S SCHOOL SYSTEMS
Avariety 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 academic 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 Department of Education, call 404-656-2800 or visit gadoe.org. u
CHARTER SCHOOLS
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Board of Education 770-426-3300 cobbk12.org
COWETA
Board of Education
770-254-2800 cowetaschools.net
DEKALB
Board of Education
678-676-1200 dekalbschoolsga.org
Number of Schools
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 509 (M) 515
5th: (ELA) 518 (M) 510
8th: (ELA) 517 (M) 513
2021 Average SAT: 1150
Top 5 Schools by Average
2021 SAT Score
Walton High School 1275
Wheeler High School 1233
1 Total # of Students: 111,043
Alan C. Pope High School 1205
Lassiter High School 1176
Sprayberry High School 1104
What’s New: The Cobb Schools 2021 SAT results show an average test score of 1150 out of 1600 points, 43 points above 2020.
of Schools
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 513 (M) 522
5th: (ELA) 517 (M) 510
8th: (ELA) 515 (M) 501
2021 Average SAT: 1110
Top 3 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score
Northgate High 1129
Newnan High 1112
Total # of Students: 22,212 Student Spending: $9,600
East Coweta High 1095
What’s New: Empower Virtual Learning Program is Coweta County’s stand-alone, year-long online educational option for grades K-8, utilizing all Coweta and state curriculum and grade-level standards.
Number of Schools
69
17
19
5
3 Centers, Special Education and Alternative 24
Total # of Students: 95,715 Student Spending: $12,399
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 476 (M) 487
5th: (ELA) 492 (M) 474
8th: (ELA) 495 (M) 482
2021 Average SAT: 1037
Top 5 Schools by Average
2021 SAT Score
DeKalb Early College Academy 1249
Chamblee Charter High 1208
DeKalb School of the Arts 1203
Lakeside High 1189
Dunwoody High 1182
What’s New: DeKalb County School District offers free weekly COVID-19 testing for students and staff. The test will help detect, trace and isolate COVID-19-positive individuals, and is intended to help lower the risk of transmission of the virus.
DOUGLAS
Board of Education
770-651-2000 dcssga.org
Board of Education
770-460-3990
fcboe.org
FORSYTH
Board of Education
770-887-2461
forsyth.k12.ga.us
Total # of Students: 26,382
Student Spending: $9,779
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 490 (M) 499
5th: (ELA) 508 (M) 494
8th: (ELA) 510 (M) 493
2021 Average SAT: 1036
Top 5 Schools by Average
2021 SAT Score
Douglas County High 1070
Chapel Hill High 1061
Alexander High 1044
New Manchester High 971
Lithia Springs High 960
What’s New: South Douglas Elementary School students have started an on-campus garden club that will serve as an outdoor classroom to enhance their daily lessons. Members from each grade will improve and enlarge the existing garden area.
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 531 (M) 536
5th: (ELA) 532 (M) 530
8th: (ELA) 544 (M) 540
2021 Average SAT: 1152
Top 5 Schools by Average
Total # of Students: 20,162 Student Spending: $10,999
2021 SAT Score
McIntosh High 1226
Starr’s Mill High 1156
Whitewater High 1152
Sandy Creek High 1066
Fayette County High 1042
What’s New: Interrelated teacher Victoria Saxon has implemented her Coaching Through Coding initiative at Peeples Elementary School, focused on problem solving.
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 537 (M) 552
5th: (ELA) 542 (M) 558
8th: (ELA) 539 (M) 534
2021 Average SAT: 1193
Top 5 Schools by Average
2021 SAT Score
Total
Lambert High 1251
South Forsyth High 1241
Alliance Academy 1226
Denmark High 1205
Forsyth Central 1152
What’s New: U.S. News and World Report has included five Forsyth County high schools on its annual list of 2021 Best High Schools. Lambert came in at 261, South Forsyth at 399, West Forsyth at 1,164, Forsyth Central at 1,670 and North Forsyth at 2,712. Denmark and Alliance were too new to be eligible.
PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTY GUIDE
Board of Education 470-254-3600 fultonschools.org
GRIFFINSPALDING
Number of Schools
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 527 (M) 535
5th: (ELA) 530 (M) 526
8th: (ELA) 521 (M) 519
2021 Average SAT: 1128
Board of Education 770-229-3700 spalding.k12.ga.us
GWINNETT
Total # of Students: 91,716
Student Spending: $11,408
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score
Northview High 1301
Alpharetta High 1265
Chattahoochee High 1249
Johns Creek High 1241
Milton High 1201
What’s New: Mountain Park Elementary School offers the only elementary construction program in the state of Georgia. All students in second through fifth grade gain hands-on experience in a weekly class that teaches them to use a variety of items.
Number of Schools
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 458 (M) 479
5th: (ELA) 480 (M) 470
8th: (ELA) 488 (M) 474
2021 Average
Total
983
Top 2 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Spalding High 1040 Griffin High 931
What’s New: At the age of 81, former New York City Deputy Mayor Haskell Ward presented Griffin-Spalding County Schools Superintendent Keith Simmons with a gift of $25,000 to create a scholarship fund to benefit the students of Moore Elementary School. Having attended Moore as a child, Ward attributes much of his life’s success to the positive influence of his teachers there.
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 511 (M) 520
5th: (ELA) 518 (M) 514
8th: (ELA) 509 (M) 504
2021 Average SAT: 1132
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score
Gwinnett School of Math, Science, and Technology 1378 North Gwinnett High 1210
Board of Education
678-301-6000 gcpsk12.org
Total
Peachtree Ridge High 1155
Brookwood High 1152
Parkview High 1142
What’s New: Brookwood High School’s Mirela Kimbrough has received the 2021 German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award from the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG).
Board of Education
770-534-1080 hallco.org
HENRY
Board of Education
770-957-6601
schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us
PAULDING
Total # of Students:
26,720
Student Spending:
$9,974
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 492 (M) 507
5th: (ELA) 504 (M) 497
8th: (ELA) 499 (M) 501
2021 Average SAT: 1086
Top 5 Schools by Average
2021 SAT Score
Flowery Branch High 1123
Chestatee High 1121
North Hall High 1116
Johnson High 1087
East Hall High 1042
What’s New: Hall County School District has launched its Virtual Program of Choice learning option. Students in grades 3 through 12 can apply, including homeschooled students.
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 489 (M) 501
5th: (ELA) 502 (M) 490
8th: (ELA) 511 (M) 496
2021 Average SAT: 1029
Top 5 Schools by Average
2021 SAT Score
Total # of Students: 42,611
Student Spending: $9,374
Union Grove High 1097
Ola High 1086
Eagles Landing High 1053
Dutchtown High 1033
Locust Grove High 1027
What’s New: Fourteen regular classrooms and two science labs will be added to Dutchtown High School, along with associated workrooms, offices and restrooms.
PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTY GUIDE
Board of Education
770-443-8000
paulding.k12.ga.us
Total # of Students:
Student
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 512 (M) 522
5th: (ELA) 513 (M) 514
8th: (ELA) 520 (M) 509
2021 Average SAT: 1053
Top 5 Schools by Average
2021 SAT Score
Paulding County High 1078
North Paulding High 1077
East Paulding High 1034
Hiram High 1030
South Paulding High 1024
What’s New: Two East Paulding Middle School 7th-graders are being recognized for their heroic actions in a crisis situation. Their bus driver experienced a medical emergency en route to school and pulled off the road but couldn’t communicate. Kane Daugherty contacted the dispatcher and coordinated an emergency response while Conner Doss helped calm and organize the other children.
HALL
PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTY GUIDE
ROCKDALE
ROCKDALE
Board of Education
770-483-4713
rockdaleschools.org
ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BUFORD CITY SCHOOLS
Number of Schools
11
4
3
1 Career Academy 1 Magnet 1 Open Campus 1 Virtual School 2
Total # of Students: 16,104
Student Spending: $10,640
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 481 (M) 486
5th: (ELA) 494 (M) 471
8th: (ELA) 509 (M) 482
2021 Average SAT: 1057
Top 3 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score
Rockdale High 1106
Heritage High 1019
Salem High 998
What’s New: Rockdale County Public Schools has been awarded about $5 million in the third round of the Georgia Department of Education’s Literacy for Learning, Living and Leading in Georgia (L4GA) grant.
Board of Education
atlantapublicschools.us
Total # of Students: 50,954
Student Spending: $16,269
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 490 (M) 497
5th: (ELA) 500 (M) 488
8th: (ELA) 502 (M) 489
2021 Average SAT: 927
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Midtown High 1082 Atlanta Classical Academy 1068 KIPP Atlanta Collegiate Academy 1034 North Atlanta High 1021 Charles R. Drew Charter High 946
What’s New: In tribute to the late Atlanta Braves baseball legend Hank Aaron, Atlanta Public Schools has renamed Forrest Hill Academy as the Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron New Beginnings Academy. Aaron is known for breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record and for the impact he made as a humanitarian.
Board of Education
770-945-5035 bufordcityschools.org
Number of Schools
Elementary (K-1) 1 1st-3rd Grade Academy 1 4th-5th Grade Academy 1 Middle 1 High 1
Total # of Students: 5,155
Student Spending: $11,050
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 543 (M) 556
5th: (ELA) 531 (M) 536
8th: (ELA) 554 (M) 558
2021 Average SAT: 1162
What’s New: For the seventh consecutive year, Buford City Schools was named the best public school district in Georgia, according to Niche’s annual report. Niche examines information from the U.S. Department of Education.
CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR
Board of Education
404-371-3601
csdecatur.net
Total # of Students: 5,695
Student Spending: $12,874
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 550 (M) 550
5th: (ELA) 547 (M) 543
8th: (ELA) 547 (M) 530
2021 Average SAT: 1227
What’s New: Maggie Fehrman, City Schools of Decatur’s superintendent, has organized a Superintendent Advisory Team as a way of giving a voice to the student body with regard to school decisions. Twenty-six Decatur High students and 14 eighth-graders from Renfroe Middle School make up the team.
GAINESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS
Board of Education
770-536-5275
gcssk12.net
of Schools
Total # of Students:
7,780
Student Spending: $9,716
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 470 (M) 500
5th: (ELA) 494 (M) 495
8th: (ELA) 496 (M) 494
2021 Average SAT: 1055
What’s New: Gainesville City Schools continues progress on three new additions. The Gainesville Middle School West Campus, including a full football field and field house, and Gainesville High School’s three-story Student Activities Center are both set to open next fall. The third addition, a cafeteria and media center building at Gainesville High School, should be completed by January.
MARIETTA CITY SCHOOLS
Board of Education
770-422-3500
marietta-city.org
Total # of Students:
8,716
Student Spending:
$12,455
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores:
3rd: (ELA) 503 (M) 517
5th: (ELA) 517 (M) 512
8th: (ELA) 507 (M) 509
2021 Average SAT: 1073
What’s New: Marietta City Schools recently hosted its firstever Adapted Games, providing a day of non-competitive activities for students with intellectual disabilities. More than 100 participants rotated through stations like the 100-yard dash, shot put, javelin, bowling and more. Each challenge was adapted by the MCS staff to be more inclusive, as well as fun and educational. The district intends for the games to become an annual event.
PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTY GUIDE
FIELD
FIELD TRIPS & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER
Atlanta History Center offers multidisciplinary and interactive guided tours for students of all ages that are educational and fun. Tours are designed to match the state social studies requirements and cover five subjects for grade levels ranging from K-5 to 12th grade.
Cyclorama and the Case of America’s Changing History is Atlanta History Center’s latest tour that explores the history of the Civil War from the perspective of one of Georgia’s most fascinating artifacts, The Battle of Atlanta: Cyclorama.
Other subjects include Fight for Your Rights, The Price of Freedom, Georgia Farm Life and We are Still Here. The Fight for Your Rights tour explores the Civil Rights Era and connects it to social movements throughout time. Students will contemplate whether the Civil War was worth the cost to the nation through historical simulations and performances in The Price of Freedom virtual tour. We are Still Here sheds light on the history of the Cherokee people and their contemporary culture. Georgia Farm Life allows students to learn about the lives of enslaved peoples through historic buildings, tactile experiences and exciting encounters with museum interpreters.
The tours are open to all students including those who attend school in person, homeschool families and remote learning pods. Students are given the opportunity to handle historic objects from Atlanta History Center’s collection in addition to touring award-winning exhibitions, historic houses and gardens.
For the 2021–22 school year, Atlanta History Center is offering free virtual and onsite school tours to Title I schools as well as a virtual tour and travel trunk combination discount to all schools.
The center’s educator aids and digital tools are designed to spark curiosity, support discussion and kick-start inquirybased learning. To learn more about these educational resources, visit atlantahistory center.com or call at 404-814-4000. The center is located at 130 W. Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta.
