Fall 2022SPECIAL SECTION: ATLANTA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIRECTORY p. 29 YOUR FAMILY’S SOURCE FOR TOP SCHOOLS, EDUCATION TRENDS & MORE 5 AD V E N T U RE S CLOS E TO H OME LAKEFRONT LIVING Where to Buy A Home On the Water How Georgia’s Schools Prepare Your Child for A Career Dealing with Bullies In Atlanta Schools C heck Out Atlanta’s Arts & Entertainment Guide p 16
Fall CONTENTS
Our annual look at Atlanta education includes how schools are preparing students for a career, what schools are doing to tackle the bully problem and more.
Atlanta Independent School Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Searching for local schools? Our list of some of Atlanta’s top independent schools will help you find the right educational environment for your child.
Located in Midtown, Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre is known for its eye-catching marquee and elaborate architecture. Delve deep into the history and culture of the theatre with one of three varied tours.
Neighborhood Spotlight 14
Unique Outdoor Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
DEPARTMENTS
Atlanta is the undisputed cultural capital of the Southeast, with worldclass music, museums, theater and more. Our guide is your ticket to the best of the city’s thriving arts scene.
Relocation Guide 43
Despite its status as an inland city, Atlanta’s lakefront communities offer luxurious amenities and relaxed lifestyles for those looking for a home on the water.
A livable scale, forward-thinking development and a young outlook make the city of Lilburn in Gwinnett County one of the metro area’s most appealing communities.
2022
Special Advertising Section:
A guide to help you find your way before, during and after your move, including county information, neighborhoods, relocation tips and more.
From whitewater rafting in the Smoky Mountains to hiking in the Okefenokee, these outdoor escapes are just a short drive from Atlanta. 40 21 16
Hidden Atlanta 50
Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Get caught up on the best exhibitions, theatrical productions, special events and live music across the metro area.
The inside scoop on news, events and happenings around Atlanta. Homes and Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
In Focus 8
4 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com FEATURES ™ Arts & Entertainment Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
PHOTO: Jeremy Daniel
Newcomer’s 2022 Annual Education Guide . . . . . . 21
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Everett Catts marketing & promotions Jeff Thompson contributing writers Larry Anderson, Anna Bentley, Michelle Bourg, Susan Flowers, Tony Jenkins, Laura Raines director of sales & marketing Patrick pkillam@killampublishing.comKillam account director Lacey advertising@killampublishing.comJames
We wish to thank all the people who made this publication possible through their valuable time and dedication. Many thanks to our advertisers for their support of Newcomer magazine. publisher/president Patrick pkillam@killampublishing.comKillam
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Newcomer magazine, Fall 2022, Volume 26, Issue 3. Submissions, photography or ideas may be sent to Killam Publishing, Inc., 200 Market Place, Suite 230, Roswell, GA 30075. Submissions will not be returned unless otherwise requested and accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Newcomer magazine reserves the right to revise submissions as necessary. Reproduction in whole or in part of any elements of this publication are strictly prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. © 2022 Killam Publishing, Inc. For additional copies, further information, advertising or suggestions, please contact: KILLAM PUBLISHING, INC. P: 770-992-0273 • F: info@killampublishing.com844-706-1545 NewcomerAtlanta.com
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Get ready to fall in love with a timeless romance all over again as Pretty Woman: the Musical kicks off Regions Broadway in Atlanta’s 2022-23 season! Based on the romantic-comedy classic starring Julia Roberts, this touring production of the award-winning Broadway smash features an original score by Grammy Awardwinning pop idol Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. Upcoming productions include “Chicago,” “Hairspray,” “Moulin Rouge” and “Wicked,” among other hit shows. “Pretty Woman” runs Sept. 13-18 at the Fox Theatre. atlanta.broadway.com.
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Two Modern-Day Classics
If your kids can’t get enough of Nickelodeon’s “PAW Patrol,” Children’s Museum of Atlanta has the perfect exhibit for you! PAW Patrol: Adventure Play allows kids to assist the heroic search-and-rescue pups as they learn how to use their different skills to problem-solve and overcome challenges. This hands-on, immersive exhibit begins on Sept. 24 and runs through Jan. 8. For more information, call 404-659-5437 or visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.
WONDERS inFOCUS
NEWS BITES FROM AROUND ATLANTA
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Mickey and Minnie Mouse are your hosts on a journey through two of the most popular movies of the 21st century in Disney on Ice: Frozen and Encanto. Join Anna as she races to find Elsa and end the eternal winter, and delight in the magic of family with Mirabel, Isabela, Luisa and the rest of the Madrigals in this spectacular production filled with in credible music and dazzling ice skating. Sept. 21-25 at State Farm Arena. 800-745-3000, statefarmarena.com.
LITTLE SHOP OF Shopping for clothes and toys for young chil dren often feels like a chore as you search for hours for that perfect item. Well, not anymore! Piggy Jo’s, a charming toy and clothing store in Buford, offers a curated selection of the best toys and clothing, with such brands as Magnolia Baby, Apple Park, The Beaufort Bonnet Compa ny and many more! The shop also offers familyfriendly events such as story time, game nights and make-and-take activities. For more infor mation, call 706-983-2871 or visit piggyjos.com
Doggone Great
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There’s no easier way to get into the Halloween spirit than at Scare crows in the Garden. The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual fall event runs throughout October, featuring up to 100 scarecrows created by artists, designers, schools, business and families at both the Midtown Atlanta and Gainesville locations. There’s also Goblins in the Garden for the kids on Oct. 23 and the Great Pumpkin-Carving Contest on Oct. 27. For more information, visit atlantabg.org. Celebration
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A Spooky
CHESTATEE GOLF CLUB
With a private marina, boat ramp and 160 covered and uncovered slips, Chestatee makes it easy to get away for a day of boating or fishing. For relaxing at the water’s edge, there’s a pavil ion and picnic area with a stone fireplace. The lake also provides a gorgeous backdrop to the three miles of hiking trails and the award-win ning par-71 championship golf course designed by Denis Chestatee’sGriffiths.550 acres are home to a wealth of other recreation options, including two pools, a children’s play area, a half basketball court, lighted tennis courts, croquet facilities and the Nightfire lodge with a kitchen for social gather ings. There’s also the Heron Grille restaurant for dinner and drinks. Of course, Chestatee’s recreational experience is matched by its homes. Residents can retreat to spacious Craftsman-style residences styled on historic architecture that evoke the feel of a quaint Southern town—complete with commu nity square and bandstand. Prices range from the $400,000s to $1 million and up; typical home features include 10-foot ceilings, bonus
Located an hour from Atlanta, Lake Lanier is “Atlanta’s Great Lake” and a premier recreation destination, with 59 square miles of water for boating, fishing and other watersports. Hugging 2.5 miles of shoreline on the lake’s northwest side, Chestatee Golf Club combines luxurious top-tier amenities with small-town style. “Homes inspired by turn-of-the-century ar chitectural styles found in the South and along the East Coast,” according to Chestatee Realty’s website. “These make for streetscapes unlike anything else in Georgia. As a result, lanes, sidewalks and landscaped common areas only encourage the hospitality you feel in this quaint Southern village.”
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND WATERFRONT AMENITIES
MichelleBy Bourg
Metro Atlanta’s Lake Lanier offers waterfront communities.
It’s an inescapable fact: Atlanta is a landlocked city. No oceanfront beaches, no breaking waves. But while it’s true that we’re not on the coast, this doesn’t mean you’re limited to a landlocked lifestyle. The Atlanta area is blessed with many beautiful lakes, accessible to the city and offering the pleasures of boating, fishing and swimming with beautiful scenery as a bonus. There are plenty of communities to choose from that let residents take advantage of lakefront living, with extra amenities that offer an appealing combination to prospec tive homebuyers. The following developments offer the opportunity to get your feet wet right outside your front door.
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HOMES & COMMUNITIES
newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 11 rooms, gourmet kitchens with double ovens and covered porches or decks. New construc tion is underway in several neighborhoods, and prime lots are available at prices from around $50,000 to $300,000. Away from it all yet accessible, Chestatee is just off GA 400 and 20 minutes from Alpharetta and north suburban businesses. Close to home, there’s shopping at the famous North Georgia Premium Outlets and the breathtaking beauty of Amicalola Falls State Park. 777 Dogwood Way, Dawsonville, GA. 706-216-7336, chestatee.net
BIG CANOE In Atlanta, the name Big Canoe is synony mous with luxurious outdoor living. An hour’s drive north of the city in the town of Jasper, this private gated community covers 8,000 square acres of heavily wooded foothills in the north Georgia mountains. Big Canoe has been Chestatee’s 550 acres are home to a wealth of other recreation options, including two pools, a children’s play area, a half basketball court, lighted tennis courts, croquet facilities and the Nightfire lodge with a kitchen for social gatherings.
recognized by the National Association of Home Builders with “The Nationals” Silver Award as Master Planned Community of the Year and by the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders’ Association with an OBIE award as Community of the YearMaster Plan. Big Canoe offers more than 20 miles of hik ing trails, a fitness center, three pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and a 27-hole champion ship golf course. But the sparkling jewels in its crown are its lakes: the 111-acre Lake Petit, the tranquil Lake Sconti and Lake Disharoon with its sandy beach. Petit and Sconti are an angler’s dream with plentiful trout, bass, bluegill, Chestatee Golf Club’s homes are connected by a tree-lined,walkway.well-lit
A private marina and boat ramplocated at Chestatee Golf Club.
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crappie and brim, while Disharoon is the place for recreation and swimming. The community has a wide range of available prop erty types, from wooded inland lots with access to the golf course, trails or greenspace to waterfront access. Lots range from $40,000 to $300,000 and up. Home styles follow set architectural guidelines authentic to the region; residents can use the in-house design center to create their dream home with Big Canoe Building Group or use an approved builder. New home prices range from $400,000 to $3 million and up. Big Canoe Building Group is a member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GAHBA), a State Certified Earth Craft Builder and National Association of Home builders (NAHB) Certified Green Professionals. Sound intriguing? A great way for prospective buyers to get to know Big Canoe is the Discovery Package, which includes a three-day, two-night stay in a luxury mountain home, a $50 dining voucher for the Sconti Clubhouse, an 18-hole round of golf per couple (or two-hour pickleball/tennis reservation), a two-hour pontoon boat cruise on Lake Petit and a private tour of the community. 54 Wolfscratch Village Jasper, GA. 770-893-2733, bigcanoe.com lake cottage at Big Canoe
HOMES & COMMUNITIES
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Canoe Club homebuyers choose from 11 different plans designed by Georgia’s pre mier builders. All homes are set on expan sive one-acre lots and filled with details that truly set them apart: smart home prewiring, elaborate moldings throughout, ceramic tile surrounds in baths and kitchens, and spacious floor plans with media rooms and large covered porches that make gracious indoor-outdoor living a reality. Homes are priced from the mid-$500s to the $900s. 110 Reflections Point, Fayetteville, GA. 770-843-1390, thecanoeclub. newhomesdivisionga.com
Canoe Club’s 600 landscaped acres are surrounded by lush woodland reflected in the waters of the community’s two lakes, Lake Menawa and Lake Senoya. Overlooking the lakes is a 5,500-square-foot clubhouse with an extensive fitness center and a gathering area with catering kitchen and coffee bar. Adjacent is a community lawn perfect for neighborhood get-togethers or games of badminton. There are also a four-lane lap pool, four lighted tennis courts and canoe storage. All these benefits helped make Canoe Club Fayette’s top-selling community for two years in a row. Known for a welcoming atmosphere and relaxed pace, the surrounding area show cases golf, shopping at Fayette Pavilion or the Avenue at Peachtree City and concerts at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater. Awardwinning schools, Hartsfield-Jackson Interna tional Airport, Trilith Studios and the Porsche Cars North American headquarters are all just minutes away.
Not all of metro Atlanta’s waterfront properties are on the north side. Just 40 minutes south of the city in Fayetteville, Canoe Club offers lakeside living with plenty of amenities in an area that is truly “up and coming.”
CANOE CLUB
So if you’re dreaming of a life on the water, Atlanta has much to offer. By choosing a home in a lakefront community, you can get that vacation feeling every day.
THE INSIDE TRACK: A devastating fire in 1920 and the Great Depression in 1929 wreaked such econom ic damage that the city government ceased to exist and was only reinstated in 1955.
Old Town Lilburn Camp Creek Greenway Lilburn Sparkle in the Park Housing Lilburn has a variety of housing options for both young professionals and families. New town homes at Old Town Lilburn (678-333-7648) start in the low $400,000s and offer plans of three and four bedrooms with two-car garages and outdoor spaces. At Townes at Greenleaf (770-330-5978), townhomes start in the low $400,000s and include three bedrooms and twocar garages. The Preserve at Killian Hill (404379-9335) offers three-bedroom townhomes with two-car garages starting at $375,000.
Lilburn f you’re looking for a community that combines big-city amenities with small-town charm, look to Lilburn. This community of 15,000 located about 25 miles northeast of Atlanta in Gwinnett County offers quality affordable housing, excellent schools, and recreation, with easy access to the metro area via Interstates 85 and 285 and Ronald Reagan Parkway. Lilburn is home to a mix of longtime residents and younger families with diverse backgrounds. With a median age of 36.2, its young outlook is reflected in the city’s forward-looking development. In 2013, Money magazine ranked Lilburn fifth on its list of Best Affordable Places to Live in America.
Culinary Treats The 1910 Public House (770-564-6911) offers craft beer flights and specialties includ ing roasted cauliflower steak and blackened Mississippi catfish. The elegant sesame-crusted tuna tataki or the Steak Diane at Three Blind Mice (770-696-4139) are perfect for an elegant evening. Bambinelli’s (770-717-7217) and Izzy’s NY Pizza (770-279-2943) serve up Italian favorites. Local Treasures Old Town, with its shady streets and brick buildings, is a picturesque place to browse the Antiques in Old Town shop and check out the Hope Springs Distillery. Adjacent is Lilburn City Park (770-921-2210), with tennis courts, a playground and a 160-seat pavilion. It also links to the Camp Creek Greenway, a four-mile pathway offering bike rentals, a wildlife habitat and picnic areas. Numerous other parks, aquatic centers and athletic fields are nearby. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (678-906-2277) is one of the largest Hindu temples of its kind in the world outside of India. By Michelle Bourg I
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Arts and Entertainment Music on Main Street (770-609-6393) in Old Town hosts a monthly coffee house concert series and an outdoor summer weekend con cert series, showcasing local and national acts. CX, the Creative Space at The Apothecary, in partnership with the Citizen Exchange art group (770-559-8434), regularly hosts com munity art events. The annual Lilburn Daze Arts and Crafts Festival (678-541-8103), held Oct. 8, features local artisans as well as live music, food vendors and children’s activi ties plus free admission and parking/shuttles.
SPOTLIGHT neighborhood Bambinelli’s FerrisRichardleft)far(middleBach;Steve(left)PHOTO:
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Welcome to Atlanta! You’ve chosen a city that has it all: charming neigh borhoods, quality schools, recreation options galore, exciting attractions and top-notch dining. In addition, it’s one of the nation’s leading centers of the arts, hosting the best of Broadway, a world-class symphony, a plethora of museums and galleries, rowdy standup comedy and much, much more. Our guide to the city’s arts and entertainment world is your backstage pass to something that will excite and inspire everyone in your family.
The best of Broadway comes to the Southeast every year with the Regions Broadway in Atlanta series. This season, the curtain goes up on “Pretty Woman,” “Chicago,” “Anastasia,” “Hadestown,” “Riverdance” and “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” among others. broadwayinatlanta.com
YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST OF ATLANTA’S CULTURAL SCENE
The center’s 2022-23 season will include “Contemporary Spotlight on Raymond Carr,” the holiday favorite “Rudolph The Red-Nosed
One of the country’s premier dance companies, the Atlanta Ballet has brought the power and joy of dance to Atlanta for 93 years now. Its 2022-23 season will include “Balanchine Inspired,” the holiday classic “The Nutcracker,” “Midwinter Dreams,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Don Quixote” and “Significant Others.” atlantaballet.com
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Now in its 27th season, this Lawrenceville institu tion is the fastest-growing professional theater in the state, staging Broadway hits, contemporary theater, children’s programs and metro Atlanta’s only professional Spanish-language theatre, Teatro Aurora. Highlights for its upcoming season include “Mary Poppins,” “Kim’s Convenience,” “Summer: The Donna Summer Special” and the holiday favorite “Christmas Canteen.” auroratheatre.com
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Founded in 1979, this acclaimed company presents both fresh imaginings of the classics and new works for a modern audience. For its 2022-23 season, it will stage “Bluebeard’s Castle,” “The Snowy Day,” “Madama Butterfly,” “Don Giovanni,” “Candide” and “Das Rheingold.” atlantaopera.org
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Georgia Tech Arts encompasses every aspect of the arts at Georgia Tech; the performance aspect includes both student and professional produc
The Tony Award-winning Alliance continues to bring classic and groundbreaking plays to the Woodruff Arts Center. The 2022-23 productions include the Coca-Cola Stage Series’ “Everybody,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Hot Wing King” and “Water for Elephants.” The Family Series will include “The Incredible Book Eating Boy,” “Roob and Noob” and “The Boy Who Kissed the Sky,” and the Alliance also has a series of plays for very young children. alliancetheatre.org GEORGIA TECH ARTS A T D
LEGEND: ADULTS: A T DATE NIGHT: D tions of music, theater, dance and comedy. The program’s home is the Ferst Center for the Arts, which seats nearly 1,000. The 2022-23 Georgia Tech Arts performance series showcases work created by artists from across the globe. arts.gatech.edu ATLANTA BALLET F A T D
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ARTS A D Emory University’s Schwartz Center fea tures an 800-seat concert hall that hosts eclectic music, dance and theater performances. This year’s series includes Music by Copland House featuring Susan Graham, Urban Bush Women: Legacy + Lineage + Liberation and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. arts.emory.edu
Shakespeare Tavern presents Shakespeare and other classics, mounted as closely as possible to the versions in which they were originally pre sented. Café-style food and drinks are available before each performance. Upcoming produc tions include “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Macbeth,” “The Tempest” and Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” shakespearetavern.com
GEORGIA BALLET F A T D
This influential gallery spotlights important local, national and international contempo rary artists in addition to commissioning new works. The center hosts lectures and events throughout the year, including the Contempo rary Cocktails series and Contemporary Kids, a free interactive program that introduces chil dren to art and artists. atlantacontemporary.org
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University in Morrow is a great setting for live jazz and classical music. The upcoming season includes performances by the Georgia Musicale Group, violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Peter Dugan, Europa Galante with violinist Fabio Biondi and Wycliffe Gordon and the Interna tional All-Stars. spiveyhall.org
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This Midtown landmark, a former 1920s movie palace known for its Moorish and Egyptian architecture, hosts performances in old-school grandeur. Daily tours showcase the venue’s history and must-see details – from Mighty Mo, the world’s largest working Moller theatre organ, to the lounges featuring the original furniture chosen by the wife of movie mogul William Fox, to the crystal “stars” twinkling overhead in the auditorium’s trompe l’oeil sky. foxtheatre.org
For its 63rd season, the Marietta-based Georgia Ballet presents “Peter Pan,” a holiday presenta tion of “The Nutcracker” and “Carmen Suite.”
Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, this 400-seat space on the campus of Clayton State
HIGH MUSEUM OF ART F A T D
At The School of the Georgia Ballet, the com pany offers classes in three divisions: Primary Ballet Division, Recreational Division and PreProfessional Ballet Division. georgiaballet.org
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This 833-seat venue on the campus of Georgia State University is a premier venue for jazz, world music, theatre and dance. Among this season’s of ferings are Arturo Sandoval, the 25th Annual Gala Holiday Concert and “Our Town: The Opera.” rialto.gsu.edu
NEWMARIETTA’STHEATRE IN THE SQUARE
This landmark theatre presents established and new plays, comedy and films in Marietta’s his toric Square district. Productions include “Little Shop of Horrors, “The Gift of the Magi 2.0” and “Frozen Jr.” The Summer Film Camp and Sum mer Performing Arts Camp introduce young people to the world of theatre and film. theatreinthesquare.net
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The High is renowned for its notable archi tecture, its extensive collection and largescale exhibits by Warhol, Monet and others. Upcoming exhibits include “Stephen Burks: Shelter in Place,” “Deanna Lawson” and “Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern.” High Frequency Fridays, held the first Friday of each month, feature music by the city’s top DJs, food and drink, art creation opportunities and docent-led tours, while Second Sundays include free admission and family-friendly pro gramming. Summer art camps and monthly Toddler Thursdays let kids have fun discover ing their inner artist. high.org u Reindeer” and the world premiere of “Tesla vs. Edison.” The Worlds of Puppetry Museum has puppets from theatre, TV and film, while the Jim Henson Collection is home to the beloved Muppets. The center also offers kids’ workshops that will turn your child into a budding pup peteer. puppet.org
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Gwinnett County’s showcase for the visual arts, the center has presented exhibi tions by masters such as Picasso, Rauschen berg and Miro, as well as new and local artists. The Children’s Art Zone invites handon participation with big, bright exhibits that blend art, music and science. Classes and workshops are available for all ages, and the Passport Adventures in Art Summer Camp offers sessions throughout the season. thehudgens.org
THE HUDGENS CENTER FOR ART AND LEARNING F A T D
ATTRACTIONS&MUSEUMSSPECIAL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF ATLANTA F Atlanta’s premier museum designed expressly for children offers innovative programming that sparks imagination and inspires discov ery through play. The “Paw Patrol: Adventure Play” exhibit lets kids explore their unique talents, surmount challenges and help friends. childrensmuseumatlanta.org
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FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY F A T D Fernbank brings science to life. Here you can experience the prehistoric, view cultural artifacts and participate in hands-on sci ence. Take the adventure outside as you explore WildWoods and Fernbank Forest, and explore the amazing world in 2D and 3D at Fernbank’s Giant Screen Theater. On the second Friday of each month, Fernbank After Dark offers a changing variety of afterhours experiences, including exhibitions, live RoffmanJeffPHOTO: Children’sofMuseumAtlanta
This Buckhead gallery specializes in con temporary photography by leading national and international artists; past exhibits have showcased works by Elliot Erwitt, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Michael Kenna and many more. jacksonfineart.com
LIVING WALLS F A T Throughout Atlanta, this nonprofit has cu rated intentional, thought-provoking public art to drive social and economic change in the city’s urban spaces. Over 100 murals are scattered throughout the metro area from local, national and international artists. livingwallsatl.com
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A dream come true for kids, and fun for parents, too! Peek behind the scenes in the Lego factory, pick up building tips from the Master Builder Academy, ride a chariot at Kingdom Quest or become part of the story
Located in Marietta’s historic Brumby Hall, this museum is the only location known to display an original costume worn by Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara: the stunning silk bengaline gown worn in the honeymoon scene. Other items include Margaret Mitchell’s personal cop ies of the novel, items from the production of the film, and a display dedicated to the film’s African-American cast members. gwtwmarietta.com
Other season highlights include the regional premiere of “The Hot Wing King” (Feb. 10 –March 5), a fierce new comedy about the risks and rewards of celebrating who you are and winner of the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; and the world premiere musical, “Water for Elephants,” an adventure filled with romance, deception and a little bit of magic, all under the big top of a traveling circus and based on the critically acclaimed and best-selling novel by SaraFoundedGruen. in 1968, the Alliance Theatre is the leading producing theater in the Southeast, reaching more than 165,000 patrons annually. The Alliance has premiered more than 120 pro ductions including nine that have transferred to Broadway. In 2007, the Alliance received the Regional Theatre Tony Award for sustained excellence in programming, education and community engagement. Tickets and season membership packages are available now. The Alliance is located at 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. For more information, call 404-733-4600 or visit alliancetheatre.org
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the timeless family story “A Christmas Carol” (Nov. 12 – Dec. 24) for the second time with its elaborate new production design and staging, and the one-man show “Club Hertz: A Gift of Love with Adam L. McKnight” (Dec. 7 – 23) featuring original songs and holiday favorites.
The 54th Alliance Theatre season starts on The Coca-Cola Stage with the acclaimed play “Ev erybody” (Sept. 2 – Oct. 2). With “Everybody,” Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has created an irreverent, uproarious ride that asks BIG questions of all who see it. For the holidays, the Alliance will present SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
music, full bars, tapas menus, giant-screen films and all-new science demonstrations. fernbankmuseum.org
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GONE WITH THE WIND MUSEUM A T
Visitors to INK find a child-sized village designed for immersive, hands-on play. The younger crowd can choose roles to play in realworld situations, created on a small scale with authentic props and costumes that make the ex perience come to life. In addition, there are arts and crafts, play spaces, a music room and the Born Learning Trail for outside exploration. inkfun.org
Interactive Neighborhood For Kids
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Founded in 1995, Dad’s Garage is located in the historic Old Forth Ward neighborhood and is home to the best improv comedy Atlanta has to offer. Offering shows each weekend, it’s a great option for some latenight entertainment. dadsgarage.com
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| Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com20 at the 4D Cinema. Everyone will be intrigued by Miniland, a miniature Atlanta complete with tiny versions of the Fox Theatre, Stone Mountain and Centennial Olympic Park that even light up at night. legolanddiscov erycenter.com/atlanta
The colorful story of the railroad in Atlanta and North Georgia history is on display here at Georgia’s official transportation history museum. Lo cated in Duluth next to an active rail line, the 35-acre museum is home to historic railroad equipment, and many pieces are open for guests to climb aboard and explore. Buy a ticket to ride on a train made up of vintage cabooses or try a cab ride and join the engineer as he operates the train around the property. train-museum.org
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Atlanta’s only upscale comedy club and venue, this intimate club in Norcross brings the best in standup to the ’burbs, with an executive chef menu on Friday and Saturday nights and upcoming acts like Michael Rappaport and D.L. Hughley onstage. atlantacomedytheater.com
THE PUNCHLINE A D The Punchline, Atlanta’s longest running and continuously operated comedy club, opened in 1982 and has hosted legends including Eddie Murphy, Jeff Foxworthy and Jerry Seinfeld. punchline.com
This staple in Atlanta comedy is located inside Midtown’s edgy Vortex Bar and Grill has brought international touring comedians but still features open mic nights for local talent. Past acts include Emo Philips and Rachel Feinstein, and future acts include Jim Florentine. laughingskulllounge.com
22 Helping Students Prepare for a Career 26 How Schools are Tackling the Bully Problem 29 Atlanta Independent School Directory 38 Beyond the Basics Independent School Chart newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 21 Your Resource for Making Decisions About Your Children’s Education 2022 EDUCATION GUIDE
“This is addressed in several differ ent ways,” says Krista Parker, the Atlanta Girls’ School’s middle and upper school director. Beginning with their junior year, students at the school go through a threestep process that starts with meetings with the college counselor to determine what their interests are and the colleges that could match them.
Small school sizes also help advance the counseling process. At Pace Academy, for instance, preparations can begin as early as ninth and 10th grade, with infor mational meetings for parents and stu dents. And at the Atlanta Girls’ School, the college counseling process begins in 10th SCHOOLS HELP LEAD PATH TO A BRIGHT FUTURE
THE
CAREERFORSTUDENTSASTUDENTSFORACAREER
GUIDANCEINDIVIDUALIZEDPROVIDING
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For many high school students, deciding on a possible career can be a daunting decision. The options seem almost endless, and it can be hard to successfully translate in terests into viable career options. Luckily, Georgia’s public and independent schools are dedicated to helping students wade the sometimes-murky waters of career preparation. By implementing special programs, offering enriching co-curricular activities and developing personal connec tions with students, Georgia’s schools are committed to getting students on the path to a bright future.
One of the biggest advantages of independent schools is their smaller size, which allows counselors and advisors to make personal connections with students, helping to inform conver sations about possible careers, college majors and college selections.
By Anna Bentley
HOW
“Secondly, we require all of our stu dents to complete two 70-hour intern ships while enrolled at AGS. These internships help students to see what the ‘real world’ looks like and helps them to not only see what careers they may want to pursue but also which ones they don’t! Third and probably most impor tantly is our commitment to establishing partnerships with organizations outside of the classroom. We connect our students with professionals in the science and technology field as well as the business and finance community.”
Students can pick from more than 120 pathways in 17 clusters, including finance; IT; transportation, distribution and logistics; education and training; and agriculture, food and natural resources.
Students are encouraged to explore academic interests both inside and outside the classroom, by either doubling up on core classes like math, science or English or exploring interests through electives or co-curricular/extracurricular activities.
grade with small group meetings with college
At Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School, students get hands-on experi ence as they ponder future careers. Each student goes through a corporate work study program in which they work at local companies five days per month “to fund the majority of their education, gain job experience, grow in self-confidence and realize the relevance of their education,” according to its website.
At the Atlanta Girls’ School, weekly assemblies can host guest speakers ranging from lawyers to dog sled racers so students can learn more about careers they may or may not have considered.
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Providing individualized options for students is a priority in Georgia’s public schools, as well. The Georgia Department of Education (GDOE)’s Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program offers students specialized instruction in more than 120 subjects, letting them explore careers before gradu ation—and even earn technical certifica tions, in some cases. The DOE’s website (gadoe.org) has entire web pages devoted to this program. In this program, pathways are arranged in broad career clusters (for example, stu dents can follow a graphic design pathway in the arts, A/V technology and com munications cluster). Each pathway has its own sequence of three specialized courses, followed by an end-of-pathway assessment.
Similarly, “Pace Academy’s mission is to ‘create prepared, confident citizens of the world,’ which means that we offer academic, co-curricular and extracurricu lar programs that expose students to many areas of study and related professional opportunities,” says Caitlin Jones, Pace’s director of communications. “… For ex ample, upper school students interested in social innovation, global health or arts and urban life may choose to become involved in our Isdell Center for Global Leadership Fellows program, a two-year, co-curricu lar, team-based leadership program.”
OFFERING PROGRAMS FOR SUCCESS
Though students pick their pathways in eighth grade, the program starts early, with career awareness lessons beginning in the first grade. Later in middle school, students take a career development inventory to help drill down into careers that might inter est them before developing their personal graduation plan with input from their school counselor and parents.
“Middle-school students can learn about a variety of careers through exploratory courses, and CTAE has program of study documents available to assist students with mapping their course of study in high school and postsecondary enrollment,” says Meghan Frick, the GDOE’s director of communications. “These documents also assist with providing more information on careers associated with the Career Pathway the student is pursuing.” And if students want to get a jump start on their college education (and career), the state also allows them to dual enroll in both high school and college classes if they qualify. u
Studentsrepresentatives.areencouraged to explore academic interests both inside and outside the classroom, by either doubling up on core classes like math, science or English or exploring interests through electives or co-curricular/extracurricular activities.
Whether your child has a clear plan for what he or she wants to do, or is still struggling to figure it out, your involvement is crucial. Be involved in their education and maintain an open dialogue about their goals. Together with specialized school programs and guidance, strong parental support can help students set and achieve career goals that perfectly fit their skills and interests.
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WHAT PARENTS CAN DO
Several club offerings also connect students to profes sionals in the Atlanta community.” But, she added, “The path toward an eventual career, however, truly starts with the college counseling process.”
The path might seem clear for students who have solid ideas about their futures. But what about those who don’t know what they want to do?
Gaela Peters, school counselor and learning specialist at the Atlanta Girls’ School, says it has a weekly Education for the Development of Leadership and Service to expose students to different careers. The school also hosts annual special events where metro-area professionals speak about their industries.
Pace has similar programs in which it invites guest speakers and alumni to “discuss a variety of topics, with the goal of introducing students to global issues and a variety of career opportunities,” Jones says. “…
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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 conse quences for bullying,” Granger said. “There are consequences ranging from one day of out-ofschool suspension to expulsion.”
About 20 percent of U.S. high school students reported being bullied in school in 2021, ac cording 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).
WHAT IS BULLYING?
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 ATLANTA SCHOOLS DEAL WITH THE ISSUE
“We have to make sure that students, parents and all stakeholders are aware of bully ing and of the impact bullying has on our com munity at large,” he said. “Through awareness, we’ve learned we can intervene and therefore decrease the number of bullying incidences we have by teaching individuals who learn from their Attackingbehavior.”theproblem begins with having a clear definition. The website StopBullying.gov defines bullying as “unwanted, aggressive be havior 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.
PROBLEMBULLY
The website also provides information on bullying warning signs and how parents and educators can help prevent bullying.
The educational experience is constantly chang ing, 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.
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HOW
By Laura Raines TACKLING THE
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. WHAT PARENTS CAN DO BULLYINGABOUT
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 indepen dent schools have adopted No Place for Hate campaigns, sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Melissa Licali, associate director of No Place for Hate for the ADL’s Southern division, which includes Georgia, said any K-12 school can sign up for the campaign, which is free. She said the key to the campaign’s suc cess 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.”
2. Look for warning signs. He may show decreased interest in school, have angry outbursts or even hurt 3.himself.Ifhe tells you he’s being bullied, listen calmly, without getting upset, and offer your support.
newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 27 them on the issue.
POSITIVETEACHINGBEHAVIORS
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.
“We were able to look at (each school) and ask, ‘Why is this student doing this to another student?’” Licali said. “We can always look at bullying as a piece of identity, whether it’s ableism, race or ethnicity, maybe physical ap pearance. I know a lot of our data is anecdotal, and at the school I was in, we saw our bully ing incidents decrease, we saw more student engagement and teachers were getting more valuable time back because students were now self-directing.”TheADL’swebsite (adl.org) provides informa tion on bullying and cyberbullying statistics and statutes, resources for educators and admin istrators and resources for both students and families/caregivers.TheAmbassadors 4 Kids Club (a4kclub.org), an Atlanta-based organization, partners with schools across the country to prevent and stop bullying and other forms of abuse in schools and communities. It offers students the chance to start clubs at their schools, where they can take the pledge to stand up to and speak out against bullying and other forms of violence. 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 preventa tive measures, including teaching conflictresolution skills. “I think the hallmark is respect for the child,” said Debra Markham, the school’s director, referring to Montessori school founder Maria Montessori’s teachings. “One of Maria Montes sori’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.”TheLovett 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 regu larly 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.”
1. If you suspect your child is being bullied, ask him—he may not volun teer the information.
The Georgia Department of Education’s web site (doe.org) has a webpage devoted to bullying prevention. It includes information on the state’s bullying law plus bullying prevention resources, which includes links to other helpful websites.
28 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com
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Atlanta is home to many excellent schools and learning resources, which means you can find exactly the right environment for a challenging and nurturing education for your child. The following profiles represent a selection of independent schools and nearby boarding schools serving the metro Atlanta area. For additional information about the schools listed below, including location, tuition, class size and open house dates, turn to “Beyond the Basics” on page 38.
The school’s forward-thinking curriculum focuses on building con fidence and skills while providing various opportunities for students to succeed at public and prestigious private high schools. Its graduates thrive in a range of exceptional college-preparatory high schools, with over 96 percent of Atlanta Academy graduates being accepted into their top choice high High-performingschool.student
Atlanta Academy
achievement is nurtured in the school’s inclusive, non-denominational, family-engaged atmosphere. Teachers model and instill values encouraging social and emotional development, such as empathy, integrity, resiliency and honesty. The Atlanta Academy faculty ranks among some of the industry's best educators. The school is fully invested in helping children grow into well-educated, independent problem solvers prepared to excel in high school and beyond. To sched ule a tour, call 678-461-6102 or visit atlantaacademy.com
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Atlanta International School
2022 EDUCATION GUIDE
Atlanta Academy, located in Roswell, serves 375 private preschool through eighth-grade students in surrounding North Fulton communi ties. Small class sizes allow teachers to understand students' strengths and help them discover their unique talents. This warm, nurturing culture fosters good character alongside academic success, and research shows that this learning environment enriches students' academic performance, well-being and happiness.
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Atlanta International School (AIS) is an inclusive multicultural com munity providing a world-class education to 1,319 US and international students from kindergarten (starting with 3-year-olds) to Grade 12. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program provides a rigorous aca demic structure that is complemented by language acquisition programs beginning with a full-immersion preschool program in French, German, Chinese or Spanish.
In addition to the prestigious IB diploma, AIS offers STEM- and STEAM-endorsed and bilingual diplomas. The curriculum is further enhanced with a wide range of activities to help expand learning experi ences beyond the classroom. Students can participate in award-winning performing and fine arts opportunities, competitive athletics, and an impressive range of global experiential learning options, all designed to help students realize the school’s mission: To develop courageous leaders who shape their world for the better. Along with the authorization to offer IB education, AIS is also accredited by the following academic programs: AdvancED/Cognia, Agency of French Teaching Abroad (aefe), Council for International Schools (CIS), European Council for International Schools (ECIS), and Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). For more information, visit aischool.org or call 404-841-3840. u
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is one constant in Baylor’s 129-year history because it provides a college-preparatory program that engages, challenges, and inspires students to achieve their greatest academic potential at both Baylor and beyond.
Brandon Hall’s mission as a co-educational, global day and boarding school is to challenge students to lead lives of leadership, scholarship, and service. Its community celebrates learning, fosters global citizenship, embraces diversity, encourages athleticism and artistic expression, and inspires students to find their path and lead the way.
The school’s 24-acre campus in Sandy Springs is historically and natu rally preserved, nestled on the Chattahoochee River. An average class size of eight students ensures that students are fully engaged learners, and its diverse community comprises 22 countries and 10 states. The IB Diploma Programme is offered to eligible students entering their junior year. Bran don Hall offers world-class arts and athletics partnerships and a variety of extracurricular clubs. All students have regular opportunities to serve local and international communities through its extensive partnerships.
The Center for Global Youth Leadership inspires students to be innova tors, problem solvers, and pioneers. Boarding students benefit from the school’s structured and organized program that teaches accountability, character, study habits, and essential life skills. For more information, visit brandonhall.org or call 770-394-8177.
Brandon Hall School
While Baylor is first and foremost an academic institution, it believes that prepping students for college requires attention to the body and the spirit as well as the mind. That commitment is reflected in every aspect of Baylor life outside the classroom.
Its students find that balance on what is arguably the most beauti ful independent school campus in the Southeast, with 690 acres along the Tennessee River and an abundance of extracurricular opportuni ties. The campus is home to boarding students from 15 countries and 23 states who enjoy a deep sense of community while discovering an independence most students are not able to experience until college. For more information, visit baylorschool.org or call 423-267-5902.
The mission of The Bedford School is to maximize the potential of children with learning differences and develop foundations for success. Bedford offers a fresh start to students who may have been frustrated in a traditional setting due to learning differences and pro vides them opportunities for success. The school serves children in grades 1-9 who have been professionally identified as having specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia and related disorders. This is accomplished through small classes (5-12 per class), a structured, multi-sensory approach and a dedicated staff. Grade-level, college prep curriculum is taught with appropriate accommodations for learning disabled students such as math and English taught twice daily and all material read aloud in class. The school was established in 1985 and currently serves 150 students. Bedford is located on a 45-acre campus in Fairburn, 15 minutes south of HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport. For more information, call 770-774-8001 or visit thebedfordschool.org.
The Bedford School
Baylor School
Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Baylor School is among the finest college-prep schools in the country and is only two hours fromAcademicsAtlanta.
Founded as a model of diversity in 1991, FSA strives to address the development of the whole child and seeks to educate for peace and justice by nurturing the goodness within each student. Offering classes for children from PreK3 through eighth grade, FSA’s program is designed to prepare students for a successful high school future and a lifetime of engagement as thoughtful citizens. Enrolling for 2022-23, class space permitting. For more information, visit friendsschoolatlanta.org or call 404-373-8746.
Once partnered with the school’s certified teachers and a family success liaison, stu dents will participate in live interactive classes and an engaging curriculum that sup ports their individualized learning path. Students access lessons and live classes via an online learning management system, and laptops are provided to qualifying families.
Interested in enrolling your student at GCA? The school would love for you and your family to join its community of champions. Working together, Georgia Cyber Academy can help your student Rise Up, Aim High, and Soar toward their bright future! If anyone has questions about the school or the enrollment process or needs more information, call 404-334-4790, visit georgiacyber.org/champions, or email info@georgiacyber.org
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Building a sense of self for students with special learning needs through academic and experiential programming, The Cottage School (TCS) prepares individuals for fulfillment of their true potential as confident, productive, and independent adults.
The SchoolFriendsofAtlanta
u Georgia Cyber Academy
During the school day, a parent or guardian acts as a learning coach to provide support and guidance to the student while in the safety and security of the home environment. Since 2007, the school has been providing high-quality, accredited education to students throughout the state. Some of the programs and services it provides include an advanced & gifted program, English learner program, special education services, counseling, Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment and many more.
• Customized
participate • Post-secondary
The Cottage School
• Year-round
Students also have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of in-person social activities, including field trips, extracurricular clubs, sports, college visits, and even an annual Statewide Community Event Day held in several different regions throughout Georgia.
It provides an educational environment for students with learning differences in grades 3-12. TCS meets the student where they are today and recognizes that all students learn differently. TCS teaches differently. Based on three pillars of success: academic, social, and emotional, TCS school offers: learning class sizes (10-student average) for individualized learning education plans for every student business-based, incentive-based model that teaches life skills athletic programs that encourage all students to planning that ensures continued success after graduation
• A
The Friends School of Atlanta (FSA) provides challenging academics in a diverse environment, drawing on values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stew ardship to empower students to go out into the world with conscience, conviction and compassion.
Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) is a tuition-free, online, public charter school serving students in grades K-12 throughout the state. Students can enjoy everything they love about traditional brick-and-mortar education, from the comfort of their own homes.
• Experiential
• Small
Come visit the school’s beautiful 23-acre campus and contact the director of admissions for an appointment today. For more information, call 770-641-8688 or visit cottageschool.org
Heritage Preparatory School is a classical, Christ-centered school that equips stu dents to think with excellence, believe with confidence, and live with character. The school’s purpose is to offer an academically rigorous experience designed to help students know, love, and practice that which is true, good, and excellent and prepare them to live purposefully and intelligently in the service of God and man.
Heritage serves students in Pre-K through high school. The school is dually accredited by SAIS and Cognia and is a member of ACSI and ACCS. The lower school campus is located at 1700 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, and the upper school is located at 1824 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. For more information, visit heritageprep.org or call 404-815-7711.
Since 1973, High Meadows School has inspired children to think critically, learn creatively, act globally, and live compas sionately. High Meadows is about learning and laughter, exploration and discovery, and friendship and connection. The school was built on 42 acres of historic farm property in Roswell, Georgia, and students from age 3 through eighth grade experience a school environment where adventure and play go hand in hand with extraordinary academic prepara tion and exemplary student outcomes. From the outstanding faculty and breathtaking campus to the small class sizes and acclaimed International Baccalaureate curriculum, a High Meadows education is unlike any other. Visit the campus, located at 1055 Willeo Rd., Roswell, GA 30075, to experience its magic. For more information, visit highmeadows.org or call 770-993-2940.
As a family-founded school, Lyndon knows the importance of social development, and it helps to create this through athletics, special events, and extracurricular activi ties. The competitive sports teams have tapped into school pride and taken home lo cal, regional, and state awards. The school is also taking strides to include a number of artistic endeavors for growing minds, including its band and choral group.
This is Lyndon’s goal in motion: preparing young minds for the rigors of higher education, from Pre-K to high school. For more information, call 770-926-0166 or visit lyndonacademy.org
Linda Murdock founded Lyndon Academy in 2005 with an interest in creating an elite private educational experience for local and international students alike. Now, 17 years later, this goal has been met with flying colors. But that doesn’t mean the school is resting on its past accomplishments. With its small classrooms and a vested interest in seeing pupils grow into leaders, Lyndon sees that its students, no matter how young, are confident and eager to engage in classroom activities. Students are taught to speak up and share what they’ve learned.
There’s a lot that goes into that level of preparedness and enthusiasm, but perhaps the biggest detail is the student-teacher ratios in relation to the advanced courses offered. With a ratio of 8 to 1, students receive personal instruction in a wide range of topics, from hands-on science opportunities to immersive studies in Spanish and Mandarin. In addition to meeting local public and private institutions class for class, Lyndon offers more AP classes than the average school in the U.S.
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A Heritage education is aimed at equipping students to become lovers of both learning and Truth. To that end, the school cultivates lifelong learners that think critically and communicate eloquently. It develops graduates who serve the kingdom of God and engage culture faithfully. Heritage believes the purpose of education is not the transfer of information, but the preparation of a mind, nurturing of a heart, and development of a soul to live and think with truth, wisdom, and excellence.
High Meadows School
Lyndon Academy
Heritage Preparatory School
✔ Pre-K through 8th Grade ✔ Small group instruction using multi-sensory techniques ✔ Academic programs matched to individual’s strengths to Succeed Enabling Children with Learning Differences Phone: 770-594-1313 I 200 Cox Rd. WWW.PORTERACADEMY.ORGRoswell
A Montessori education develops children who are responsible, creative, innovative, respectful and kind. Montessori children are truly the citizens of the future, equipped to face challenges with confidence and competence.Locatednear the intersection of Hwy. 141 and McGinnis Ferry Road in Johns Creek, Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia provides excellence in Montessori education for infants, toddlers and children up to 6 years old. JCMSOG provides an authentic Montes sori environment, where each individual’s needs are respected, and everyone works together for the good of the community. The focus is always on helping the children develop themselves in a caring, peaceful environment. By helping children develop independence, the school assists them in their physical and emotional development. As their sense of security in their ability to care for themselves and their environment grows, their brains have more energy or "bandwidth" for increased academic learning. Additionally, this focus on development of muscular control is a first step in developing self-discipline. The JCMSOG difference is best experienced in person. To schedule a visit with your child to observe the school’s “Montessori Magic,” call 770-814-8001 or visit jcmsog.org u
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Johns ofMontessoriCreekSchoolGeorgia
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Oak Meadow Montessori School
“We are so pleased with the progress he has made so far this year. He is beaming when he reads aloud, and his confidence is soaring. He is no longer too timid to take chances and try something new. We couldn't be happier!” -—Porter Academy parent
Porter Academy
When parents first tour Porter Academy, many of them feel heavy with frustration, anxiety, and sadness because they have fought hard for their children, but with little success to show for their efforts. These same families, within a few months of enrollment, are able to relax and feel hopeful, knowing that their children are finally happy and learning. The school's founder, Claudia Porter, didn't teach a curriculum; she taught a child. She knew each child's passions, strengths, and stumbling blocks. She knew that their past struggles had made them feel less...less capable, less important...and that these feelings had led many of them to resist trying. They had learned to slip through the cracks or to distract from the real problems by acting out behaviorally. Mrs. Porter knew that the first step to getting children to learn was to rebuild their self-confidence and self-respect. The school has grown, but the child-centered care and teaching persists, enabling each child to find joy and success in learning. For more information, call 770-594-1313 or visit porteracademy.org
Oak Meadow Montessori School (OMMS) has been awakening children’s natural desire to learn since 1993. Its high-fidelity Montessori environments serve children ages 15 months to 12 years old. Well-equipped Montessori classrooms and the school’s dedicated, experienced staff combine to cultivate a nurturing, inclusive, and vibrant school experience that fosters independence, self-motivation, and a lifelong love of learning. Exploration of its classroom and outdoor environments ignites students’ natural curiosity, and its guides (or teachers) fan their flames of interest, allowing students to maximize their potential.
OMMS is accredited by both the American Montessori Society and SACS/Cognia, ensuring the highest of Montessori and academic standards are met. Come, see what the excitement is all about!
For more information, visit oakmeadowmontessori.com or call 770-963-8303.
The SchoolPiedmontofAtlanta
The Piedmont School of Atlanta serves students in kindergarten through high school with chal lenges in the areas of learning, social skills, and social problem solving. Typically, Piedmont students have a diagnosis of autism, learning disability, and/or attention deficit disorder. Certified, master's-level teachers deliver differ entiated instruction. The curriculum exceeds the Georgia standards and includes PE, art, foreign language, theater, social emotional and ethical behavior, transition planning, job coaching, and community-based instruction when COVID-19 permits. Piedmont has been named a Boxlight National Demonstration School serving as a model site for incorporating technol ogy in the classroom. For more information, call 404-382-8200 or visit tpsoa.org
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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
Still InternationalWaters Academy
Springmont graduates are confident, collaborative, engaged learners, prepared for success in Atlanta’s premier high schools as well as life beyond academics. Springmont School—Extraordinary by Design. For more information, call 404-252-3910 or visit springmont.com u
Art, music, physical education, and Spanish are important parts of each student’s experience. At Springmont, each student is challenged to reach his or her fullest potential and is empowered to help steer his or her own education. Students’ innate curiosity grows into a lifelong love of learning and a quest for meaningful discoveries and deeper knowledge.
On its beautiful mountain campus, Rabun Gap inspires students to grow in character, intellect, and spirit. The school values educational accessibility and fosters a community of learners whose diversity is honored and reflects the world. Rabun Gap is the most geographically diverse boarding school in the nation, made up of a student body from 56 countries and 15 states.
If you're looking for a place to call home, Still Waters International Academy (SWIA) serves children from day care through 12th grade. With students and staff from many nations, Still Waters is a community that provides students with an excellent education with Scripture at its center. Its goal is to prepare students to succeed in competitive environments and develop their unique abilities to the fullest to show forth God’s glory. The school believes small class-size ratios create the most effective classroom environments for students to learn, be challenged, and develop positiveSWIArelationships.isaprivateChristian school located in Norcross. Its families love the convenience of a day care and K-12 school in one location.
The 1,400-acre mountain campus provides many opportunities for hands-on learning, as well as arts and athletic activities. Rabun Gap students graduate ready for college: 100% attend the top colleges and universities in the U.S. and around the world. Rabun Gap makes a boarding school education a reality for families, with more than 75 percent of students receiving financial aid and merit scholarships. For more information, call 706-746-7720 or visit rabungap.org
Founded in 1903 and located just two hours north of Atlanta, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School prepares young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.
SWIA has a ST2E2AM internship program where middle and high school students work alongside industry leaders to create engineering solutions. ST2E2AM stands for Science, Technology, Theol ogy, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Art, and Math. The core curriculum is Abeka Book, and Spanish and Chinese are a part of the curriculum as well. K-12 students participate in projectbased learning within a grade-level context. The school’s joy is to see each child grow to be come lifelong lovers of learning for the purpose of serving God's people. For more information, visit stillwaters.academy or call 770-449-4125.
Springmont, the oldest Montessori school in the Southeast, offers students 18 months through middle school an authentic Montessori experience that is extraordinary by design. Individualized learning inspires students to become creative, independent, and globally minded. Classrooms are large, light-filled, and thoughtfully prepared while the campus’ many natural areas, class gardens, and farm animals afford rich outdoor life science lessons.
Middle school students run micro-economies, participate in internships, and compete in regional academic competitions. They have opportunities to hone time-management skills, experience active leadership roles, articulate complex ideas, and work both independently and in diverse groups.
Springmont School
Specially designed Montessori materials support children’s developmental needs and offer students a wide variety of hands-on activities that concretely reinforce skills, lessons and concepts. Highly-experienced teachers guide students through an individualized curriculum that develops the whole child—socially, emotionally, and academically. Multi-aged classes allow younger children to learn from older ones and older students to mentor younger classmates.
The Suzuki School is a preparatory preschool committed to providing young children with the best in early childhood education. Its belief in the innate ability and talent of every child guides them in creating an environment rich in language, discovery, and stimulation. They know that a child’s learning experience begins right away, and that every moment is an opportunity to engage and explore. Suzuki recognizes that the first years of life are the most critical in the develop ment of an inquisitive mind and a noble heart. The school’s faculty is comprised of well-qualified trained educators who also serve as thought leaders for other professionals in the field of early childhood education. With a full-time program for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children, Suzuki has been built upon these Five Foundations: Love of Learning, Respect for Nature, Cul ture and Tradition, A Noble Heart, and Talent Education. For more information, call 404-8413939 or visit suzukischool.com
Walker students are excited and confident about college and beyond. Walker is located 2 miles from the Marietta Square, and it offers more than 20 bus routes in the metro area. At the school, tuition assistance is available to bridge the gap between the cost of tuition and a family’s ability to pay. For more information about the wonder of Walker, visit thewalkerschool.org/admission/why-walker.
| Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com36 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
At The Walker School, the infinite worth and dignity of each student define its approach to learning. Walker is the top pre-K3-12th-grade school open to all faiths in metro Atlanta. At Walker, students engage in advanced academ ics taught by dynamic faculty. With an average class size of 15 students, each child is chal lenged, supported and encouraged to explore all opportunities on its campus. At Walker, you can star in the fall musical, represent your school on the soccer field and design your own genetic research project.
Upper school students are able to customize their high school experience, choosing from a wide range of academic offerings, including 26 of the 31 College Board Ad vanced Placement courses. Most of all, your child is known. One hundred percent of graduates are accepted to four-year colleges and universities.
The Suzuki School
The Walker School
Wesleyan School
Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child. The school leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work, and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment.
Whitefield Academy’s college-preparatory education is built on Christcentered values and beliefs, enabling students to succeed in both college and life. Whitefield teachers engage deeply with their students in the pursuit of knowledge and truth with shared experiences, grace and accountability. And because students are known, valued, and loved, they thrive academically and are equipped to face the challenges of the future. Located just off I-285 in Smyrna, Whitefield maintains a solid academic reputation with its numerous Advanced Placement and honors courses, and a rigorous curriculum that sets the framework for 100 percent of its graduates to matriculate to colleges and universities. With more than 50 sports teams, including 20 varsity squads, Whitefield athletes have multiple oppor tunities for both participation andWhitefield’ssuccess. award-winning fine arts programs and newly debuted Innovation Lab are allowing students to explore and develop their passions in theater, music, and visual arts, as well as STEM subjects such as engineering and robotics. For more information about Whitefield or to register for a virtual tour, visit whitefieldacademy.com u
Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them The school is located just outside of I-285 at Peachtree Corners.
Wesleyan started the 2022-2023 school year with 1,207 students enrolled in grades K-12. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area and has morning and afternoon options. For more information or to schedule a campus tour, call 770-448-7640 or visit wesleyanschool.org
Newcomer Magazine | 37Beyond the Basics School chart on page 38 and 39SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
With renowned college-preparatory academics and a community defined by its geographic, racial, spiritual, economic, and cognitive diversity, Woodward Academy is Atlanta at its best. From pre-K through 12th grade, Woodward is a place where a child can study Gauguin and golf, Copernicus and coding, rhetoric and robotics—all in one day. With 2,500 students across two campuses spanning 133 acres, complemented by the intimacy of a 6:1 student-teacher ratio, Woodward offers the vast resources and opportunities of a college or university coupled with the intimacy and attention of home. Students learn how to think about and engage in the world outside of themselves, making a commitment to do their best, and gain ing the confidence to make a difference. This shared purpose is something the school calls The WoodwardWoodwardWay.challenges its students to explore new academic frontiers and reach their fullest potential. What does success look like? Look no further than the 24 AP classes, renowned Transi tion Program for students with mild learning differences, more than 100 clubs and cocurriculars, 75 yearly arts performances, and 18 varsity sports. Woodward’s Global Connections Program offers extensive international study abroad programs, and its innovative STEAM programs are woven into the curriculum—from coding for kindergarteners to the Independent Scientific Research program, which pairs juniors and seniors with university professors to work on real-world problems. At Woodward, students don’t just gain knowledge. The Woodward Way imbues them with skills and traits such as respect, social awareness, empathy, open-mindedness, accountability, and dedication to service, which will serve them throughout their lives and enable them to make their mark in the world. A typical Woodward Academy graduating class attends more than 100 different colleges and universities, devotes 5,000 hours to community service, and earns more than $15 million in scholarship awards. For more information, visit woodward.edu or call 404-765-4001.
Woodward Academy
Whitefield Academy
| Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com38 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION BE YOND T HE BASICS AcademyAtlanta 678-461-6102 FultonNorth Roswell See website 16 DenominationalNon- AAAIS, GISA, Bright from the Start, SAIS 1/21/23;callforatour InternationalAtlantaSchool 404-841-3840 Fulton Buckhead $26,725$30,510 17 N/A AdvanceED, aefe, CIS, ECIS, SAIS Callschoolthe SchoolBaylor 423-267-5902 TennesseeHamiltonCounty, Chattanooga $28,310Day:,Boarding:$57,340 14 DenominationalNon- NAIS, SAIS, TAIS 10/28,11/11 TheSchoolBedford 770 774-8001 Fulton Fairburn $20,650$21,050 10-12 N/A AdvancEd,GAC,SAIS websiteCheck BrandonSchoolHall 770-394-8177 Fulton SpringsSandy $29,200$59,150 8 None IB World School, NAIS, SAIS, SBSA, TABS Call scheduletoatour TheSchoolCottage 770-641-8688 Fulton Roswell $25,000$29,000 10 N/A GISA, SAIS Callappt.for TheSchoolFriendsofAtlanta 404-373-8746 DeKalb Decatur $16,502$26,140 9 Quaker AAAIS, FCE, NAIS, SACS-SAIS, GISA Callschoolthe AcademyGeorgiaCyber 404-334-4790 entireThroughoutstate entireThroughoutstate Tuition-freeschool Variespergradelevel N/A Cognia View informationvirtualsessionsonwebsite PreparatoryHeritageSchool 404-815-7711 Fulton MorningsideAnsley/ $9,300 $19,900- 12 Christian SAIS, Cognia, ACSI, ACCS, MAAC, GIAA 12/811/3(MS/US);11/2(LS);12/7(MS/US);(LS);1/26(LS) MeadowsHighSchool 770-993-2940 Fulton EastRoswell/Cobb $7,070 $21,580- 18 N/A AAAIS, Baccalaureate,InternationalSAIS Weeklytours JohnsMontessoriCreekSchoolofGeorgia 770-814-8001 Fulton Johns Creek $8,300 $17,500- 20 N/A AMI, AMS, PAMS Callschoolthe AcademyLyndon 770-926-0166 Cherokee Holly Springs $12,500$17,000 12 N/A Cognia, GISA Every day is an houseopen OakMontessoriMeadowSchool 770-963-8303 Gwinnett Collins Hill $8,300 $14,580- 20 N/A American Montessori Society (AMS) Cognia/SACSand Callschoolthe TheSchoolPiedmontofAtlanta 404-382-8200 DeKalb Brookhaven $28,400 4-8 N/A GISA Callschoolthe AcademyPorter 770-594-1313 Fulton Roswell $20,476$21,301 12 N/A AAAIS, GAC, GAPSEC, GISA, SAIS Callappt.for Gap-NacoocheeRabunSchool 706-746-7720 Rabun Rabun Gap $10,500$23,400(day);$59,200(boarding)$61,500 12 Presbyterian NAIS, NCISAA, SAIS, SABS, SACS, TABS 11/6 SCHOOL PHONE COUNTY NEIGHBOR-HOOD ANNUALTUITION HOUSEOPENDATESCLASSAVG.SIZE AFFILIATIONRELIGIOUS ORACCREDITATIONSAFFILIATIONS
newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 39 BE YOND T HE BASICS SpringmontSchool 404-252-3910 Fulton SpringsSandy $11,550$25,000 16 N/A AAAIS, Cognia/SAIS,AMI,GISA,NAIS 1/23/23 Still InternationalWatersAcademy 770-449-4125 Gwinnett Norcross $8,000$10 ,700 12 Christian Bright from the Start, Cognia Callschoolthe TheSchoolSuzuki 404-841-3939 Fulton Two campuses in oneBuckhead,atPonceCityMarket Call Varies N/A AMS, SACS Callschoolthe TheSchoolWalker 678-540-7229 Cobb Marietta $11,280$25,940 12-15 Open to all faiths AAAIS, GHSA, GISA, NAIS, SAIS Visit web site for informationtour WesleyanSchool 770-448-7640 Gwinnett PeachtreeCorners $19,560$27,930 16 denominational)Christian(non- AAAIS, CESA, GHSA, GISA, SAIS, The Col lege Board, NACAC WebsiteCheck WhitefieldAcademy 678-305-3000 Cobb Smyrna $10,000$25,000 18 Christian AAAIS, NAIS Callschoolthe WoodwardAcademy 404-765-4001 Fulton College Johns(main);ParkCreek(WoodwardNorth) $19,800$31,150 WoodwardCampus,Main14;North,11 N/A AAAIS, GISA, NAIS, SAIS Callschoolthe SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SCHOOL PHONE COUNTY NEIGHBOR-HOOD ANNUALTUITION HOUSEOPENDATESCLASSAVG.SIZE AFFILIATIONRELIGIOUS ORACCREDITATIONSAFFILIATIONS
By Tony Jenkins and Susan Flowers
JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM ATLANTA
T H E GREAT
Known as the birthplace of Dolly Parton, Sevierville is a picturesque getaway less than four hours from Atlanta. Sevierville offers many activities that will please both adrenaline junk ow that you’ve completed the adventure of moving to your new city, you’re probably ready for an all-new adventure that’s less stress ful, but just as rewarding. Fortunately, there are numerous adventure-filled vacations within an easy drive of Atlanta. From whitewater rafting in the Smokies to hiking in the Okefenokee Swamp, exciting opportunities abound.
EXPLORING
5
| Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com40
SOUTHUPCOUNTRYCAROLINA
If you just can’t wait to get outside, head to the Upcountry region of South Carolina, home to some of the state’s most gorgeous scenery and most exciting outdoor fun, just slightly over a two-hour drive from Atlanta. The six-county area spans 3,954 square miles and includes 80,000 acres of national forest, 50 hiking trails and 13 state parks, with the closest ones from Atlanta being Lake Hartwell State Park and Sadlers Creek State Park. Activi ties range from hiking and mountain biking to hunting and fishing to swimming, boating, canoeing and kayaking. You can even scuba dive at Lake Jocassee, says Tim Todd, executive director of Upcountry SC, the tourism organiza tion promoting the area. The Upcountry also includes the Chattooga River, a whitewater rafting haven with Class III to V rapids that was the site for the film “Deliv erance,” and the Cherokee Foothills National
ADVENTURES
The Chattooga River is one of the popular spots for water sports in the South Carolina Upcountry.
SEVIERVILLE, TENNESSEE
Scenic Byway (Hwy. 11), where you will find the state’s tallest mountain, Sassafras Mountain (about 3,500 feet). The area also boasts Ameri can Revolution and Native American historic sites to visit. There are numerous spots for a picnic, and both trailside and paved campsites for those who want to stay a while, plus cabins and other homes to rent. Meanwhile, down town Greenville is a stone’s throw away for those who prefer urban comforts.
campsites located throughout the refuge. If you’re looking for something less taxing, guided boat tours are available, including a 90-minute trip through the Suwannee Canal and Chesser Prairie. You can also arrange for an extended or overnight excursion.
With more than 400,000 acres of exotic wildlife and lush vegetation, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is an adventure-lover’s paradise only a five-hour drive from Atlanta. Meaning “land of the trembling Earth,” the refuge was established in 1936 to conserve the Okefenokee Swamp, thought to be about
newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 41 OUTSIDE ATLANTA
UpcountrySC.comMullinax,Joe(Top)PHOTOS:
WILDLIFE REFUGE
Hikers can enjoy many different trails. Take in nature’s wonders as you observe birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat, and enjoy plant life that surrounds you at every step. Walk the Upland Discovery Trail and photo graph a colony of red-cockaded woodpeckers. You may also enjoy cycling on the swamp’s paved roads, although bicycles are not permit ted on hiking trails.
If you’re looking for a mountain getaway close by, Towns County/Lake Chatuge is your place. Located on the Appalachian Trail and less than two hours from Atlanta, the lake has 132 miles of shoreline, some of which is in NorthMaryCarolina.AnnMiller, the Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce’s membership and marketing coordinator, said the lake’s beauty is what sets it apart. While Chatuge offers boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing, hiking may be Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River, Upcountry South Carolina.
OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL
The Visitor’s Center at Okefenokee Swamp Park
10,000 years old and teeming with deer, mink, otters, bobcats, tortoises, storks—oh, and a few larger animals as well. Paddle your canoe through the swamp and you might glimpse an alligator or a bear. Of course, wilderness canoeing is an experi ence best reserved for those who can take on a challenge, so come prepared for strenuous paddling or pushing canoes at some points, as well as extreme temperatures and precipitation. Canoeists can camp at any of the designated
Fishermen can enjoy the refuge throughout the year—but you may have to compete with an alligator for your catch! The refuge features shallow water prairies, lakes and ponds, and fishing from a boat, kayak or canoe is permitted in various areas.
ies and nature enthusiasts. Start with fishing, camping and canoeing at Douglas Lake. Then check out the views of sparkling formations, grottos and a crystal-clear stream in the Forbid den Caverns. Next, take a rafting tour through the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. And that’s just the beginning. The town is only minutes away from America’s most visited national park: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is free to enter. Serious hikers will find plenty of options for challenging all-day or overnight adventures on more than 850 miles of main tained trails, while beginners will love the quick and easy choices. Whichever approach, the park has a universal appeal: sights that are better experienced than described. For even more thrills, visit one of Sevierville’s several zip-lining companies for breathtaking mountain views as you zip along, hundreds of feet above the trees and streams.
TOWNS COUNTY/ LAKE CHATUGE
its biggest draw. There are a handful of trails near the lake on both the Georgia and North Carolina sides. But Towns County, which also includes Blairsville, Hiawassee and Young Harris, has plenty more to offer, including golf, horseback riding, arts and crafts, antiquing, concerts, fairs and festivals. Lodging choices range from RV campgrounds to cabins and B&Bs to full-service resorts, such as Brasstown Val ley Resort & Spa. Brasstown Valley includes luxurious lodge guest rooms, a golf course, tennis courts, a spa, horseback riding and other activities.
| Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com42 OUTSIDE ATLANTA
CHEHAW PARK & ZOO Chehaw Park & Zoo in Albany bills itself as “nature’s playground,” and it definitely lives up to the nickname. The park was founded on the principles of conservation, preservation and education, and it continues this mission with about 800 acres of unspoiled conserva tion land, a wild animal park and the state’s only accredited zoo besides Zoo Atlanta. Chehaw boasts more than 10 miles of African animals at Chehaw Park & Zoo mountain bike trails, designed in loops of one mile or less in length so riders can create their own routes. For BMX racers, there’s a racing track open to the public that hosts sanctioned races, along with an adjacent practice track. Disc golfers will want to try the 18-hole, par-54 disc golf course. If you’re feeling more sedate, hop aboard the Wiregrass Express for a scenic tour of the native South Georgia landscape, or the African Veldt ride to view the seven species of animals that roam the 40-acre exhibit in natural herds. The Veldt is part of the zoo at Chehaw, housing more than 230 specimens represent ing more than 73 species, including cheetahs, meerkats, lemurs, camels and more. Participate in a feeding or chat with a keeper as part of your weekend visit. There’s so much to do that you’ll want to spend more time, so camp out at one of the park’s 40 RV sites, 18 tent sites or airconditioned camper cabins, accessible to laundry and dump facilities and equipped with hookups and a fire ring to grill the fish you catch in the lake. FOR INFORMATIONMORE Chehaw Park & Zoo 229-430-5275 chehaw.org Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge 912-496-7836 fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee Sevierville, Tennessee 888-738-4378 visitsevierville.com Towns County/Lake Chatuge 800-984-1543 golakechatuge.com Upcountry, South Carolina 800-849-4766 upcountrysc.com
newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 43
One way to avoid long commutes is to take advantage of the city’s local transit system, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Offering both train and bus service, MARTA is a convenient way to travel to downtown or the airport. The fee for traveling one way is $2.50 including transfers, and payment is even easier now with the Breeze limited-use and extendeduse cards. Weekly and monthly passes can be obtained at discounted rates. For fares, schedule and route information call 404848-5000 or visit itsmarta.com.
Vehicle Emission Inspection
Vehicles that are 24 model years old and later (except the three years prior to the current year) must be checked yearly for emission standard compliance. Visit a statedesignated inspection station for the service. Call 800-449-2471 or visit cleanairforce.com. Georgia DOT provides daily updates of road work, road closings and traffic delays, which are helpful when dot.ga.gov.
MARTA MARTA Rail Service GETTING STARTED
GETTING STARTED TOHERE THERE
Mass Transit
Driving Tips The
obtainedUpdatescommutingcanbebycalling(tollfree)877-694-2511,bydialing511orbyvisiting
Homes for well over $1 million can be purchased in such neighborhoods as Bradshaw Farm, BridgeMill and Towne Lake InterstateHills.575 and Ga. Highway 92 traverse the county, affording resi dents easy access to Atlanta and the nearby attractions of Town Center Mall, Lake Allatoona and the North Georgia Mountains. Other great places to live, work and play in Cherokee County include the cities of Ball Ground, Holly Springs and Waleska. Neighborhoods Canton Canton was incorporated in 1833 and renamed in 1834 at the re quest of two founding fathers who had visions that the town might become a silk center similar to what existed in Canton, China. Canton did become famous for its “Canton Denim,” known worldwide for the high-quality denim produced by Canton Cotton Mills.
Woodstock Old Sixes Mill For more counties and neighborhood information, visit our Website at newcomeratlanta.com County cherokeega.com Neighborhoods cityofwaleska.comhollyspringsga.uscityofballground.comwoodstockga.govcantonga.gov
According to Zillow.com, the me dian value of homes is $283,573.
Today, Canton is attracting new industry and residents. As a result, the city is reinvesting in its downtown. As part of its Streetscapes program, downtown Canton will be restored to its historic look and features a newly designed theater on Main Street. Lo cated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the banks of the Etowah River, Canton is a prime location for development.
Property Taxes Per $1,000 of assessed value is: Unincorporated Cherokee County, $21.46; Incorporated Cherokee County, $21.46. Tax Commissioner: 678-493-6400 Located 12 miles south of Canton, Woodstock is one of Geor gia's top 10 fastest-growing cities and a community recently named one of the Top 50 Cities Places to Live in the U.S. by Money magazine. Residents also enjoy easy access to 575 and 92, allowing short com mutes to Cobb and Fulton counties. While affording convenience to big-city attractions, Woodstock still maintains its small-town appeal. Buildings dating back to 1879 char acterize the downtown area, where antique and other specialty shops are located.Various golf courses are located in Woodstock, including Arnold Palmer’s Eagle Watch, a course with wooded countryside views that is considered to be one of the top places to play in Atlanta. The 11,860-acre Lake Allatoona provides additional recreation. Woodstock is also conve nient to more than 13 state parks. N
44 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com COUNTYEDUCATIONINFORMATION PUBLIC SCHOOLS Cherokee County Schools Board of Education 770-479-1871 cherokee.k12.ga.us Elementary Schools 23 Middle Schools 7 High Schools 6 Centers 4 Per-pupil expenditures $9,149 School & bus information 770-720-2112 Avg. SAT Scores Cherokee Co. 1115 Georgia 1048 National 1039 PRIVATE SCHOOLS Visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com for a list of private schools in this county. ELECTRICITY Amicalola EMC 706-253-5200 Cobb EMC 770-429-2100 Georgia Power 888-891-0938 Sawnee EMC 770-887-2363 GAS Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated. For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com. TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV AT&T att.com Cobb EMC cobbemc.com Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com Direct TV directv.com Dish Network dish.com ETC Communications etcnow.com Spectrum spectrum.com TDS Telecom tdstelecom.com Windstream windstream.com WATER Cherokee County Water Authority 770-479-1813 City of Ball Ground 770-735-2123 City of Canton 770-704-1500 City of Waleska 770-479-2912 City of Woodstock 770-592-6006 HOSPITALS Hospital-CherokeeNorthside 770-224-1000 Wellstar Kennestone Hospital 770-793-5000 UTILITIES CONTACTS&
Located northwest of Atlanta, Cherokee County gets its name from the original inhabitants of the area, the Cherokee Indians. The county seat, then called Etowah, was established in 1833 and renamed Canton in 1834. Today, the city is enjoying its greatest economic boom in its history since more than $60 million was invested in residential and commercial develop ment in 1998. Despite developing its own industrial base, Cherokee County remains idyllic and serene. Farming, especially poultry processing, remains a leadingCantonindustry.andthe neighboring community of Woodstock have seen tremendous growth as subdivisions crop up to accommodate newcom ers. In fact, nearly 60 percent of the county’s population are commuters.
Cherokee County QUICK INFO
Median household income: $75,477 Median age of residents: 38 Population: 235,896 Sales tax: 6% Chamber of Commerce Cherokee 770-345-0400,Countycherokeechamber.com
COUNTY INFORMATION
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Neighborhoods Kennesaw
Median household income: $75,654 Median age of residents: 36.6 Population: 755,754 Sales tax: 6% Chamber of Commerce Cobb 770-980-2000,County cobbchamber.org Property Taxes
Visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com for a list of private schools in this county.
Cobb County County cobbcountyga.gov Neighborhoods smyrnacity.comcityofpowdersprings.orgkennesaw-ga.govsmyrnaga.govmariettaga.govaustellga.org
Shutterstock.comPhoto:
Cobb County came into being in 1832 when the state redistributed land once part of the Cherokee Nation. Named after Thomas Willis Cobb, the county experi enced a devastating setback during the Civil War when most of it was destroyed during the famous Battle of Kennesaw on$900passedoffersnologyretail,includesamostCounty,locatedToday,Mountain.CobbCounty,northwestofFultonisoneofthestate'sthrivingcounties.Withdiverseeconomicbasethatjobsintheservice,aerospaceandtechsectors,CobbCountyaqualityoflifeunsurintheSoutheast.Nearlymillionhasbeenspenttransportationimprovements in recent years, allowing residents easy access to Atlanta and the commercial districts of Vinings Overlook, Cum berland Parkway and the prestigious Platinum Triangle in the popular Galleria area.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
HOSPITALS
For more counties and neighborhood information, visit our Website at newcomeratlanta.com
EDUCATIONUTILITIES&CONTACTS
ELECTRICITY Acworth Power 770-917-8903 Cobb EMC 770-429-2100 Georgia Power 888-891-0938
Smyrna
newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine 45
Truist Park
WellStar Cobb Hospital 470-732-4000
GreyStone Power Corp. 770-942-6576 Marietta Power 770-794-5150 GAS Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated. For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.
WellStar Windy Hill Hospital 770-644-1000
Marietta City Schools Board of Education 770-422-3500 marietta-city-org Elementary Schools 8 Middle Schools 1 High Schools 1 Sixth-Grade 1 Magnet 1 Per-pupil expenditures $10,542 School and bus information 770-429-3110
|
Avg. SAT Scores Cobb Co. 1114 Marietta City 1056 Georgia 1048 National 1039
One of Family Circle maga zine’s Ten Best Towns for Families, Kennesaw takes pride in its smalltown atmosphere and boasts abundant parks and greenspace, exceptional recreational programs and top-notch schools, includ ing Kennesaw State University. Kennesaw’s historic downtown features shopping, dining and at tractions such as the Smithsonianaffiliated Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive His tory, the Smith-Gilbert Gardens and nearby Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
Cobb County Schools Board of Education 770-426-3300 cobbk12.org Elementary Schools 67 Middle Schools 25 High Schools 17 Magnet 6 Charter 1 Per-pupil expenditures $8,833 School and bus information 678-594-8000
TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV AT&T att.com Cobb EMC cobbemc.com Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com Direct TV directv.com Dish Network dish.com Spectrum spectrum.com WATER Austell Water 770-944-4300 Cobb County Water System 770-419-6200 Marietta Water 770-794-5150 Powder Springs Water 770-943-8000 Smyrna Water 678-631-5338
A variety of housing options exist in Cobb County, including luxury apartments and condos near Cumberland Mall, secluded sub divisions in East Cobb and horse ranches in the northwest corner of the county. The small towns of Marietta, Vinings, Smyrna and Austell still retain their Southern charm amidst urban settings. Ac cording to the Census Bureau, the median value of homes in 2018 was $237,800.
WellStar Kennestone Hospital 770-793-5000
QUICK INFO
The property tax is $33.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. Tax Commissioner: 770-980-2000 Rapidly defining what’s new and progressive in quality of life and citizen services, Smyrna delivers an amazing sense of style and love of life. The Market Village district, home to fabulous restaurants, bars and upscale shops and services, is the final piece of a master plan for success. Call it “Main Street USA” or “Disneyland,” but don’t overlook its charm and ability to offer the best in fresh, trendy lifestyle options. N
Alpharetta
QUICK INFO
COUNTYEDUCATIONINFORMATION
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
UTILITIES CONTACTS&
Fulton County Schools Board of Education 470-254-3600 fultonschools.org Elementary Schools 59 Middle Schools 19 High Schools 18 Charter 10 Centers 4 Per-pupil expenditures $10,609 School & Bus InformationNorth 470-254-2970 South 470-254-6060 Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education 404-802-3500 atlantapublicschools.us Elementary Schools 49 Middle Schools 12 High Schools 14 Charter 18 Alternative 4 Per-pupil expenditures $11,263 School & bus information 404-802-5500 Avg. SAT Scores Fulton Co. 1086 Atlanta Public Schools 944 Georgia 1048 National 1039
Median household income: $65,037 Median age of residents: 35.5 Population: 1,050,114 Sales tax: 7.75%, Atlanta City: 8.9% Chamber of Commerce Greater North 770-993-8806,Fultongnfcc.com Metro 404-880-9000,Atlanta metroatlantachamber.com South 770-964-1984,Fulton southfultonchamber.com
Property Taxes
TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV AT&T att.com Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com Direct TV directv.com Dish Network dish.com
Neighborhoods Buckhead Buckhead is “where old money lives and new money parties,” according to the At lanta Journal-Constitution. With its mixture of mansions and uniquely styled homes, Buck head is a favorite among archi tecture and history buffs. Convenient to Georgia 400, Interstate 85 and MARTA, it’s filled with high-rises, up scale restaurants, the Governor’s Man sion, the historic Swan House and the Atlanta History Center. Buckhead is also an enter tainment and dining hotspot. With luxury hotels, shops, bars and more than 250 restau rants, the Buckhead area is a magnet for young profession als.The neighborhood also offers numerous antique stores, art galleries and mall shopping at both Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza.
46 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com
many of At lanta’s signature neighborhoods, including its bustling downtown district. Older neighborhoods like Inman Park, Grant Park, Candler Park and Virginia-Highland offer affordable housing, pedestrianfriendly layouts and plentiful parks and recreational options. Midtown is the heart of Atlanta’s cultural scene, with the Woodruff Arts Center (home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the High Museum of Art) and the historic Fox The atre, as well as a host of art galler ies. Midtown’s Piedmont Park, the city’s most popular greenspace, hosts many outdoor festivals and concerts.
One of metro Atlanta’s most vibrant and affluent cities, Alpharetta is home to about 64,000 residents, drawn to its affordable housing, parks, shopping at North Point Mall and concerts at Ameris Bank Amphi theatre. The city's historic downtown boasts an appealing town square. Called Alpharetta City Center, it features locally owned shops and restaurants, and hosts events year round. Johns Creek Incorporated in 2006, this thriving community of 84,000 was ranked fourth among 50 Best U.S. Cities to Live In by USA Today. It boasts a diverse eco nomic base, coupled with a peaceful environment: the city contains over 400 acres of parkland and na ture reserves and contains five access points to the Chattahoochee River. Milton Also incorporated in 2006, Milton com bines a pastoral setting with forward-thinking city planning that offers what's been called "The best quality of life in Georgia." N Piedmont Park County co.fulton.ga.us Neighborhoods sandyspringsga.govroswellgov.comjohnscreekga.govhapeville.orgeastpointcity.orgcollegeparkga.comvirginiahighland.comcityofmiltonga.usbuckhead.netalpharetta.ga.us
The property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value is: $40.92 for the City of Atlanta; $29.18 for incorporated Fulton County; $40.76 for unincorporated Fulton County; $33.54 for Johns Creek; $33.91 for Sandy Springs. Tax Commissioner: 404-613-6100 For more counties and neighborhood information, visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com
PRIVATE SCHOOLS Visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com for a list of private schools in this county. ELECTRICITY City of College Park 404-669-3759 City of East Point 404-270-7010 City of Fairburn 770-964-2244 City of Palmetto 770-463-3322 Georgia Power 888-891-0938 GAS Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated. For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.
Fulton County serves as the cen ter of the metro Atlanta area. With 90 percent of the city of Atlanta, includ ing the state’s capital building, lo cated within its borders, it sits at the hub of the area’s financial, transpor tation, retail, communications and cultural services. A number of For tune 500 companies, including the Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines and UPS, are headquartered here. More than one million people live in Fulton County, drawn by its convenience to Interstates 75, 85 and 285 and Georgia State Route 400. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median value of homes in the county is Fulton$290,400.ishometo
WATER Fulton County 404-612-6830 HOSPITALS Atlanta Medical Center 404-265-4000 Atlanta VA Medical Center 404-321-6111 Center for the Visually Impaired 404-875-9011 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding 404-785-9500 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite 404-785-2273 Emory HospitalUniversityMidtown 404-686-4411 Grady Memorial Hospital 404-616-1000 WellStar North Fulton Regional Hospital 770-751-2500 Northside Hospital 404-851-8000 Piedmont Hospital 404-605-5000 Shepherd Center 404-352-2020 Emory St. Joseph's Hospital 678-843-7001
Fulton County
Help the heroic PAW Patrol pups in Ad venture Bay. You and your family will join Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Everest, Rocky, Zuma and Tracker as you explore your unique abilities, overcome challenges, and help friends. Sept. 24-Jan. 8, 404-659-5437, childrensmuseumatlanta.org. newcomeratlanta.com
A Christmas Carol, Alliance Theatre
EntertainmentFeldPHOTO:
GardenBotanicalAtlantaPHOTO: Monster Jam, Gas South Arena
Everybody is a happy person, a free person, a person who believes nothing but the best lies ahead. Then Death comes calling, and Every body must go on a journey to find what has had lasting significance in his lifetime. Sept. 2-Oct. 2, alliancetheatre.org.
The legendary performer performs on his worldwide final tour. Sept. 22, 800-745-3000, Anmercedesbenzstadium.com.EveningWithMelissa
Former Led Zeppelin singer Plant and veteran country and roots artist Krauss perform songs from 2007’s “Raising Sand” and 2021’s “Raise the Roof.” Sept. 6, livenation.com.
Events PAW Patrol: Adventure Play, Children’s Museum of Atlanta
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The hit classic rock combo celebrates its 50th anniversary with former member Michael Mc Donald along for the ride. Oct. 11, 855-285-8499, Thefoxtheatre.com.Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction, State Farm Arena
The popular alternative rock bands perform songs from throughout their careers. Oct. 11, 800-745-3000, statefarmarena.com.
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Outlaw Music Festival, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
The Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter performs. Sept. 22, 855-285-8499, foxtheatre.com.Everybody, Alliance Theatre
The multiplatinum alternative rock band, originally hailing from Stockbridge, performs with Switchfoot. Sept. 10, livenation.com.
Panic! At the Disco, Gas South Arena
Theater & Concerts
Collective Soul, Cadence Bank Amphitheatre
Bluebeard’s Castle, Kennesaw State University
The rock and roll supergroup led by former Beatle Ringo Starr performs. Sept. 19, 800-745-3000, cobbenergycentre.com. Brandi Carlisle, Fox Theatre
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Georgia Tech choirs perform the score to the beloved holiday classic The Polar Express, which will be alongside a screening of the popular film. Nov. 26-27, 404-733-5000, aso.org.
This world premiere features the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performing songs by the famous Athens-based band, as well as R.E.M.’s Mike Mills performing “Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and Orchestra” with violinist Robert McDuffie. Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 404-733-5000, aso.org.
The Atlanta Opera presents a new staging of Béla Bartók’s one-act opera. In a departure from the original material, a husband and wife deal with the implications of dementia. Per formances take place in Morgan Hall at the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center Oct. 7-9, 404-881-8885, atlantaopera.org.
Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The pop-rock band performs in support of its latest album, “Viva Los Vengeance.” Oct. 7, 770-626-2464, gassouthdistrict.com.
Etheridge, Atlanta Botanical Garden
EVENTS
The Polar Express in Concert, Atlanta Symphony Hall
R.E.M. Explored, Atlanta Symphony Hall
The Alliance Theatre’s adaptation of the clas sic Charles Dickens tale returns with new set design and stunning new costumes. Nov. 12-Dec. 24, Exhibitsalliancetheatre.org.&
The legendary singer-songwriter, known for her solo career as well as her work with Fleet wood Mac, performs. Oct. 12, livenation.com.
The legendary singer-songwriter performs songs from throughout her long career. This concert takes place under the stars on the Great Lawn. Sept. 30, atlantabg.org.
The Doobie Brothers, Fox Theatre
Stevie Nicks, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Cadence Bank Amphitheatre
This all-star festival features performances from Willie Nelson, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, and more. Sept. 9, livenation.com.
An Evening With Melissa Etheridge, Atlanta Botanical Garden
Monster Jam, Gas South Arena
Food Truck Tuesday, Lilburn City Park
This September, enjoy a movie projected onto a large outdoor screen, along with a cookout and inflatables for kids. Film begins at sun down. Call for date and other details. 770-926-0166, Origamilyndonacademy.org.inthe Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden
Stroll among creatively decorated cars at this all-ages Halloween-themed event. Call for date and other details. 770-926-0166, lyndonacademy.org.
Giants of the Mesozoic, Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Lyndon Academy
newcomeratlanta.com
Screen on the Green, Lyndon Academy
Odd-numbered Fridays bring Food Truck Fridays, offering live music and the best local food trucks and vendors, while evennumbered Fridays mean it’s time for Block Party on Main, an open-air extravaganza with a different theme every time. Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. Through Sept. 16. duluthga.net.
The action-packed, family-friendly mo torsports spectacular returns for two days of intense automotive competition. These 12,000-pound trucks push all limits. Sept. 10-11, 770-626-2464, gassouthdistrict.com. Duluth Farmers & Artisan Market, Duluth Town Green Shop locally grown produce, baked goods and other homemade items like candles, soaps and pottery at this monthly event showcasing local farmers and vendors on the second Sunday of each month from 2 to 6 p.m. Sept. 11, Oct. 9 & Nov. 13, duluthga.net.
This exhibition recreates life in the badlands of Patagonia, Argentina, where the largest di nosaurs in the world were unearthed. Ongoing, 404-929-6300, fernbankmuseum.org.
This eye-popping exhibition features dozens of visually striking origami-inspired metal sculptures of birds, butterflies, blooming flow ers and other flora and fauna. Through Oct. 16, Trunkatlantabg.org.orTreat,
Choose from a variety of food trucks and enjoy live entertainment from the City Park bandshell on the second Tuesday of each month through October. Sept. 13 & Oct. 11, cityoflilburn.com.Fridays-N-Duluth,
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Duluth Town Green
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HOURS: each tour lasts about an hour, and participants are asked to plan to arrive 10 minutes early so they can start on time.
Finally, the ghost tour provides visitors with plenty of tales of appari tions roaming the Fox halls. “It’s interesting to see the hospital room and hear the ghost stories from tour guides, who have heard them firsthand from others who have worked at the Fox,” says Aly Grubb, the theatre’s director of marketing.
CONTACT INFO: tours@foxtheatre.org or 404-881-2052
THE DETAILS
Fox Theatre Tours
COST: $15 for architecture and history tour (held three days a week); $25 for Mighty Mo and behind-the-scenes tours (held monthly); ghost tour info TBA; tickets must be purchased online; private and group tours are also available.
PROVIDING AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE HISTORIC VENUE
BoatwrightMichaelright)(bottomPhotography;PhillipsJonathanright)(topCoverage;Alive(left)PHOTOS:
By Everett Catts ocated in Atlanta’s Midtown community, the historic Fox Theatre is known for its eye-catching marquee on Peachtree Street and as the place to go for concerts, movies, Broadway and comedy shows and more. But the theatre, which opened in 1929, is so much more, and its tours showcase all the Fox has to offer. The venue hosts three regular tours—architecture and history, Mighty Mo organ and behind the scenes—and a special ghost tour in October.
The Fox Theatre’s auditorium Co-organist Ken Double with the Mighty Mo organ
LOCATION: 660 Peachtree St., Atlanta, Ga. 30308
An Egyptian-style organ chamber
hidden ATLANTA
The venue was originally designed as the mosque-like headquarters for Atlanta’s Shriner’s organization, which was inspired by Spanish and Egyptian architectural treasures. Because the building was so ornate, the Shriners couldn’t afford it, so right before it opened, they leased it to William Fox, who transformed it into a movie palace. The architecture and history tour pays homage to the theatre’s origins and more.
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The Mighty Mo tour is named for the nickname of the 3,634-pipe Möller Opus 5566 theatre organ, the second largest theatre organ in the world behind Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The behind-thescenes tour gives visitors a glimpse at places they’ll never normally see while at a Fox live event, including how the stage is lifted and lowered.
WEBSITE: foxtheatre.org/tours
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