Independent School Guide 2024-2025
ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL GUIDE
Atlanta magazine’s 2024 directory includes schools that are members of or accredited by Cognia (formerly AdvancED), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), or the Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools (AAAIS). The schools have campuses in metro Atlanta’s 12 core counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, and Rockdale. Researched and compiled by Jennifer Coltrin
EDITOR’S NOTE: Data was compiled in September 2024 from surveys sent to the schools. The “What’s New” question was optional. N/A = not applicable; data N/A = data not available
The Directory
SPONSORED
- Arbor Montessori School
- Atlanta International School
- Atlanta Speech School
- The Galloway School
- Greater Atlanta Christian School
- Heritage Preparatory School
- Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School
- The Lovett School
- The Mount Vernon School
- Pace Academy
- The Paideia School
- The Schenk School
- Springmont School
- St. Martin’s Episcopal School
- Trinity School
- The Westminster Schools
- Woodward Academy
What's new at private schools across metro Atlanta
The new school year brings news as well, with announcements of changes in
administration, facilities, and curriculum at schools everywhere. Here’s a sampling of
the latest happenings that Atlanta area independent schools are welcoming. –H.M. CAULEY Illustrations by Linda Baritski.
administration, facilities, and curriculum at schools everywhere. Here’s a sampling of
the latest happenings that Atlanta area independent schools are welcoming. –H.M. CAULEY Illustrations by Linda Baritski.
COME TOGETHER
Leaders of Arbor Montessori Schoolin Decatur expect to break ground on a campus consolidation project this year that will bring its two separate locations together. Currently, the school operates facilities on both Lavista Road and Scott Boulevard. When completed, a new building will bring the Scott community to Lavista, and Arbor will be together on campus for the first time in its 50-plus year history.
Field Day
The 55-plus acre campus of North Cobb Christian School in Kennesaw just got bigger with the latest athletic expansion, the Walker Phillips Field. The field has special meaning to the school because it was constructed for NCCS’s varsity softball and middle school baseball teams in honor of Walker Phillips, a fourth-grade student, brother, son, and NCCS athlete who passed away in 2022. His No. 2 is prominently placed in the center of the turf, while a “Live Like Walker” is emblazoned in front of the dugouts. The new complex also includes a hitting facility with two indoor batting cages, a locker room, a concessions building, fully turfed and lit field, restrooms, and a monument to Walker.
Woodward Marks a Milestone
It’s a year of celebration at Woodward Academy as the school with campuses in College Park and Johns Creek marks 125 years of operation, making it one of the oldest independent schools in the state. With more than 2,700 students, Woodward is also one of the largest. What began in 1900 as the Georgia Military Academy was renamed in the late 1960s, but the commitment to academic excellence has continued to be a mainstay. The milestone is being marked during an array of events including homecoming, a fall festival, spring arts day, and more that will lead up to a special celebration in April.
TRINITY HITS THE BOOKS
After several years of delving into the science of reading, teachers at Trinity School in Buckhead are taking their understanding of literacy to a new level this year. Reinforced with comprehensive training, faculty will introduce a number of new initiatives to promote reading and writing skills. At the kindergarten level, they’re focusing on Geodes Decodable Readers that align with current spelling and phonics curriculums. Grades 2 through 4 will engage with the Bookworms Comprehensive Literacy program that provides text experiences with grammar and vocabulary instruction around science, social studies and literature. The school will also be using Zaner-Bloser’s Word Wisdom and grammar resources that offer hands-on and online resources.
At The Helm of Howard
J. Michael Powell is the new principal of the Steve Young High School at the Howard School. on Atlanta’s Westside. Powell was named after an extensive nationwide search that uncovered his dedication and vision. He most recently served as the director of community, equity, and inclusion at the Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, where he was noted for his passion, innovative spirit, and resilience. His goals for Howard include enhancing academic programs, strengthening community engagement, and providing students with the skills to succeed in an ever-changing world.
Safety First
Recognizing the importance of extending online safety beyond the classroom, the Mount Vernon School has earned official designation as the first Atlanta area Bark Community Partner. Through this partnership, families can access Bark’s suite of safety features, including custom screen time schedules, website and app blocking capabilities, and GPS location tracking for mobile devices. Mount Vernon has been working with Bark to leverage technology for positive change while safeguarding against potential online risks since 2017.
HEAD OF THE CLASS
This fall marks the inaugural year of Heritage Preparatory School's, first senior class. For more than 25 years, the Midtown school has offered a biblically based, classical education for students beginning in PreK; that now extends through 12th grade. Already, the 14-member class of 2025 has hit some milestones, including accruing at least 60 hours of community service, 100 percent engagement in extracurricular activities, and total participation in developing a yearlong senior thesis that includes a written paper and an hour-long oral presentation. Additionally, the class ranked first nationally in the Classical Learning Test and averaged in the 95th percentile on the ACT.
Mount Paran Welcomes New Leader
Mount Paran Christian School in Cobb County welcomes Matthew Kerlin as the new head of school. His extensive experience includes six years as head of school at SouthLake Christian in North Carolina, assistant vice president for student development at Samford University, and university minister at the University of Alabama. He earned a bachelor’s in music from Louisiana State University, a master’s in theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a doctorate in historical theology from Baylor University, and an MBA from Samford University. Along with welcoming a new head of school, more than 1,500 staff and students returned to campus this fall to discover the results of a $2.5 million makeover of the kitchen and dining hall, which offers more seating and food prep areas.
On The Map
Whitefield Academy middle school science teacher Stefan Moss marked a milestone by creating the Saltwater Underground Railroad Experience, a virtual tour powered by Google Earth that explores the lesser known Southern railroad path from Georgia and South Carolina to Spanish Florida and the Bahamas. Recently added to the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, the tour explores how free Africans built lasting communities in this former British colony. Moss was inspired to create the experience after visiting national and state parks across the Southeast, where Underground Railroad stories were told.
Less Tech Talk
A new initiative to support student well-being and academic focus welcomed students returning to Greater Atlanta Christian School which is now a more phone-free environment. Building on the existing kindergarten through grade 12 phone free policies, students in grades six through 12 will store their cell phones and smartwatches in school issued Yondr pouches at the beginning of the school day. The pouches remain locked until students leave their final classes at the end of the day. The initiative aims to reduce distractions, promote genuine social interaction, improve student mental health, and enhance learning experiences.
