After 9th grade, when my public school became so violent and overcrowded that it was no longer…read moresafe, I got sent to Paideia. My 3 years here were the best years of my entire educational career - including college and grad school! This place really is the most amazing school ever. I remember my first day just like it was yesterday. I was accompanied by one of my best friends, who was also making the big switch to a more civilized school. We sat in front of the bathrooms for like 10 minutes trying to figure out which one was for boys and which was for girls. Turned out you just use whichever one is open! In addition to just being an awesome environment, where you are accepted for being whoever you are, Paideia has a great curriculum. The year is divided into short and long terms. In the long terms, you take the standard stuff - physics, math, languages, etc. The short term is for classes that are a little more outside the box - Sociology of American Rock & Roll anyone? The teachers here are absolutely outstanding! You can totally tell that they love the school and truly believe in it's mission. And Paul, the headmaster, is just an all around great guy. Graduation was awesome. My graduating class was 57 people and Paul made a short speech about every single one of us! I am so thankful that I was able to go to Paideia on a scholarship. I regularly give them money so that others can do so as well. I am also backing them in their efforts to take over the whole block! Go Paideia!

From the owner: Paideia is an independent pre K-12 school located in Druid Hills. The school has become known for…read morethe individual attention it provides its students, for strong academics, for strong athletics and arts programs, and for a vibrant community spirit. Paideia is recognized nationally as a top college preparatory school.

This is hands down one of the best schools in Atlanta. A National Blue Ribbon School. It is a…read moreschool that focuses not only on academic excellence (and the academics are superior to most any other schools) but also focuses on serving others. The faculty and staff are like family and they truly care for each of the children as if they were their own. All three of our children attend St. Thomas More and our oldest has been there for eight years. I can remember once my son coming home with something he had written about why he loved St. Thomas More and he wrote "St. Thomas More teaches you to be kind." My kids are receiving a top notch education and feel safe and very happy at St. Thomas More and I could not ask for more.

From the owner: From the moment you step on our campus at Saint Thomas More Catholic School in Decatur, Ga., you…read morecan feel the difference. Joy is abundant! We live our school mission as “a joyful learning community reaching out to the world as the hands of Christ.” Affectionately called “STM” and located in Decatur, GA, Saint Thomas More Catholic School offers Pre-K4 - 8th grade students an education for their mind, heart, and soul. At our National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, we provide an academically challenging, innovative learning environment that is Christ-centered and based on Catholic values and traditions. We strive to inspire a global sense of understanding, respect, and compassion for others and the courage to put our faith into action. As an accredited private Catholic Pre-K, elementary and middle school inspired by the Jesuits, we are committed to the Jesuit ideals of academic excellence, the service of faith, the promotion of justice, and the education of the whole child.

This is a fantastic school!! There is an international community that is unparalleled at other…read moreprivate schools in Atlanta. The school is adding a 3-year-old immersion preschool program in Fall 2012. They also have 4- and 5-year old Kindergarten and 1st through 12th grade following the International Baccalaureate program. It is a beautiful campus and getting better all the time!

From the owner: Atlanta International School offers all three International Baccalaureate (IB) programs to over…read more1350 U.S. and international students from three-year-old kindergarten to grade 12. Rigorous academics are enriched by a world-class language acquisition program, which begins with a full-immersion preschool program in Spanish, French and German. The school offers STEM-and STEAM-endorsed and bilingual diplomas in addition to the prestigious IB diploma. Beyond the classroom, AIS students participate in award-winning performing and fine arts opportunities, competitive athletics and global experiential learning.

If you want your kids to be more than just smart, to be Great human beings, This is your place. The…read morewhole culture puts being caring, honest, upfront, and respectful front and center. I see it in my kids every day. (ok, almost every day. They're still humans! :)) But they really do learn in a much more varied 'landscape' of people, of cultures, family structures and points of view and they are better for it. Plus they are getting all the tools for great conflict management skills, a key predictor of happiness. And that's the icing on the cake of solid academics. My kids are learning, and most importantly, they are happy and confident, they feel loved and like they "belong" at their school. (They beg me to stay at aftercare to play with their friends!)

When it came time to find a kindergarten for my son, I knew that I wanted a setting with small…read moreclass sizes, skillful teachers, and a focus on academics. However, as a psychologist, I also knew that I wanted a school that had a focus on social-emotional development. I feel so lucky to have found the Friends School for my son. They sincerely practice what they preach. My son has ADHD, and the teachers were exceptional in identifying his needs, using targeted strategies to assist him, and communicating with me about ways to support him. Despite his challenges, they never lost sight of his unique strengths. Now that he is in first grade, he is thriving. And, the beauty of it is, because it's a small school, his current teachers already have some familiarity with him and have been able to give me great feedback about his improvement. The focus on ensuring that kids are well-rounded citizens is also a real asset for FSA. My son is courteous, kind, and socially aware. He talks about helping the homeless, eating healthy foods, and caring for the environment. He gets adequate exercise and sunlight during the school day (which research shows is linked to greater energy and concentration). He is learning conflict management skills, mindfulness, empathy, and how to be a good member of a team. As someone who works with business leaders, I know that these lessons will be invaluable in his life. I once told the headmaster that he radiates warmth. His demeanor is so kind, upbeat, and positive - he never looks like he's going through the motions. I believe that he sets a great tone for the rest of the school. I can't rave enough about FSA. I'm so lucky that we found it!

Is it lame to yelp your Alma Mater or is more lame to be the first person to post to it?…read more What to say about a school that I graduated from 24 years ago and havent been to one reunion yet? Go Bulldogs?? I can probably remember 10 people from my graduating class and couldnt tell you who the guest speaker was if my life depended on it. One think I can remember is going to the Junior Senior Prom with my best friend in a taxi, because neither one of our parents had begun to let us date yet. Now that I'm 40 I realize that it really wasn't that bad and that even back then my mom could afford a taxi for that evening which did include dinner, photos, and the prom and the ride back home...all with the meter running cost a pretty penny (even back then). ....I have to remember to thank her for that and apologize for thinking I must have been the lamest kid around. Not much more exciting than that....I was popular, but in my own way....my mom didnt let me date, but I was still popular with all the guys and not for being loose at all...so thats a good thing. All the cool kids called me County Cool....but thats because I was...it was always with love and affection, never meant to be a mean thing....so I guess that being said...I can say the High School years werent bad at all. Maybe I'll hit up that 25 year reunion after all and see if anyone's face looks familiar, because I'm sure I can't remember those names. Go Bulldogs

This school opened around 1967 or 68. Brand new and everyone was excited about the Newness. Books,…read moreclassrooms, floors, bathrooms and new cafeteria. Introduction of a Middle School was a great experience. The administration office personnel were courteous and cared alot about the student body. Most of it's students came from the surrounding areas of East Atlanta, Kirkwood or within the city limits of Atlanta/Dekalb. The colors were red and black. Our mascot was a panther. I have only fond memories of Coan Middle School.

The school is great, very diverse. But every week I get dentition for speaking my mind about the…read morecivil war. Also, some of the teachers are rude, and I want a school where all of the teachers are amazing and sweet. So, in conclusion, the school is only good if you don't have opinions. P.S. Watch out for Sebastian Eugene Hansen

Love this school! What a special place to grow up. With great staff, award winning theater,…read morejournalism, and sports. The skyline of midtown is your backdrop, and Piedmont Park is your front lawn! Could it get better! Fire it up Grady Knights!

I am a 1969 graduate.My parents drove me from Roswell.I had attended Morgan Falls Elementary public…read moreschool through sixth grade.I was the youngest person in my 7th grade class at Westminster.I attended Duke on a full scholarship and later UGA Law .I became a trial lawyer.Needless to say Westminster positively changed the course of my life. E.Marcus (Marc)Davis

1,000. Days? Meals?…read moreFriends? . . . Reviews?? How to mark a relatively minor yet personally important milestone? I didn't want to just do an *average* review, nor did I want to be so aggrandizing as to create a new "listing" of my own Yelp life. [I did think about that one, though...]. Then it hit me: where it all began. Sure, I didn't start at Westminster til 6th grade (that little spurt in Chatt for preschool then another Atlanta private school came before) but it is the most formative educational experience of my life. Even - I think - more than UVA. What I learned, from the "Christian preparatory school for boys and girls" [Note: the specifically Christian part has changed since I was there in the 80s and 90s] is . . . hard to concisely explain [there are some negatives, which I will also mention]. Highlights: *How to think. My parents planted this seed early and they wisely knew I should be in a place where I was challenged, motivated, and importantly - intrigued. *How to create. So many friends have gone on to do amazingly creative, artistically or otherwise, things [see John Pringle http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=john+pringle+wednesday+with+steve+mcqueen&FORM=VRMATS&mmalsid=&mmsosid=385bcb7f-e962-3d3d-e30d-9cf6536fea31&crslsl=0 and Rob Lathan - http://www.roblathan.com/ Zach Hanks http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1189565/bio, just to name three . . .] *The dynamics of social hierarchy: put a lot of bright kids together - and I assure you not all rich WASPy kids - and you've got to learn some social skills, life tactics, motivation . . . [negatives: much like any JH and HS environments, cliques, snottiness, general *rivalries* exist] *Exposure to language and travel. From JH language classes and my first real foray abroad with my French class in 8th grade (I ultimately ended up with enough scores and credits to place out of any college requirements) to trips like Young Life's Western Tour that took us to TX, CO, Mexico, CA and back, with lots of stops in between (Have you climbed Half Dome? Pretty awesome). *The advantages to having so many interests at your use (and waiting or required, depending) - language! science! theater! oh my . . . *An athletic environment par none in Atlanta at my time, and amazingly even better now (and, frankly all "extra-curricular" outlets are as well- have you ever been forced to do a swing jump then safety catch as part of your high school curriculum? Didn't think so - oh, and I had to do mine in a cheerleading skirt). *Simply outstanding teachers (97.2% of the time) [Some pretty stern faculty members-in-charge could use a reset] *Wayyyy big preparation for college - I (and many of my classmates) say Westminster was more challenging than college (and we went to places like UVA, UNC, Dartmouth, Princeton, etc...) Negatives, so to speak, other than I have noted above? Intense competition and pressure; example: a typical weeknight for me as a high school sophomore was two hours of [cross country/cheerleading/tennis] practice, then homework from 8-11 pm, back up at 630 am. Varsity athletes who were also striving to keep being honor students did this every day, every week. Even Type As like me were . . . working hard and beyond. Social pressure - the flip side of acquiring those adult social skills. It's going to be in any Jr High or High School world, but it is amplified in such a brilliant environment. The Type Bs, so to speak - there for family reasons, because it is a phenomenal school, because . . .a really tough place to be as a kid and teen. Super spendy. A smart kid can learn well and go on to do well, regardless of their surroundings, but this kind comes at a price, which I believe is worth it, but it's a pretty big one in terms of dollars. Bottom line? I wouldn't trade it - the experience, the education, the whole shebang - for anything. As much as this smart, Type A, blonde cheerleading captain, WASP girl might have "fit in" and "excelled" - despite the expectations and challenges, on many levels, it is a privilege to go to a place like Westminster for education and way more. And a lot of other kids, different than me - can feel the exact same way. My parents didn't do everything right for sure, but they are the ones who made sure my hide was in that chair in Mrs. Norman's 6th grade English class, and taught me all about diagramming sentences. Part of why I get to write my 1,000th review. Exit, Stage Left.

My son has been at the school now for four years and I could not imagine where we would be without…read morethis amazing school. The facility, faculty and services are truly encompassing and incomparable.

If your child has a moderate to severe LD then this is a school you should look at hard at. We…read moremoved my son to Howard at the start of the 6th grade. He had been struggling to learn his entire academic career. His self esteem was low. Homework was a 2-4 hour struggle every night. Within a month of his attending Howard, we noticed a dramatic change in his attitude towards his education! His self confidence soared! 4 years later and we are still amazed at the education he is receiving! Warning! The school is far from cheap. Money well spent in my book!