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.

The Westminster Schools is a private K-12 Christian school in the heart of Atlanta's Buckhead…read moreneighborhood. If you go on their website, you can find the facts that almost speak for themselves: stellar college placements, consistent state champions on a variety of teams, and a campus that rivals many liberal arts colleges. Beyond all of that, however, this is where I learned to study hard and grow as a human being. The religious nature of the school allowed me to gain a comprehensive education in Christianity, and the teachers here are second to none. Even five years out, I still keep in touch with many of them. The price tag is steep, and the social and academic pressure is high, but Westminster gave me a middle school and high school education that made me who I am today. For that, I thank you. Five stars cannot cover what I learned here.

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.

Someone found a dead raccoon in the boys bathroom. This was very disgusting. The smell was putrid,…read moreI could smell it from the upper level of the school. I would not recommend for those with hypersomia, as this school is a hotspot for rotten scents.

My husband teaches here so I'm not too objective. I love this school though. The kids are…read morerespectful. The location is great. And the teacher seem to really love what they do!

Marist School is definitely one of the top Private Schools in Georgia. Their gated community and…read moretraditions provide a sense of community that is unparalleled. They truly embody the meaning of college preparatory with almost all of their students being accepted into college somewhere in the US. My sisters both go here and they have shown tremendous growth since fully diving into Marist. My first sister just graduated with acceptances in 15 of the 17 schools she applied to and scholarships from all of them. My younger sister will be playing varsity as a sophomore for volleyball there as well. Marist allows for students to reach their full potential through an abundance of resources, support systems and connections. If I had kids, they would definitely be going to Marist.

I attended Marist and received a challenging and incredible education. Above all else, my Marist…read moreeducation solidified my faith. I believe the Marist education which aims to allow students to grow in the image of Mary gives you perspective taking skills and ability to live for something more than just yourself.

The campus is very clean and fresh and nice but the teachers once you get into high school and…read moremiddle school still treat you like your five years old. Nobody there is really nice to you in anyway highly recommend not going here.

We love this school!! The safe environment and forward thinking education is ideal for any child…read more Best thing we ever did!

I went to Galloway from K-12, so this comes from a very long firsthand experience. There are…read moredefinitely positives: it is a kind, supportive environment, the teachers generally care, and the school does a good job making students feel seen as individuals. I understand why a lot of Buckhead families are drawn to it. That said, looking back as an adult, I do not feel like it prepared me especially well for real life. There was a lot of emphasis on "be your best self," which sounds good on paper, but in my experience there was less emphasis on discipline, toughness, accountability, and the kind of academic rigor that actually helps once you leave a protected school environment. It helped get me into Alabama, but I was not especially well prepared once I got there, and that became obvious pretty quickly. Now I work in residential real estate, and while I do fine, it is not exactly the kind of challenging or deeply fulfilling professional path I once thought a school like Galloway was preparing me for. It is a very relationship-driven job with long hours, and if I am being honest, a lot of where I landed had more to do with family connections than with any real edge the school gave me. That is the part I think prospective families should think about. Galloway was good at making students feel comfortable and affirmed. I am less convinced it was good at pushing them hard enough to thrive on their own later.

I've been a teacher for over 30 years and I didn't know a school as ideal as Galloway existed. It's…read morewhat education should be but usually is thought to be impossible by those who haven't seen it done. I took a job in upper learning and have been so pleased to see that Galloway does exactly what they say they do. They are still true to their mission in a time when many schools have tried to be too much, or worse, given up trying. Students are happy, supported, and empowered to advocate for their own education. The rhythm of the day is purposefully designed to help students learn and grow academically as well as socially. Teachers create conditions for each student to think deeply and participate actively according to their strengths. The day is punctuated by regular breaks allowing students to enjoy social community, lunch, and relaxation in between tutorials and class time. Students are very involved: they run weekly clubs and plan and host town meetings. There is time for sports and extracurriculars. Students can explore their interests casually as well as competitively in a welcoming atmosphere. I wish I'd known about it sooner.

Honestly not that great. I was too focused on my own studies to care about the rumors of some…read moreteachers behaving poorly, but I feel I wasn't taught anything here. They told us they were preparing us for the adult world, but the workload and difficulty at cottage going into a real college was like doing the tutorial for a children's educational game (not unlike those you played on the fisher price tablets in the 2000s) then being thrown into an end game dark souls boss fight. They don't teach you to handle your executive dysfunction or ADHD, they see someone excel academically and assume they don't need help. They didn't prepare me for the adult world, I survived through sheer luck and clawing my way back up to stable ground. That said, while the school itself failed me, there were many teachers who made the hell of my teenage years bearable.

I attended this high school as a young teenage girl, and graduated five years ago. I struggled…read moreprimarily with mental health, not cognitive disabilities which made me much more aware of the injustices that the kids suffer at the hands of SOME of the staff. Three examples: As a minor, at 17 years old, I was locked in a room with the two female counselors (with no adult representing me or any parent present for such a conversation) while the counselors (Tanya & Margaret) randomly started to tell me I should not be having *** at my age or with the boy I had a crush on at the time. I was confused because I had not been active and I was a young girl. When I said that I was not active, they rolled their eyes and said "stop lying, you are the kind of girl. we see this all the time." Absolutely disgusting and inappropriate conversation to have with a minor. My parents were furious. The second example is: I excitedly told my teacher (Wilfred) that I had been accepted to the University of Alabama my senior year! Only for him to turn to me in front of all my classmates and say "You will flunk out anyway" and turned back to his computer. I was laughed at by all of my classmates and my only friend in school had to stand up for me to a teacher who should be viewed as a mentor and safe person, but instead was one of my biggest bullies throughout my time at The Cottage School. My third example was: I was living through a very difficult period of time at home and in my own mind. This put a big strain on my sleeping, and I was not getting proper sleep at all. In the mornings, I was involuntarily falling asleep in my classes and would consistently be punished for it instead of anyone checking on my well being. Especially at a school that is supposed to have been specialized towards children with special circumstances. There were a thousand other instances that led to me deeming my time at The Cottage School to be mildly scarring for me as a young woman. However, I will say that Siree, Roshonda, Ryan and his wife Lydia, Katya, Lynn and Hector were the absolute highlights of that place, and should absolutely be recognized for the amazing and lasting impressions they leave on their students. True empathetic and patient angels, every one of them. With that said, I hope that The Cottage School can learn from what I've shared of my experience.