I just dropped my child off at NDA this morning where I saw the principal standing outside in…read morefreezing temperatures to greet incoming students. She helped a black child who was struggling with a backpack over his winter coat. Then, she did the laughing "chilly" dance with another much younger black child, perhaps a kindergartener or first grader, who was racing inside to escape the cold. Mrs. Deruki greeted two Asian sisters on their way in the front door and waved at a group of Hispanic siblings trekking down the sidewalk. Everyone was smiling, children and adults alike. As I witnessed all this from my car, I couldn't help but think about the review complaining about NDA's lack of diversity. This is not an all white school like so many other private schools in Georgia. In my child's class alone, there are Hispanic families, Asian families, mixed race families, and black families. I want my child in a school that welcomes all races and ethnicities, and honestly, that has been my experience at NDA. I cannot speak for other parents who may feel differently, and I feel sad for the mom who felt like her daughter's needs were not met. But, there must be more to that story that was not shared here on Yelp. My fear is that negative reviews calling NDA racist will scare away the very families that NDA wants to welcome to its community. Please don't be afraid. My daughter's experience at NDA has been wonderful. The academics are rigorous and the expectations are high. She has not loved every single teacher, but some teachers are adored, deeply. And that's life, isn't it? Persevere, learn, grow. Notre Dame Academy is not a perfect fit for every student, but my Colombian American daughter loves it, and she is thriving.

Our experience at Notre Dame Academy was deeply painful and rooted in racism and bias. From the…read morevery beginning, exactly our third month at the school, we received warnings from former parents about the school's issues with racism. Sadly, those warnings proved to be true. My daughter, who was in second grade, experienced repeated instances of discrimination--not just from peers, but from teachers and the administration. In Kindergarten, she was told by another child that her "skin was not good" and was excluded from playing with other girls because of her skin color. In 2nd grade, she developed anxiety around lunchtime and was yelled at by her teacher in the cafeteria instead of being supported. When I emailed the teacher to explain her anxiety and ask for patience, I received a dismissive response claiming that my daughter's "behaviors are becoming intentional." Despite never having a history of behavioral issues, her anxiety was labeled as intentional misbehavior--something I firmly believe would not have happened if my daughter were white. A white child would have simply "had anxiety." My daughter was criminalized for hers. Our pediatrician even wrote a letter urging the school to support her with more understanding. Still, no empathy was shown. After I addressed her anxiety and asked to be updated with any further issues during our teacher conference and offered support--as both a parent and an education professional--I was met with defensiveness. During our Zoom teacher conference, I professionally and calmly provided suggestions on how to create a more inclusive environment for all students. I was a former instructional coach and thought it would have been helpful for the teacher if I shared some strategies. Rather than take this in good faith, the teacher immediately made herself the victim--a pattern we've seen throughout Black history, where people of color advocating for themselves are painted as threats. The teacher then went to the principal, Julie Derucki, cried, and claimed she felt "attacked." The principal sent an email to me requesting a meeting and expressed her concern that her teacher "felt attacked" by me in our conference. That word--"attacked"--is heavy, loaded, and racially coded, especially when used to describe a person of color. It was incredibly offensive and dehumanizing. I raised my concerns about this language, how it was offensive, and the dangerous implications it carries, but I received no apology or acknowledgment. I requested a meeting with the teacher and principal to understand how the teacher "felt attacked" in our Zoom call. Instead, I was asked if I needed help "finding another school." The remaining few weeks of the school year became unbearable and extremely uncomfortable. The principal greeted us with sarcastic tones, rolled her eyes at me during mass when I asked where to sit, and the teacher who once greeted every car at pickup pointedly ignored ours. What little support was offered for my daughter's mental health turned out to be performative and disorganized, with no follow-through. Before departing the school, I did speak to a board member and the president of the school to express my concerns with racism. The president was very aware of this ongoing issue at the school that has caused a turnover of both staff and families throughout the years. In my opinion, Notre Dame Academy is not a safe or supportive environment for students of color. The school is not inclusive (although it is promoted on the website), does not put all students first, and does not hold its staff accountable when clear bias and harm are at play. If I could give zero stars, I would. I share this review in hopes that no other child or family experiences what we did, especially those of color.

We absolutely love Alpharetta International Academy! The professionalism of the staff, the genuine…read morecare and attention given to each child, and the emphasis on both learning and healthy play make this a truly special school. AIA embraces the traits we value about traditional Montessori education: fostering independence, curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. One of the most rewarding things has been watching our children become more independent and confident by taking initiative, solving problems on their own, and showing genuine excitement about what they're learning. The teachers and staff are wonderful, and we have complete trust in their ability to nurture, guide, and challenge our children. Beyond the classroom, AIA has built a wonderful community of families, with welcoming parents and fun events that bring people together and make the school feel like an extended family. It's a joy to see our kids thrive in such a thoughtful, supportive environment. We couldn't be happier with our experience and wholeheartedly recommend AIA to other families!

Very disappointing experience overall. We signed up early for the next school year, but literally…read morewithin a few days we found out because of a work situation that we would be moving to Canada. We reached out right away, explained everything and asked if they could make an exception. They absolutely could have if they wanted to, but instead chose to charge us close to $2,000 and kept pointing us back to the contract and legal language. I even appealed directly to both the outgoing and incoming heads of the school, hoping there would be some understanding given the circumstances and how quickly we notified them. Unfortunately, there was none. The saving grace for us was my son's teachers, Mr. Rao and Mrs. Joshi. They were wonderful and we genuinely appreciated them. Beyond that, I was never particularly impressed with the administration or the overall experience. For a school that positions itself as a premier institution and has so many positive accolades, our experience was very different. To us, it felt like a pretty average/subpar school packaged and marketed as something much more. If you are considering AIA, just make sure you read every line of what you sign. Don't assume there will be any flexibility or understanding even when circumstances change within a matter of days.

There was a lot of bullying and cliques. If you are rich and popular you'll do fine. If not, then…read moreyou will be bullied, told to end your own life, and the staff does nothing. I would never ever send my children here. I watched so many people hurt by this school. I was punished for reporting anything, including people telling me I was better off dead. Please, I beg of you, if you are considering this school, take it off your list. It is not what it seems. There are some good teachers, but the children and the administrators and even some teachers do absolutely nothing as they witnessed it. This school is not what it seems. From a former student.

Best school in Forsyth County. Combines the independence and flexibility of home-schooling with the…read moresocial and professional educational benefits of classroom instruction.

We love Goddard! Their communication, attentiveness, and overall care is unmatched. Our oldest…read morestarted there when she was 2 after attending a different school that was falling short, and Goddard was an extremely positive change. When our second child was ready, it was no question that she would thrive at Goddard as well.

My kid learns so much everyday! we love love the teachers and they are the best.. love this school!read more

See greatschools.com for how poorly supported myself and others were . Thanks- we need more…read morequalifications from the people teaching here- oh and nobody is sped certified and nobody actually is trained to work with the disabilities they say they're trained in I was sent to peachford HOSPITAL to sign a no harm contract and was not s***idal before attending this school They promote popularity and ableism. Not equipped for what anxiety OR ADHD COME WITH most of the time. They said they were going to enroll me in communication arts, they then bait and switched my mother saying they did not have room, put me in traditional and didn't do anything they promised for my IEP, then when I hit autistic burnout they put me in in school suspension. They never gave a date for moving me to communication arts. I was pulled out and the focus became on keeping me alive.

The new Head of School has great vision for the future of the school. Though there have been recent…read morechanges, he has made me excited for the upcoming students over the next few years. The staff develops great relationships and mentors even after graduation.

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.

I attended Perimeter Christian School from 4th through 8th grade, and I believe prospective parents…read moredeserve to hear about my experience before making a decision about whether to enroll their children. One incident that has stayed with me occurred when I was in 7th grade. During a class taught by Ken DeMaris, I referred to then-President Barack Obama simply as "Obama." Mr. DeMaris became very upset and told me I was being disrespectful by not calling him "President Obama." He instructed me to leave the classroom for the remainder of the period. As I was preparing to leave, I asked whether I should take my binder with me. Mr. DeMaris responded by throwing the binder directly at me. As I was not expecting violence from a teacher, and he was within arms length of me, i was caught off guard and the binder struck me in the face, causing my mouth to bleed. I immediately went to the office of Principal Mary Hubbard. Instead of expressing concern about what had happened, her response was immediately, "I'm sure he had a reason.". I think it is important to highlight that this was not a playful toss, it was a forceful throw with visible anger behind it. As an 11 year old student standing in the office with blood dripping down my chin from my mouth, that response left a lasting impression on me. What troubled me most was not only the incident itself, but the apparent willingness and haste of school leadership to excuse it. A second incident involved the school's PE teacher, Patrick Mullrennan. After I and two other students sang the national anthem before a school volleyball game, Mr. Mullrennan concluded that our performance was disrespectful to the United States, claiming , "during the performance the boys were sticking their fingers in each others rear ends", despite not a single witness/attendee corroborating his story. Within moments of finishing, he pulled us aside, grabbed me by the neck, physically restrained us, and began yelling at us (I am proud to say I truly gave the best performance I could and have never and will never directly disrespect the United States in that way, but there was absolutely no way of reasoning with Patrick). Another experience that I believe parents should know about was an event the school called "Slave Day" when I was in 5th grade. The stated purpose was to teach students what slavery was like before emancipation. Parents volunteered to act as "slave masters" alongside teachers, and students were subjected to verbal and physical abuse throughout the day. During the event, Mr. Mullrennan pushed me to the ground while shouting, "What are you looking at, slave?" Looking back, I find the entire concept deeply inappropriate and disturbing, especially coming from people who are supposed to be examples of Godly leaders. I am sharing these experiences because they had a profound impact on me. Rather than seeing Christian values modeled through humility, compassion, accountability, and grace, I often felt I was witnessing authoritarianism exercised through intimidation and humiliation. Those experiences played a significant role in causing me to question both the institution and the faith it claimed to represent. At the same time, I want to acknowledge one individual who left a positive and lasting impression on me: Clint Fisher. To this day, he remains one of the best examples of humility, integrity, and genuine Christian character that I have encountered. He consistently treated students with respect and kindness and demonstrated the values that I believe a Christian school should strive to embody. In many ways, he stood as a bright light in stark contrast to the darkness embodied by so many of the teachers and leaders, and I remain grateful for his influence. This review reflects my personal experience as a student. I encourage parents to conduct their own research, speak with former students, and ask detailed questions about school culture, accountability, and how student concerns are handled before making a decision.

We have two children that started going to PCS in first grade and graduated after the eighth grade…read more I cannot even begin to describe the positive impact this school has had on our family. My daughter had to get up in front of a large class at UGA this week and was totally at ease because of all the poetry recitals they had at Perimeter. She also talked about how comfortable she is speaking to and interacting with adults because of the large presence of the parents at PCS. As parents, the school helped us focus on the hearts of our children. We got to be part of a community where we all looked out for each other's kids. Being part of a covenant community was a wonderful part of raising our kids. Our children received a wonderful foundation and were taught by teachers that love the Lord and shared this love with our kids. Our kids learned scripture and can defend their faith. They were also challenged academically and have continued to thrive academically since graduating from PCS. I'm so thankful we decided to send our kids to PCS.

I could only provide 2 stars based off of the interaction I had with a faculty member, Noelle…read moreMcGreevy. The school & education are wonderful, but my experience has been tainted by this woman's behavior. Not only is she dishonest, but she is rude & guilts people into "donating" more money than they have to give.

The faith-based environment is woven into everything they do, and it's wonderful to see how the…read morevalues we teach at home - prayer, service, kindness -are reinforced at school each day. The teachers and staff truly know each child and work to meet them where they are academically. One of my daughters has faced some academic challenges, and the school has provided the right resources and support to ensure she stays on track with her classmates - all while helping her build confidence along the way. As a parent, I also appreciate how welcoming and involved the community is. There are so many opportunities to volunteer with varying time commitments so parents can be as engaged in a way that work for them. Most importantly, my girls love going to school. They're always excited to see their friends and teachers, and the sense of community extends beyond the classroom -- they play soccer and do gymnastics with many of their classmates, which has helped strengthen those friendships even more.