Schools & Colleges

Atlanta's public and private schools offer wide education choices

By Jennifer Maciejewski

Whether you're relocating due to a job transfer or a desire to live near family, one thing is certain if you have children-schools matter. With everything from magnet and charter to religious and international schools, one of Atlanta's public or private schools is sure to meet your child's academic, social or special needs.

Beyond the Numbers
Choosing a school is never easy. After all, parents consider countless variables as they weigh their options, from the school's test scores and average class size to its course offerings and enrichment activities.

Although parents typically look to test scores for guidance, it's important to remember that statistics only tell part of the story. "There is no single ranking that you can use to compare Georgia to the nation or to other states," says Kathy Cox, state superintendent of schools.

In some areas, Georgia's students perform very well when compared to the nation. For instance, Georgia is a national leader in the percentage of public school students who take Advanced Placement classes and score a three or higher on the AP exams, therefore qualifying for college credit. "All parents want what is best for their own children," says Cox, who, like roughly 90 percent of Georgia's parents, chooses to send her children to public schools. "What's important is that we have a plan that makes sense and can work. The 'Quality Counts' report just released by Education Week ranked Georgia's policies, practices and curriculum among the best in the nation. If we stick with our current course, we'll see great improvement for years to come."

Choices, Choices
When parents explore the education options available for their children in the metro area, they'll quickly discover that there's a school to meet every need.

Private schools continue to offer families the widest array of choices. Parents who want to blend the fundamentals of their faith with a challenging curriculum often turn to religious schools, like Greenfield Hebrew Academy in Atlanta and Dominion Christian High School in Marietta, for their child's instruction. Those who desire a culturally diverse, dual-language environment typically prefer schools that offer an International Baccalaureate program, such as the Atlanta International School and High Meadows School in Roswell.

Likewise, gender-based day and boarding schools, like the Atlanta Girls School and Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, tailor their instruction to complement boys' and girls' different learning styles, while special needs schools, such as the Atlanta Speech School and The Howard School in Atlanta, address the diverse requirements of children with learning differences, whether they're blind, deaf, dyslexic or autistic.

Chart(ering) A New Course
Although private schools once cornered the market on school choice, Georgia's growing number of charter schools offers public school parents many of the same options. Over the past three years, the number of charter schools operating in Georgia has doubled to 71, and another 30 are slated to open next year.

Charter schools typically come into being when a group of like-minded parents join together to create an educational alternative in their community. "A charter school is given certain flexibility and can structure its school in ways that a traditional public school might not be able to," says Andrew Broy, director of charter schools for the Georgia Department of Education.

For instance, Ivy Preparatory Academy, set to open in August, will make an all-girls learning environment available for Gwinnett County's public school students. The Imagine International Academy of Mableton bases its curriculum on the International Baccalaureate program. And the Hapeville Charter Career Academy, also opening in August, will partner with the Atlanta Technical College (ATC) to offer students dual-enrollment opportunities, enabling them to graduate with both a high school diploma and a certificate from ATC's Avionics, Front End Alignment, Paralegal, Dental Assistance or Patient Care programs.

Unlike public magnet schools, which operate as selective-enrollment schools and require students to reach certain benchmarks in order to enroll in their specialized fine arts or technology programs, charter schools remain fully public schools, and as such, they must follow all state and federal regulations concerning things like accountability, open enrollment and achievement testing.

A Smooth Transition
But selecting the right school for your child is only half of the equation. "A move is a huge transition, especially for kids," says Stacy DeBroff, author of "The Mom Book Goes to School." "On the outside, it seems like they go with the flow, but it's a dramatic change-up. Before kids even finish unpacking their rooms, they're being plunged into a new school with new expectations and new peer groups. It's a really anxious time."

To ease the transition, integrate both yourself and your child into your new environment as quickly as possible. Find out the inside scoop about the new school by chatting with other parents at the playground or the soccer field while your child makes a few new friends. Since familiar faces ease first-day jitters, call the school to find out if they offer a buddy program for new students, or ask the teacher for a class list and invite a few kids over for a pizza party.

If possible, have your children tour their new school before their first day to give them a chance to walk through their schedule, meet their teacher, track down the lunchroom and try out their locker without stress. Also, hold off on back-to-school shopping until you've settled in. Little things, like buying the style of jeans or backpack that are popular in your new area, go a long way toward helping them feel like they fit in.

Once you're unpacked, encourage your children to sign up for extra-curricular activities and take time to join an organization or two as well. After all, it's much easier to develop new friendships while shooting hoops during basketball practice or chatting over coffee at a PTO meeting. Before you know it, Atlanta will feel like home.