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 such a great school…read more First, a little background to explain why I am writing this review. I was thinking about things I like so that I can review them, because I want to get my Yelp count higher. Even though I have not had my kids at AIA for a couple of years, this school is one of the first things I thought of. I had two children in this school. The older one attended from K through 5. When she graduated, I had to take the younger one over to their new school as well, because it is impractical for me to have them in two different locations. We only left for logistical reasons. We love this school. I wish I was wealthy so that I could invest in this school and help them expand. Okay, now on to the meat of the review. This school attracts kids from several different cultures. They have very committed teachers. Their founder, Dixie, is one of the kindest people I have ever met. They use Montessori methods, but they are not afraid to adapt their system to meet the needs of each child. My older child learned to read and write better than some of my fellow graduate students! I credit this school for that. I will name a few of the awesome teachers they have (or have had), but I am sure the others are great as well: Mrs. Turner, Mrs. McDaniel, Mrs. Littlewood, and Mrs. Narayan. If you want a well-designed adaptive Montessori program for your kids - that teaches excellent life skills as well - this is the place to bring them. This school does have a Christian affiliation, which would have normally made me wary because we are UUs, not Christian. However, as is appropriate for an international school, religious participation is voluntary. The school had children from families that are Christian, Jewish, UU, Hindu, and Muslim (and probably others). It seemed that none of them experienced religious conflict. So, if you want to teach religious tolerance to your kids, this is a great place.

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.

I love this school! I really wish that I had found it when my son was three. I had him in another…read more"high-end" daycare that was supposed to get him ahead with reading/writing/Spanish/computer, but they never did much. He started having horrible melt downs before school and he became a challenge at home. Fall 2016 I enrolled him in WAS. We have never been happier! He loves his school so much. Mornings are great because he can not wait to get to school. The staff is amazing and attentive. He is starting basic math already and has a pretty good Spanish vocabulary. He has truly blossomed at this school and I can not say enough great things about everyone there.

From the owner: The Wood Acres School is a well-known and well-respected private, accredited non-denominational…read moreschool in Marietta, Georgia. Wood Acres has been educating students since 1969 and is proud of both its rich traditions as well as its focus on developing resilient, compassionate, engaging, and articulate young men and women ready to tackle life and living in the 21st century and beyond. The arts thrive at the Woods and STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) also has a home here with a nationally recognized experiential science program as the adopted curriculum - all nestled on 9 acres with walking paths, playfields, and places to laugh, learn, and linger with friends, old and new.

We've only been here for two years, seventh and eighth grade. The middle school is so impressive…read more I'm blown away everyday at how attentive the teachers and administrators are with the kids. My son has flourished here. He rides the bus to and from school everyday. They have a great system with stops all over the city. Their bus drivers are some of the safest in the country winning multiple awards over the years. It is also a very diverse learning environment earning an A+ on the Niche website. If you're considering private school in the Atlanta area you have much to choose from. I highly recommend Woodward Academy. Call for a tour! UPDATE: We're quarter into the school year of my sons 9th grade. EVEN BETTER THAN MIDDLE SCHOOL! He absolutely loves his school and teachers. They have so much time to finish assignments during the day. I see why Woodward grads are so ready for College. They learn time management early! Love love LOVE this school. (Wish I could've gone here!)

Woodward Academy Lower School (4-6 grades) is not the place to send your child. The administration…read moreis nice, until you complain about the bullying or a teacher. When you complain Mrs Bragg quickly becomes rude and dismissive. They won't honor simple requests like classroom changes or any other suggestions, regardless of the situation. The counselors shouldn't counsel a trash can, definitely not a child. Mrs Lauchlan is pretty good at accomplishing nothing. Mr Lawrence isn't certified and he has the maturity level of a 6th grader. Bottom line: Look at the test scores compared to other private schools. The kids complain about the lunch. The co-curricular and athletic options are good. Your kid will be bullied. Your kids will receive a public school education with perks. Don't waste your money.

Bad experience being flat out ignored when I tried to ask for guidance during the admissions processread more

This school is amazing! It is run on a foundation of offering children a wonderful education in a…read moreloving environment.

I'm living this review after my child no longer attends the school. At first the experience seemed…read moreamazing until staff started changing (high turnover rate) the owner of the school is disrespectful, greedy and not professional at all. The only reason why my child stayed at this school is because the GA-Prel program is amazing and her Teachers Ms.Gabby and Ms.Lynda are very good at their job protecting and watching over my child. The staff doesn't communicate with each other at all. I have had multiple incidents and the director (JaNice) reponds with "I'll have you removed, why are your kind so difficult." when it comes to speaking up for your kid! We have caught this location multiple times either stealing money or sating we haven't paid, which I start asking other parents and they were having the same issues with stealing and lack of communication, left feeling drained and unheard... Needlless to say, enrolli your child is at your own risk but just because a school had "academy and God incorporated" into their schools does make them the best school or the school for your child.

Wasted application fee and my child's time. Never heard back from school after application, even…read moreafter following up several times. I'm sure they don't enroll every student that applies but a notification would have been nice. Particularly after paying the application fee.

Montessori In Town is one of the most authentic Montessori schools I have experienced. My 3…read morechildren who attend absolutely love their guides and are always excited to go to school. My children are happy and always come home with new facts and love to share everything that they have learned. Montessori has had a great impact in our home where my children are now fully independent with their responsibilities at home and taking care of our environment. Our extended family also sees how Montessori's has shaped our children's curiosity, respect for others and nature and their confidence. We love Montessori In Town and the beautiful community it has to offer.

Such a great choice for our family over the past three years. MIT is quite well-run, with amazing…read moreteachers, high-quality facilities, and very positive parent network. I appreciate that the director is always looking for ways to improve and grow the school, which is not always the case at small private schools. They recently hired for a new position, Pedagogical Specialist, to work across the classrooms, which shows how they reinvest in the kids and in supporting teachers.

We feel like we've hit the daycare jackpot. From the ownership, the staff, and the teachers…read more.. everyone is so great & truly seems to care about your child. I struggled dropping my baby off for the first time, but we have both grown to love daycare so much. Now when I pick him up, he doesn't even want to leave. New ownership in 2023 has made so many great changes. There is better communication, cosmetic touch ups to the school, and I believe there is more teacher training. We can't recommend Goddard Holcomb bridge enough.

We are missing our school dearly since leaving for kindergarten! The updates, the pictures/videos…read moreand communication meant so much . We have been attending since early 2020 and have had several great teachers and caregivers along the way. Some moments were extra hard to leave a classroom. We've watched our child grow and learn so much over the years and I believe it's been a large contributor to combat her shyness. Goddard has been the one and only place we've entrusted with our daughter since 6mo of age and Ms. Zina / Ms. Pam have been there for us all the way-what gems, it's been such a pleasure to know them. The latest great addition at the beginning of the year has been Ms. Tiffany (pre-K) who, with Ms. Mary, livens up the room and brings many different ideas/activities to the class. My girl was definitely ready for the next big step, thanks to them. They all really love on our kids and it takes a special soul to deal with so many personalities on a daily basis. May God continue to bless this staff and touch so many lives. It can be hard to vet a quality childcare provider, but this one has proven to exceed our expectations.

Hess has been a great fit for my middle school child! It's a small, warm and accepting community…read morewith many great teachers. The small class sizes really help my child thrive. I also appreciate the focus on outdoor time and field trip experiences.

We discovered Hess Academy when we were looking for a preschool program for our son. By the time it…read morewas time for him to begin Kindergarten at City Schools of Decatur (he was zoned for Winnona), we were so in love with Hess that we decided to stay. There are so many things that are great about Hess, but here the three things that work especially well for us. First, plenty of healthy outside time. The kids begin the day with 20-30 minutes in the playground before they need to into their classes. Lunch and recess are another hour, and everyone finishes the day with another 15 minutes in the playground. Second, classes are capped at 12-14 students with two full-time teachers. The individualized attention that our son's intellectual and emotional needs receive are, therefore, outstanding. Finally, the kids (and teachers) do not go through the horrible Standardized Testing that has become the norm at the Public-School system (although teachers and educators have been saying for years that this kind of testing is pedagogically harmful). There is so much more to love about this school--like the devotion that Hess teachers show their students and the sense of community. Just go and tour the school!

My daughter has been going to Learning Time Daycare since she was 2. She is now in Pre-K and she…read moreloves her little blue school. Throughout the years Learning Time has had multiple Directors but the one who really stands out is Ms. Alex, she is very thorough, communicative and caring. My daughter knows all the teachers and TA's. Ms Dolly, Ms. Berna and Ms. Evonne have all been really critical parts in my daughters growth at this Daycare/School. I'm 100% satisfied either the care this school provides. I can tell they really value all their students and parents.

Non-responsive. I have tried to make several calls to inquire about their Georgia Prek program. No…read moreone ever answers, message simply says "mailbox full. I made a trip to the location, it was dark, doors locked but someone was clearly there. I used the call button and again, no answer. Went back to my car and dialed there number as listed on building and still no answer. I really wanted to give this location a try but as a parent, their lack of responsiveness is unacceptable.