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.

My son has been a student at this school since 1st grade (he's in 8th now) and I can't say enough…read morewonderful things about this place! The teachers have always know who I was before I even had to tell them. They love on my son and give him encouragement and discipline. I am excited for him to start freshman year there next year. He loves it there and doesn't feel like he's missed out on a public school experience at all. This school has just been a blessing to my family.

I've been to this school, the students are rude, mean and bratty. And they gossip spread rumors,…read moreand cause a lot of drama.

My family moved to GA in 2020 and spent time before moving finding a small private school with in…read moreperson learning for our high-schooler. Our son did not do well with online learning during the Covid shut down and we were concerned that he would not be able to pull up his GPA. We interviewed at many schools and chose William and Reed because they do not waste time with meaningless busy work, they are focused. Small class sizes give the teachers the opportunity to interact and get to know each kids strengths and weaknesses. My son is now flourishing. He is on track with straight A's. They are getting him ready for college. The staff here really care and your child is not another number. I cannot recommend this school enough!

This has been one of the best moves we made. Small, personalized and caring staff. The condensed…read moreclass schedule allows kids to learn and enjoy life. If you are concerned about the size our middle and high schools are becoming you should take a look at W&R Academy.

Riverside has changed me so much i am so proud to call them one of the best schools in the world…read more Thank you to the staff who work so hard for the cadets. When I went to riverside I was scared, but then I made a family thanks to the people there.

I am a 1979 graduate of Riverside and can say without reservation that my success in life is owed…read moreto the skills I developed as a young Cadet. After Riverside, I graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and retired from the U.S. Army. I am now a senior manager in a small Defense Contracting company. As a Cadet at Riverside, I developed invaluable leadership and backward planning skills that got me through VMI and my Army career. Riverside turned me from a boy to a man, taught me honor; taught me to be a gentleman. Huge added bonus are organizational and cleanliness habits I developed...my bed is still made every single day.

This school was truly an answer to my family's prayers! Our First grader was in public school and…read morehad an IEP. The public school did not implement his IEP in anyway. We found Majestic Preparatory Academy and was amazed from day one! Teachers and staff are friendly and knowledgeable. They are always willing to spend the extra time needed with my child or to answer any questions we may have. Student to teacher ratio is 10 so the teachers have the ability to take care of individual students needs. My child not only caught up but exceeded his education requirements for the year! His confidence level increased 100%. They went on field trips and enjoyed many activities throughout the year. This place has been a blessing and we are looking forward to the summer program as well as a new school year in the fall.

From the owner: Majestic Preparatory Academy specializes in Character-based , Project Based Learning (PBL)…read more education for Pre K- High School students. We focus on individualized education plans for every student which enable each student to achieve educational success. Through ( PBL) each project will be focused on teaching students specific skills derived from common core standards of Math, Science, Language Arts, Engineering, Technology and Social Studies. Majestic Preparatory Academy offers a full range of extracurricular activities S.T.E.M, Music, Podcasting, Step, Dance, Drama, Spanish We are currently offering Corporate Sponsored Tuition Scholarships.

Our once sweet, respectful daughter had turned into someone we barely recognized and desperately…read morewanted back! We kept thinking "how in the world did we get here?" No answer seemed to make sense to us but we knew we needed help. After a ton of research and days of phone calls, we were presented with an opportunity to talk with SHA about our situation. We were met with grace, deep understanding and a feeling of peace when decided to send our daughter to SHA. Our daughter spent 12 months at SHA. Although, at first, our daughter was unsure, she quickly realized that is was exactly where she needed to be. Over the months she was there we saw gradually bigger and bigger changes in her attitude and behavior. Truthfully, we had lost almost all hope and it was the counselors, therapists, directors and founders that kept encouraging us along the way! They have been doing this for more than 20 years and they KNOW what they are doing - in therapy, living arrangements, education and commitment to see troubled teens thrive in this world! Not only did our daughter get group, equine, individual and family counseling but WE got counseling as well! Ultimately it led us to understand ourselves, our daughter and our family system better. In that year's timing we learned so much! SHA was there for us, every step of the way! From the office staff, to the cooking staff, to the nurse right up to the founders and directors we were encouraged, educated and guided down a path that got our whole family back on track. Our daughter's individual counselor was, by far, the best therapist I've ever encountered (and I've met quite a few in my line of work and my own counseling). She really cared about my daughter's success. She wasn't afraid to challenge my daughter's unhealthy thinking in a way that my daughter not only accepted but eventually looked forward to. SHA has become like family to us. If it wasn't for Shepherd's Hill our daughter would not have likely gotten the help she needed in the way that she needed it. SHA tailors your child's whole experience, not only to their individual needs, but to the whole family's needs. It's backed by research and years upon years of proven experience. If you're reading this and you've unfortunately found yourself in a situation similar to ours, I have one thing to say......you can trust Shepherd's Hill.

Our family was in a tough spot and our daughter didn't want to be in our home. From start to finish…read moreit was tough to not be mom and be in charge, but I trusted that God and the team at SHA would get our girl home. Counseling sessions both individual and family were tough. Lots of trips to GA from OH and then flying her home in preparation. Even up until graduation day we weren't sure she'd agree to come home, but she was 18 and had that choice. She's come a long way and is in college and thriving. She didn't like SHA, but I know that had she not gone, we wouldn't have her back. We are blessed that we found SHA. Thank you!!!

My three kids have gone to this school for a year and a half, and we have loved being a part. The…read moreteachers and staff really care about our family, and my kids have great friendships here. They love learning about different languages and cultures as well as all of the experiments and hands-on learning they get to do. I have been very grateful for how the school has worked with us as a special-needs family. We have loved our time at Gwinnett Global School!

From the owner: Now enrolling for fall 2026 for PreK3 through Grade 6. Income based tuition model, 8:1 student to…read moreteacher ratio and a student centered approach with a focus on elementary fundamentals. Gwinnett Global School provides a transformational opportunity for students from all backgrounds in Gwinnett County to experience a world-class, bilingual, student-centered education, founded on our core values of Curiosity, Courage and Care. Our PreK runs M-F from 8:45am-1pm, and our K-6 classes run from 8:45am-3pm. We also offer after care from 1-3pm or 3-5:30pm or 1-5:30pm. Please reach out to get more information, schedule a school visit, or submit an application today!

In this crazy world we are living in...Prince Avenue Christian School is a breath of fresh air! My…read morefamily is new at Prince this year. We have been overwhelmed by the warm, friendly atmosphere and professionalism of staff, administration, and the whole Prince School family! The school guidance counselor spent so much time helping us choose the best courses for our daughter, balanced with her extracurricular interests and future college plans. As a mom of two college students, I can say for certain that the academics at Prince are rigorous and excellent preparation for college. The fine arts opportunities are incredible and led by highly qualified, committed teachers who go the extra mile consistently and put on top-notch concerts and productions! We are thrilled our daughter can benefit from their expertise! Our busy girl also plays volleyball and we have found it to be a great atmosphere for growing as a player, with excellent coaching, physical conditioning, great camaraderie, and spiritual leadership. I could go on and on about the Spiritual impact we've already experienced at Prince, but it's evident from the classroom to the lunchroom, the volleyball court to the stage, the chapel to the school office...these teachers, staff, and administrators are living and modeling a love of God and His Word. I am grateful my student has the opportunity to learn in this environment!

From the owner: From preschool through the twelfth-grade, Prince Avenue Christian School offers a college…read morepreparatory program that promotes traditional Christian values, fosters academics, and actively promotes character training. Founded in 1978 as a ministry of Prince Avenue Baptist Church, the school is located on a new campus in Bogart, Georgia, and served the surrounding community with over 700 students from thirteen different counties and over 120 different churches. Prince Avenue offers 15 Varsity sports and an award-winning Fine Arts program. The school is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).

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.

I learned so much here! This school is incredible. I went off to college leaps and bounds ahead of…read moremy peers, not only academically, but also on an EQ level as well. FYI that is not me, that was all Woodward.