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.

I would not recommend this school under any circumstances. My 16 month old toddler received a head…read moreinjury while in the care of the director, and to make matters worse, while we were away on vacation celebrating my oldest son's birthday, we were informed that he could not return. When we arrived to pick up our belongings they were left outside the door. The entire experience felt cold and unempathetic, and it was clear that the well-being of the children was not a priority. We wanted to share our experience in hopes of saving others from going through the headache we endured. In hindsight, it was probably the best thing that happened to us. As no parent wants their child in an unsafe environment.

Buckhead Prep SMV is absolutely amazing. It is definitely a hidden gem of Smyrna. Our daughter…read morehas been attending this school since she was 18 months old and now she's 5 and is getting ready to start Kindergarten at one of the top private schools in Georgia. It is a very academically driven school and we loved every bit of it. The teachers are very hands-on and they actually CARE and take time to work with the kids and it shows. To name a few, Ms. Carol and Ms. Carmen has taught her to be the smartest, sweetest, and most well-behaved kid from the start. Now, Ms. Jordan and Ms. Kelly has her well prepared for the next level. Everyday our daughter impresses us with what she has learned and is very excited to go back to school day after day. You wouldn't believe how many compliments we get when we're out, about how smart, polite, and well mannered she is. We definitely owe a large part of that to this school and its incredible how she stands out amongst other kids of her age. Believe me, you will definitely be able to tell the difference. This school has an excellent track record for success. Just about every kid of her graduating class was accepted to their first pick private school. Ms. Tammy and Ms. Kirsten's vision is very focused and their recipe for success is impressive. The kids are surrounded by other great kids, so you can imagine the atmosphere of this school. The environment is very clean, bright, and most importantly, safe. There is an armed SWAT, police officer who is ALWAYS on duty when they are inside the school and especially along with them when they are outside. It definitely makes us feel better. Bottomline, this is a great school for early childhood academic development and we highly recommend Buckhead Prep SMV.

Amazing K-12 institution, great family atmosphere and an Ivy league secondary education. Very…read moreexcited to be part of the school.

This is a amazing school my son goes here and has learned so much. Currently his teacher is mrs…read morebillups and she is wonderful.

From the owner: Trinity School is an independent co-educational elementary school located in Atlanta, Georgia,…read moreserving ages three through Sixth Grade. Founded in 1951, the School is a non-profit, tax-exempt institution governed by an independent Board of Trustees. Since its founding, Trinity's vision has been to provide a nurturing environment in which to challenge students.

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.

Our daughter recently graduated from Whitefield and is considered a "lifer." She's been there…read moresince PreK and so has our son who is now in 9th grade. We know that no school is perfect but Whitefield gets pretty close. Our daughter has accomplished more than we ever dreamt she would in school. The experiences and chapters at Whitefield will serve her well for years to come. Whitefield does an amazing job at preparing kids very well for college, but more importantly, partnering with parents to help shape children's characters into humble, kind, gracious, and faithful adults.

When moving from another state last year, I researched many schools and am so glad I chose…read moreWhitefield for my 3 children. The Christ-centeredness is woven throughout the academics, values, and community. My children are thriving academically and have benefited from the opportunities to grow and serve the metro Atlanta area through school-initiated community service. I am thankful I've found a place that aligns with the values of our home.

This school is horrible there's roaches everywhere the teachers are disrespectful, rude the…read moreteachers will talk about students even though they can hear them and the teachers think they're funny talking about and I quote from Mr. Parker. I don't need you you need me oh

My son has took a picture of a rat coming out the toilet while he was taking a poop. I am in…read moreextremely disgusted and disappointed in this school my son will never come back.

For 12 years HSP was home away from home. The staff and families became some of my closest…read morefriends, many of which I still consider friends. It was enjoyable being part of watching this institution grow and develop, as the students grew and developed into young adults that we all could be proud of. I miss them everyday, but carry them in my heart always!

We have been part of the HSP community for over ten years. Magnificent community, superb education…read more The HSP motto "to serve, not to be served" is reinforced daily. Our children are thriving in this environment and as a result, we as parents have learned so much and grown spiritually as well.