MT. BETHEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY MARKS 20 YEARS Meet the Mt. Bethel Christian Academy Class families seeking an intimate environment of 2018. These seniors hail from a high school that that is unapologetic in its commitment to didn’t even exist until three years ago. Though Mt. academic opportunity and unwavering in its Bethel celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, commitment to growing a child’s faith. “The Mt. this is the school’s first graduating class. Bethel experience is intentionally designed to In 1998, Mt. Bethel Christian Academy was be personal. Our strong belief is that children founded with 24 students in two sections of thrive in their studies, in their relationships, and kindergarten. From there, a grade was added in their faith when they are rooted in a school each year and by 2006, the school had grown where they are known and loved.” says Jim R. to include a full middle school. To continue the Callis, Head of School since 2011. Callis adds, school’s growth into high school, additional “We’re not just teaching fractions or memorizing property would be required and the school state capitals, important as that might be. We’re spent the better part of the next several years literally building a foundation of faith for young searching for the right place. If you’ve lived in people, built on relationship with teachers who East Cobb for a while, you know that parcels of know them and love them with the love of Christ. land large enough to accommodate a high school Raising children is hard work. Raising faithful, don’t come onto the market often and when confident children who are intellectually equipped they do, they rightfully command a premium to be impactful in the world - that’s not just hard, price. In 2014, Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, it is impossible without good partners.” in partnership with its sponsoring church, Mt. Now in it’s 20th year, Mt. Bethel provides Bethel United Methodist Church, acquired 33 acres on Post Oak Tritt Road, which had formerly the kind of partnership that people talk about. housed the Marcus Jewish Community Center. According to recent admission statistics, well over After a significant investment in renovation, the 80% of new families to the school are referred by school opened its doors to a group of pioneering current or former families. And though the school freshmen in August 2014. That class now stands has grown a bit over the last two decades, Mr. prepared to finish their high school experience Callis reports there are still openings for families and move on to college. And those college looking to explore the potential benefits of a Mt. acceptance letters; they are already coming in. Bethel partnership. One of the many reasons families enjoy For more information, visit MBCA on the living in East Cobb is the number and quality web at www.mtbethelchristian.org or better yet, of educational opportunities for their children. stop by one of their two East Cobb campuses for a Mt. Bethel Christian meets the needs of personal visit and tour. P A I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T 18 October 2017 EAST COBBER www.eastcobber.com 18 October 2017 PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE While the public schools in East Cobb County do a good job of providing a quality education, many East Cobb parents seek out “a better fit” for their junior scholars. Finding a quality private school can be a daunting task. As a first step, take a look at our elev- enth annual list of private schools. Many of these schools will be hosting Open Houses this month, and quite a few have registra- tion deadlines in January or February. So if you are considering private education, now is the time to investigate your options. ALEXSANDER ACADEMY ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL ATLANTA JEWISH ACADEMY BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC 1090 Powers Place SCHOOL 5200 Northland Drive NE HIGH SCHOOL Alpharetta 30009 2890 North Fulton Drive Atlanta 30342 11320 Woodstock Road 770-777-0475 Atlanta 30305 404-843-9900 Roswell 30075 www.alexsanderacademy.org 404-841-3840 www.atljewishacademy.org 678-277-9083 Tuition: $16,500-$33,000 www.aischool.org Tuition: $16,000-$24,500 www.btcatholic.org Grades: K-12 Tuition: $21,958-$25,066 Grades: Infants-12 Tuition: $12,350 Students: N/A Grades: 3K-12 Students: 363 Grades: 9-12 Co-Education Directors: Shelby Students: 1,194 Associate Head of School: Students: 1001 Nelson, Stefanie Smith Headmaster: Kevin Glass Rabbi Ari Leubitz Principal: Brian Marks ATLANTA ACADEMY, THE ATLANTA GIRLS’ SCHOOL BEN FRANKLIN ACADEMY BRANDON HALL SCHOOL 2000 Holcomb Woods Parkway 3254 Northside Parkway NW 1585 Clifton Road 1701 Brandon Hall Drive Roswell 30076 Atlanta 30327 Atlanta 30329 Atlanta 30350 678-461-6102 404-845-0900 404-633-7404 770-394-8177 www.atlantaacademy.com www.atlantagirlsschool.org www.benfranklinacademy.org www.brandonhall.org Tuition: $10,235-$22,260 Tuition: $24,465 Tuition: $26,520-$35,700 Tuition: $27,000 Day School, Grades: 6 weeks-8 Grades: 6-12 Grades: 9-12 $52,850 Domestic Boarding Students: N/A Students: 260 Students: 125 School Head of School: Angela Head of School: Ayanna Head of School: Dr. Martha Grades: 6-12 Naples Hill-Gill Burdette Students: 170 Head of School: Dean J. Fusto www.eastcobber.com October 2017 19 PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE CHOOSING A PRIVATE SCHOOL The reasons cited over and over again by families who If you haven’t done so already, contact each send their children to private schools include individual potential school for information dealing with philosophy, attention, small classes, teacher excellence, and high aca- curriculum, extracurricular offerings, admission process, and demic standards. financing options. Compare each school’s literature with Your decision to consider an independent/private the items on your list; this should give you a preliminary sense school is just the beginning. While private schools set high of which schools are a good match. Take into account standards and emphasize values, they are wonderfully dis- what type of environment would be best for your child and tinct from each other. There are day and boarding schools; consider his or her individual strengths as you examine each coeducational, girls’, and boys’ schools. Enrollment varies school’s program. from a few dozen to a few thousand students. Some inde- The best time to apply is in the fall preceding the pendent schools are progressive, others more traditional academic year of the student’s admission; however, appli- in structure. Private schools also serve a varying range of cations are considered throughout the school year. Most students in terms of abilities and interests. Some schools offer schools will require a personal interview, admissions testing, special programs such as intensified instruction in the fine and information from your child’s current school. Ask the and performing arts, experiential learning projects, or travel individual school for the details of its application procedures abroad seminars. Many schools excel at rigorous intellectual and testing dates. preparation; others are dedicated to average learners; and some specialize in teaching bright students with learning dis- In short, choosing the right school for your child is like- abilities. Since each of these schools has something unique ly the most important single decision you might make in to offer, ideally you are trying to match a student’s needs terms of setting the proper path and direction for life. A little with the appropriate school. Write or call the admissions preparation and research on the part of parents will go office for published information about a school’s philosophy miles toward making the ultimate destination clear at the and programs, and then make an appointment to visit. exit ramp. 20 OctoberOctober 20172017 www.eastcobber.com PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE BROOKWOOD CHRISTIAN COVENANT CHRISTIAN DAVIS ACADEMY EATON ACADEMY SCHOOL MINISTRIES ACADEMY 8105 Roberts Drive 1000 Old Roswell Lakes 4728 Wood Street 170 Fairground Street North Atlanta 30350 Parkway Acworth 30101 Marietta 30060 770-671-0085 Roswell 30076 678-401-5855 770-919-0022 www.davisacademy.org 770-645-2673 www.brookwoodchristian.com www.ccmacademy.org Tuition: $18,503 - $24,067 www.EatonAcademy.org Tuition: $14,500 Tuition: $6,900 Grades: Kindergarten prep-8 Tuition: $21,500-$22,500 Grades: 4-12 Grades: K-12 Students: 560 Grades: K-12 Students: 60 Students: N/A Head of School: Amy Shafron Students: 130-150 Principal: Kim Wigington Principal: Vanessa Anderson President: Bridget Eaton- DOMINION CHRISTIAN Partalis CASA MONTESSORI COVENANT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 150 Powers Ferry Road SCHOOL 4607 Burnt Hickory Road NW EPSTEIN SCHOOL, THE Marietta 30067 3130 Atlanta Road SE Marietta 30064 335 Colewood Way NW 770-973-2731 Smyrna 30080 770-420-2153 Sandy Springs 30328 www.casamontessori.com 770-435-1596 www.dominionchristian.org 404-250-5600 Tuition: $9,700-$12,300 www.ccssmyrna.org Tuition: $9,542-$13,780 www.epsteinatlanta.org Grades: 18mos-6 Tuition: $5,845-$9,620 Grades: 6-12 Tuition: $6,495-$21,800 Students: 130 Grades: Pk-8 Students: 225 Grades: Pre-K-8 Directors: Suzanne Johnson Students: 175 Headmaster: David Raines Students: 500 Head of School: Robert Head of School: Dr. David CORNERSTONE PREPARATORY Barber EAST COBB CHRISTIAN Abusch-Magder ACADEMY SCHOOL 3588 Hickory Grove Road NW 4616 Roswell Road FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL Acworth 30101 CUMBERLAND ACADEMY Marietta 30062 2111 Lower Roswell Road 770-529-7077 OF GEORGIA 770-565-0881 Marietta 30068 www.cornerstoneprep.org 650A Mt. Vernon Highway NE www.eccs.org 770-973-8877 Tuition: $150/semester hour Atlanta 30328 Tuition: $5,808-$7,743 www.faithmarietta.org Grades: K-12 404-835-9000 Grades: K-8 Tuition: $5,230-$8,580 Students: 480 www.cumberlandacademy.