Frequently Asked Questions


What is Athens Academy’s accreditation? Athens Academy is dually accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

What are the qualifications of our faculty? All of the faculty earned college degrees, 65% have advanced degrees, but perhaps most importantly, they are teaching in their academic discipline. The normal academic load for an Upper School teacher is four courses, fewer than 80 students, allowing for significant depth of teaching and individual attention to each student.

Why Athens Academy? With other public and private options in the area, why Athens Academy? If all of the schools in Northeast Georgia listed their various courses of study, fine arts offerings, athletic teams, student life possibilities, there would be relatively little difference. The answer comes in results: not the title of a course you take, but what you learn; not that you take Advanced Placement courses, but that you regularly get 4’s and 5’s; not that you graduate, but that you are prepared for success in college and leadership roles beyond college.


AA Statistics
How many graduates go on to college and where do they go? 100% of graduates attend college. Please refer to the Academic Profile for more details on college choices, SAT and Advanced Placement results. Of importance is not only that the graduates attend college, but also they are prepared when they arrive.

What is your minority population? Approximately 16-18%. Athens Academy is approximately 50-50 in terms of male/female ratio.

General Operations
At what age do students begin our preschool and kindergarten programs? Athens Academy begins with a three-year-old program with September 1 being the cut-off birthdate.

When does the school day begin and end? The school day begins at 8:10 a.m. The school day for K3 & K4 ends at 12 p.m. with no partial week options, K5 ends at 1:30 p.m., and grades 1-12 end at 3:20 p.m.

Academic Policies
What are your graduation requirements? Please refer to the Academic Profile for a listing of course options and graduation requirements.

What if my child needs academic help/support beyond the classroom? The time from 3:20 until 4:00 remains unencumbered so that students have the opportunity for extra help with teachers. We also have a Learning Resource Coordinator who works with each division, helping to identify and make plans for students with special educational needs.

Technology
When do students begin using computers in the classroom? Students begin using computers in the Preschool. All students have school-issued laptop computers beginning in grade 7.

Student Life
How can I participate in the school life of my child? The Parent Service Organization actively encourages volunteerism throughout the life of the school. Parents are on campus daily helping in many ways.

How are new families welcomed into the school community? Each new family is assigned a current family as a “buddy." The buddy family has a child of the same gender and in the same class as the new family. The buddy family contacts the new Spartans during the summer. We also hold orientation sessions for all new students before the beginning of the school year.

Will my child have a difficult time adjusting? Whether moving from another country, across this country, or simply changing schools, new students are encouraged to become involved. There are many options outside of the classroom that lead to enjoyable school years and lifelong friendships.

As a transfer student, will my child be able to participate in sports? Any question of athletic eligibility (other than being on track academically) would apply only to students entering grades 10-12. All 7th, 8th and 9th graders would be eligible regardless of location of residence. Students transferring in grades 10-12 should contact the Admissions Office for full details.

Fees and Financial Aid
What are other fees besides tuition? On our tuition and expense sheet, you will note that books and laptop computers (grades 7-12) are additional expenses. Field trips and personal items for athletic teams are also in addition to tuition. Other optional services include extended day care and bus transportation.

How can I obtain a scholarship for my child? Athens Academy offers no scholarships. Any reduction in tuition would be a part of need-based financial aid. Please refer to the Financial Aid section of our website.

Religion
Is Athens Academy a Christian school? Athens Academy is guided by the Judeo-Christian ethic and fosters respect for the heritage and beliefs of others. People of many different faiths find Athens Academy to be comfortable and supportive.

Last updated 10/02/2009 12:38 PM