Families in Fayette and Coweta counties have a wide range of educational options, with many award-winning public and private schools in the area. From child care and preschool services to university degree classes and continuing education programs, residents enjoy high-quality instructors in first-rate facilities—all found locally.

Coweta County School System

The Coweta County School System serves the communities of Newnan, Sharpsburg, Thomas Crossroads, Senoia, Moreland, Grantville, Turin and Haralson with 18 elementary schools, six middle schools, three high schools and one high-school career/technology charter school. The system’s certified faculty numbers 1,750 and classified staff of 1,492.

The Coweta County School System is the only Georgia School system to have produced three Georgia Teachers of the Year, awarded since 1992. The school system is recognized as a leader at the state level. In 2007, Arnall Middle School Principal Rick Waggoner was honored as the Outstanding Middle School Educator of the Year by the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL). He was chosen by his peers in GAEL’s Georgia Association of Middle School Principals for the state-wide honor. Waggoner’s honor is actually the third such honor for Coweta County in recent years. Lee Middle School principal Bob Heaberlin was GAEL’s 2006 Outstanding Middle School Educator, and Evans Middle School Principal Jerry Davis–now the county school system’s Associate Superintendent–was GAEL’s 2004 Outstanding Middle School Educator.

Coweta County has also been honored with three Georgia Schools of Excellence awards in the last three years. Arbor Springs Elementary School was named a 2007 School of Excellence; Arnco-Sargent Elementary School was named a 2006 Georgia Schools of Excellence; and Jefferson Parkway Elementary School was named a 2005 Georgia School of Excellence.

The Coweta County School System affords students several unique academic opportunities, including the Central Educational Center (CEC), a model charter school for high school students, and the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.

The school system is growing at a rate of 500 to 1,000 students per year. The system’s two newest schools–Lee Middle and Welch Elementary–were opened in 2006, and the system plans to meet student and community growth by opening three more elementary schools and a new middle school in the coming years. The system’s three high school campuses were also expanded in 2007 by the addition of three on-site ninth grade campuses, which serve new freshmen with a variety of unique programs aimed at helping new students maximize academic achievement during the high school careers.

Fayette County Schools

The Fayette County School System serves the communities of Brooks, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone and Woolsey with a school level certified staff that numbers 1,857 with the school level classified staff at 912 and 69 National Certified Teachers. In addition, there are 621 substitute teachers. The school system’s per pupil expenditure is $8,317.86.

In 2007, Fayette County was one of 49 school systems in Georgia with 100% of its 27 schools making the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). AYP is a measure of year-to-year student achievement and one of the cornerstones of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Fayette County students show excellent test scores. All of Fayette County’s schools have made AYP each of the four years since the assessment was implemented, one of only seven statewide to achieve that goal. CRCT scores released by the Georgia Department of Education show Fayette County schools lead the state overall with the most students in the ‘exceeds’ category across all grade levels and subject areas.

In 2007, there were 1,480 Fayette County high school seniors who took the SAT exam; Fayette County had the second highest score in Georgia, among large school systems. The 2007 Advanced Placement Tests pass rates for Fayette County is 70%, a substantial margin above Georgia’s 53.3% and the US rate of 59.3%.

In Fayette County, there are many outstanding schools. Among those honored as Schools of Excellence are Starr’s Mill High in 2005, Kedron Elementary in 2006, Tyrone Elementary in 2007 and Rising Starr Middle in 2008. Kedron Elementary is a 2006 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, and the same honor was given to McIntosh High School in 2007.

Private Schools

The Bedford School

An accredited private school located in Fairburn, The Bedford School serves children with specific learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD by providing a highly individualized educational program with a student to faculty ratio of seven to one. Currently, about 135 students attend classes at Bedford, ranging from grades one through nine.

Bedford offers college-preparatory curriculum as well as classes for remediation. Besides the challenging academic curriculum, students enjoy modern, multi-faceted facilities and extra-curricular activities.

Squirrel Hollow Camp, a summer program designed for students aged 6 to 16 years, has been held every summer since 1981. Roughly 60 campers participate in the 5-week day camp. Held on The Bedford School’s beautiful 46-acre campus, the Camp allows students to improve their academic skills and enjoy recreational activities like swimming and team games, all in a stress-free environment.

Counterpane School

Counterpane School celebrates 34 years of experience with children. This Montessori environment includes 120 students, numerous farm animals and gardens. There are three communities of learners: primary (2 ½ to 6 years), lower school (6 to 12 years) and upper school (12 years to matriculation to college).

Students get to know themselves well, developing self-awareness, a global perspective and a creative base so necessary in today’s world. Whether the students are three, nine or eighteen years old, their academic program is integrated with the arts. Drama, music, primitive clay making and firing, photography, weaving, written and musical composition – the possibilities are as varied as the students themselves. Counterpane’s environment is rich in texture and experience.

Counterpane’s commitment to a pure AMI Montessori experience requires that children begin the primary program between 2 and 3 years of age. The primary classroom is a bustle of activity, lessons and intensely-focused independent work. At the lower school level, there is a hum of exploration and self direction that surprises every visitor. At the upper school level, the observer would find it more resembles college than traditional school. Counterpane is strictly a college preparatory environment at the upper school level. Every graduate has attended a four-year college or university.

Counterpane hosts an Interact Club and a YouthAct Club, each sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peachtree City. The members of these two clubs are invested locally and globally in literacy through Counterpane’s outreach program, Souns. For the past decade, Counterpane has opted to use the year-round calendar of four nine-week quarters.

Counterpane’s primary program is recognized by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Counterpane School is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) and is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC). Enjoy a virtual visit at www.counterpane.org. Then, call 770-335-2743 or 770-461-2304.

The Heritage School

Since 1970, families in Coweta, Fayette and surrounding areas have had an outstanding educational alternative in their midst—The Heritage School. An independent, co-educational, nonsectarian day school, Heritage serves a student population from age three years through high school graduation.

The Heritage School’s 63-acre campus, set in the midst of a pecan grove, boasts five classroom buildings, a technology center, a student life center, an athletic complex, an early learning center, a writing lab, athletic fields and an outdoor adventure area. As beautiful as the campus is, the greatest asset at the school is the relationship between students and teachers.

The college-prep curriculum is taught by an outstanding faculty, giving students the academic foundation they need for success at higher learning levels. For instructor Glenda Davis, her students are her extended family. “They give me more than I could ever give them. I love watching them grow in their literary skills, but mostly I just love them as people. They’re articulate, funny, caring and hard-working.”

Kay Huffstickler, a Fourth Grade Teacher at Heritage, explains that the academics are broadened by offering all students the opportunity to participate in physical education, foreign language, music, art and drama. “Through their involvement in a variety of sports and community service activities, students not only build a spirit of cooperation, but also achieve an understanding of the need to work together.”

Because of Heritage’s small class sizes, children receive individual attention in every subject and have the opportunity to participate in some very unique events, including Jubilee, Filmfest, Intramurals, Literary, Geography Bowl and Outdoor Education, according to Athletic Director Ron Rineer. “Heritage is more than a school, it is a way to a better future,” he adds.

Gina Watkiss, Upper School Science Instructor, says “There are no limits at Heritage. The uniqueness and individuality of each and every child is recognized, accepted and nurtured here.” She adds that friendships are formed between artistic children and outgoing, athletic types because “students are able to take chances in a safe environment, whether playing middle school basketball, upper school soccer, participating in a musical production, or reaching the upper limits of academic achievements. Since time is spent with all students, the quiet ones don’t fall through the cracks.”

“Imagine being wrapped in the comfort of knowing you are safe and accepted, surrounded by joyous people who are eagerly sharing ideas and understandings,” says Fourth Grade Teacher Katie Garth. “This is Heritage—a school touching your spirit, engaging your mind and drawing you back time and again to join in the camaraderie of lovers of learning.”

Rising Star Montessori

Since 2001, Rising Star Montessori has been helping children to ‘Rise to Stardom Through Education.’ Co-owners Nancy Dutton and Debbie Montgomery, both certified Montessori teachers, along with thirteen other staff members, dedicate their lives to providing a quality education to children in a Christian Montessori environment.

The school is housed in a 1920’s home situated on four wooded acres in Fayetteville’s Historic District. With this prime location, students have opportunities for gardening and sports such as basketball, football and soccer, all in a natural, wooded setting.

Over the years, Rising Star has steadily grown, adding classes and space. It now serves local families with two Primary classes, one Junior and one Senior Elementary class. In every classroom, there’s a teacher/child ratio of 1/10 or less.

One of the most fundamental tenets of the Montessori approach to education, and one that’s very important to the staff at Rising Star, is “Follow the child.” This doesn’t mean that the child is left to do what s/he wants, but rather that each student’s own learning pattern is respected. The child stays excited about learning and excels at an amazing rate through self-directed learning.

At Rising Star, children are encouraged to reach for the stars and are given opportunity and tools to achieve their dreams.