schoolSPOTLIGHT
High Meadows School
Naturally Nurturing Inquiring Minds By Donna Neale
W
hen prospective students and their parents visit Roswell’s High Meadows School, they won’t see as many textbooks as they might expect. What they will see is a variety of farm animals, including rabbits, goats, chickens and sheep. They’ll also see an archery range, a large barn converted into a theater and lots of rolling grassland across the 42-acre campus. That’s because the outdoors plays a large part in the school’s curriculum. “Ours is a school where adventure, play and discovery go hand in hand with extraordinary academic preparation and exemplary student outcomes,” explains Laura Nicholson, director of admissions at High Meadows. “We see our outdoor spaces as an extension of every classroom, and our teachers find many ways to incorporate outdoor learning every day.” High Meadows is an authorized International Baccalaureate World School, guiding students from pre-K through fifth grade through its renowned Primary Years Programme. Classrooms are focused on experiential learning, both inside and outside of physical buildings, giving students unique opportunities to investigate the natural intersection of academics and environment. The school’s commitment to progressive education is reflected throughout the curriculum. “Our inquiry-based approach encourages children to ask the next question, to embrace intellectual challenge, to consider multiple perspectives and to discover the wonders of life through experience,” Nicholson says. Low teacher-to-student ratios, highly qualified teachers in every class and a multiage learning approach maximize critical thinking within a close-knit learning community.
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Middle-school students are immersed in a program that is both rigorous and engaging. They are encouraged to take risks, broaden their interests and think deeply about their experiences. Emphasis is placed on the authentic learning and reflection that fosters a greater self-awareness and a commitment to their role in the world around them. Middle-schoolers also explore a variety of topics and passions through special mini-courses. Each middle-school student takes two of these elective courses a day, cycling through such unique subjects as metalsmithing, animal science, outdoor living skills and the history of rock and roll. In addition, extensive extracurricular activities and after-school enrichment programs offer additional avenues to explore interests such as debate, jazz band, theater arts, ultimate Frisbee, robotics, karate and computer coding. High Meadows also offers extended care programs that accommodate students arriving early or staying after school. The school also values parental involvement. “High Meadows is truly a community, and we love for parents to come participate in their child’s educational journey,” Nicholson says. Through its lively campus and robust programs, the school offers a focused environment for transforming authentic learning into an adventure and forging exemplary education from child’s play. N
THE SPECIFICS Contact: 1055 Willeo Rd., Grades: Age 3 through 8th grade Roswell, GA 30075, Student/Teacher Ratio: Average is 10 to 1 (lower in Pre-K) Tuition: $6,900 to $21,050 (need-based financial aid available) 770-993-2940 Web: highmeadows.org Location: Roswell
