| School Name | Address | Phone | Grades | County | Type | District Name |
| Holy Innocents Episcopal School | 805 Mount Vernon Hwy NW
Atlanta, GA 30327 | (404) 255-4026 | PK-12 | Fulton | private | |
| Date | Who | Comments |
| 9/27/2012 | teacher | I taught very successfully and happily at HIES for 9 years until my contract was unexpectedly rescinded the day before school let out for the summer. There has been no plausible explanation given to me for my dismissal and everyone associated with the school has been flabbergasted. My evaluations have always been excellent and I have done much throughout the state to bring positive recognition to the school. Many of the faculty are walking on eggshells hoping the same thing won't happen to them. Morale is dropping, creating an unfavorable environment for teaching and learning. |
| 2/23/2012 | other | I've been at HIES for 9 years now. Maybe it's because I've been at Holy Innocents' my whole life, but it feels like a second home to me. All the students in all grades are very nice and welcoming. Everyone here has made at least 5 life-long friends. The teachers are also a great part of this school. They really care about you and your opinion. If you are having trouble in one of your classes, the teacher meets with you during tutorial time to help you understand better. If you work hard and try your best the school will challenge you to do better. The only problem I have with this school is the food. The food is OK sometimes, but sometimes it's not. The food has gotten better in middle school. They added panini presses!! Visit this school and see for yourself. |
| 12/14/2011 | parent | Holy Innocents truly offers a balanced life for your student. Academics, Arts, Sports, and a sense of giving back to the community are all equally important. The teachers truly care about their students and are easily available to discuss and solve any issues. Most importantly, the parents are friendly and normal people. Sure, every private school has its super wealthy. That class at Holy Innocents is actually one of the nicest groups of people within the school. I am very impressed with the sense of community out family gets from the school. I would consider it a school with a very low "snob factor". (snobs are usually posers with low self confidence who act like they are better than others). Snobs are outcasts at Holy Innocents. Diversity has improved over the years as well. Give it a visit and I think you will be surprised on how smoothly the school operates. No need for all those extra "common sense" rules like public schools cover for the first two weeks of school. Good behavior and developing friendships are the expected norm! |
| 11/24/2009 | parent | Our experience at HIES has been outstanding, and we experienced none of the 'fitting in' problems that a few apparently disgruntled parents here have noted. Here is the thing: don't pay attention to anything you read on these boards, good or bad, about any private schools. It's just too hard to trust whatever it is you are reading, since most of the people posting here have ulterior motives, either positive or negative (yes, including me I suppose). My advice is go visit this and other schools. Speak with current families... not just the ones the Admissions Offices connect you with... ask around your community and you will find people with kids in whatever school you are looking at. Get the 'real story' from them, then make an informed decision based on that. We have loved HIES since we joined the school three years ago, but do your homework. |
| 9/21/2009 | student | Holy Innocents' is the best school I have ever been to!! i love it so much! there are so many activities and everyone there is so nice. I definately recommend it. |
| 5/7/2009 | student | so i have been there for 2 years now. I have read all these things where about how HIES is not welcoming to highschool, but it is in pre-school. their is one simple reason for that, HIES is designed to help you be able to reach-out, this means finding people you know without help. to be honest a 'buddy system' thats found in the lower-school and other schools makes it harder to 'fit it' just go to basketball and football games and your student will be totally fine, also if your child plays sports the other parents will welcome you, thats how my mom knows other people is due to the football program. make the child be able to help himself, in highschool its time for the administration to back off a little. |
| 3/20/2009 | parent | Our daughter is a senior who joined HIES as a sophomore after attending one of the 'top' public high schools in Cobb county. The school went above and beyond in welcoming us into the HIES community. She changed from a child who complained about going to school to one who loves going. She has thrived athletically and academically. She cares because they care about her. If you want your child to have a positive relationship with teachers, to develop into a community minded citizen, to reap the benefits of being able to be part of a team (regardless of skill level), to have caring counselors, and to be successful academically, you should check out HIES. I only wish we had made the move to HIES in middle school. |
| 3/14/2009 | parent | I have a child in the lower school, we have been at HIES for 2 years now. In my experience, the teachers and staff have always taken an interest in any concerns I have had. It does seem that the families are not too interested in socializing very much. There are not many 'playdates' so to speak. At my child's previous school, many of the families were very open to this and it was what 'everone did'. However, the families are still very nice, and many families develop strong friendships, but you have to be a little self motivated to get it going. Still, this is the one of the few private schools I would put my child in. The academics are strong, athletics are great and the fine arts program is phenominal. Don't be fooled by the hype, either- our kids become very successful after graduation. |
| 3/9/2009 | parent | Started in the 9th grade and I agree that parents are not friendly to new parents. Headmaster only focuses on raising money and does not know the students. High School lacks total direction due to an incompetent principal. God forbid your child has an issue with a teacher, they will tell you it's your child fault and not the teacher's. Great school if you want to go onto Ole Miss, Alabama and SCAD. Not worth the money and they are taking the price up. You have been warned. |
| 12/23/2008 | parent | I think this school is the best kept 'secret' in Atlanta, in terms of private schools. It is an amazing place, and was wonderful for both of my children. Academics are strong, but perhaps even more important is the work that the school does to instill a sense of service to the community (local and international) within it's students. The comments that I've seen here about it being tough for new families to fit in do not match our experience. In fact, I was amazed at the number of contacts I had from teachers and current families when we first enrolled. The pre-school teachers even visited our home a week or two before the school year started, so that our son would be more comfortable on the first day of class. Amazing. We've been there five years now, and I wouldn't send my child anywhere else. |
| 9/11/2008 | parent | Holy Innocents' is a warm and welcoming school. It is very family oriented and tries to accept all siblings when possible. They have a terrific new family program that works with admissions to welcome new students and their families. We have been at HIES for 9 years and plan on staying here through graduation. Academics are also strong as they can be as challenging as the individual student needs. |
| 9/2/2008 | parent | Outstanding school... my children attended elementary, middle and high school.. the teachers were world class, the academics challenging, the athletics were competitive and the learning environment was very positive... the students learned a sense of community and giving back as well... overall A++ experience. |
| 6/10/2008 | parent | I would say the academics at HIES are okay but not great. My children also attended public school and I saw alot more academic accountability in public than this school. It is also very difficult for new families to find a place at HIES. The administration puts the burden of finding your place back on the families. They have excellent marketing at this school but once you are in there is very poor execution. If you are highly academic or athletic I would look at other schools. Not much bang for the buck. |
| 5/30/2008 | parent | This school is ok academically. Be sure to compare the classes to a good public school and other private schools. The school is not friendly and is hard to get to know other parents and get involved. Parents don't bother to get to know you. HIES knows this is a problem, but refuses to deal with it. If your willing to feel like an outcast and pay top dollar, try it. Costs at HIES are high especially compared to what you get at other private schools. Overall, not an easy school to break into. |
| 4/16/2008 | parent | My daughter started at HIES in 6th grade this year and was welcomed immediately by the other kids. I am so impressed with the the buddy system the school has in place for new families. HIES is a wonderful school with great academics and extra-curricular activities. We feel very fortunate to be a part of this great school! |
| 3/31/2008 | parent | Academically a great school, but it is virtually impossible to be accepted for new students and their parents. The parents in particular are not welcoming at all to new students or their parents. |
| 5/17/2007 | parent | The academic programs are challenging and the teachers are willing to spend time before and after school to help students who need it. There are a plethora of extracurricular activities to choose from. However, if your child doesn't begin attending HIES in pre-school, it is difficult for them to ever fit in. Parents have raised these concerns with the administration but HIES has not been interested in learning how to make ALL children feel welcome. My child is in high school now and has survived the bullying and has made deep friendships at HIES but no more children should have to suffer this middle school trauma. |
| 4/27/2007 | former student | HIES is an amazing school. I loved it while I was there, and most of the people are nice. The teachers are great, also. The Curriculum is challenging, but effective. I recommend it to everyone. |
| 2/17/2007 | former student | The third largest Episcopal School in the United States, with a PK-12 enrollment of 1400, it regularly sends graduates to the finest universities in the nation and is considered among its most prestigious. Its highly competitive academic curriculum and sports programs, combined with strong Christian teachings, attracts some of Atlanta's brightest youth and the children of some of its most affluent residents. In recent years, the school has expanded dramatically, adding a new middle school, a gymnasium, a weight room, sports fields and many other state of the art facilities, with more expansion planned over the next several years. The 46-acre campus is located in the northern suburb of Sandy Springs. The school's mascot is the 'Golden Bear' and the school colors are maroon and gold. |
| 3/13/2006 | parent | I have had several children at this school for a total of 18 years. The class sizes are small (12-17 students in middle school), the teachers have excellent educations and are deeply knowledgeable about their subjects. The students are highly competitive. There is a wide selection of AP courses (currently 18), honors classes and extracurriculars. Outstanding new buildings for all programs provided by generous benefactors and parent commitments to building fund drives. You walk through the halls at all grade levels and all students are in class and completely focused on the lessons and activities. Strong emphasis on writing skills and strategic thinking in all academic programs. Although this is an Episcopal school, there is an emphasis on religious diversity and all faiths are welcomed. As the tuition in Upper School reaches towards $17,000/yr., there is virtually no economic background diversity of students. |
