Three schools, three unique educational philosophies.
While a traditional classroom and teaching style may be the right fit for many children, they are far from the only way to learn. Some students flourish with individualized instruction, and others benefit from specialized support for learning differences. Some thrive in classrooms that encourage hands-on discovery. As Carlisle Montessori School of Buckhead Founder and Director Gina Garcia Ward observes, every child has the capacity to thrive when they’re in an environment that supports the way they learn best. Buckhead-area families have access to a variety of educational models designed to meet children where they are. These three local schools offer distinct approaches to helping students succeed.
CARLISLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL in Buckhead
WHO IT’S FOR: The preschool serves toddlers beginning at 12 months (and walking) through age 6, including kindergarten.
PHILOSOPHY: Children learn best through purposeful exploration, independence and collaboration. Carlisle follows the authentic Montessori method, encouraging students to develop practical life skills alongside a strong academic foundation.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT: Beautifully prepared learning environments and hands-on activities, from cooking and gardening to grace and courtesy lessons, help children build executive functioning, leadership, social and problem-solving skills and healthy self-esteem. The mixedage classrooms include a toddler program covering ages 12-36 months and a primary program with ages 3-6, where older kids serve as classroom mentors for the younger children. Teachers work closely with families to support each child’s development, and the home-like classrooms are intentionally designed to foster curiosity, independence and a strong sense of community.
THE SCHENCK SCHOOL in Sandy Springs
WHO IT’S FOR: Students in kindergarten through sixth grade with dyslexia or related languagebased learning differences.
PHILOSOPHY: Designed specifically for students with dyslexia, The Schenck School uses the highly structured, evidence-based Orton-Gillingham approach to help children build strong literacy skills while gaining confidence as learners.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT: Small classes and low student to teacher ratios with supportive team teaching rather than relying on a single teacher, as well as onsite speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, allow students to progress at their own pace. The school aims to equip children with specialized reading strategies, a multisensory math curriculum, overall academic skills and the self-confidence they need to be successful learners. Its goal is to transition the kids back to traditional public or private schools after approximately two to three years, in many cases. Beyond the school day, students can participate in creative enrichment activities through Phoenix Fun, the school’s after-school enrichment program, or receive additional academic support in Homework Lab.
FUSION ACADEMY in Buckhead
WHO IT’S FOR: Students in grades 6-12 seeking a customized educational experience, whether full time, part time or supplemental.
PHILOSOPHY: Learning is personalized because every student learns differently. Fusion Academy centers its educational model around one-to-one instruction, with one teacher and one student in every academic class.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT: At Fusion, asynchronous scheduling, flexible enrollment and hyper-individualized teaching allow courses to be tailored to each student’s needs and goals, which can be a good fit for individuals navigating chronic illness, elite youth athletes, working actors and more. The school offers more than 300 courses for credit including at honors and AP levels, as well as tutoring and college counseling. Another unique aspect is that it doesn’t expect homework to be finished at home; it has an onsite mandate where all assignments must be completed inside the two Homework Cafés, one that operates as a silent, distraction-free zone, and the other functions as a highly social collaborative hub.
CARLISLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
404.949.0053
carlislemontessori.com
@carlislemontessorischool
FUSION ACADEMY
678.335.2382
fusionacademy.com
@fusionacademy_buckhead
THE SCHENCK SCHOOL
404.252.2591
schenck.org
@schenckschool
