Atlanta’s high school landscape encompasses a highly competitive private school sector alongside strong magnet and public school options that serve one of the South’s most educationally invested metropolitan populations. The city’s private high schools are nationally recognized, with several institutions appearing in national rankings for academic rigor, college placement, AP course offerings, and athletic achievement. Atlanta families investing in private high school education have access to schools with 180-acre wooded campuses, state-of-the-art STEM facilities, national championship athletic programs, and college counseling teams with decades of Ivy League and elite university placement experience. The metro area’s public school system also includes highly regarded magnet programs and charter high schools that compete with private institutions on academic outcomes for students who qualify and secure enrollment. Atlanta’s concentration of corporate headquarters, universities, and professional services firms creates a demanding post-secondary landscape that motivates both students and families to invest in high school educational preparation at the highest available level.
When evaluating high schools in Atlanta, look specifically at college placement outcomes including the range of universities where graduates enroll, not just the names of the most prestigious schools that appear in admissions lists. Ask about the AP program depth, including how many AP courses are offered and what percentage of students who take AP exams earn scores of three or higher. Red flags include schools that market athletic championships heavily without being able to articulate an academic vision and college counseling philosophy, or that rely on historic reputation without demonstrating current faculty quality and instructional innovation. For private high schools, ask about financial aid availability and what percentage of students receive need-based assistance, as the most committed schools to their stated values typically make significant aid available to ensure their communities reflect the diversity of the city they serve.
Top High School Companies in Atlanta
1. The Westminster Schools
Founded: 1951
Address: 1424 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30327
Phone: (404) 355-8673
Website: https://www.westminster.net
Awards & Recognition: 290 state championships since 1951; Georgia Athletic Directors’ Association Director’s Cup winner in 17 of 18 years; AP program test site since mid-1950s; top 20% of Georgia private schools across multiple ranking categories
Services:
- Pre-First through Grade 12 education
- Advanced Placement program (extensive course catalog)
- Global programs spanning five continents
- 84+ teams across 17 sports
- Fine arts, visual arts, and performing arts
- Service learning programs
- 180-acre Buckhead campus
About: The Westminster Schools was founded in 1951 from the reorganization of North Avenue Presbyterian School and has grown into one of Atlanta’s most accomplished private institutions, with approximately 1,890 students on a 180-acre wooded campus in Buckhead. Westminster was among the first test sites for the College Board’s Advanced Placement program in the mid-1950s, a distinction that reflects the school’s historic commitment to rigorous academic preparation. The school’s 290 state championship record and near-perfect record in the Georgia Athletic Directors’ Director’s Cup reflect a balanced commitment to athletic excellence alongside academic achievement. A student-to-teacher ratio of 6.8 ensures that Westminster’s 277 classroom teachers can maintain the close instructional relationships that distinguish the school’s educational model from larger institutional competitors.
2. Pace Academy
Founded: 1958
Leadership: Fred Assaf, Head of School
Address: 966 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30327
Website: https://www.paceacademy.org
Awards & Recognition: US Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence 2004-05; Niche #1 Best Private High School in Georgia; top 20% of Georgia private schools across multiple categories; Isdell Center for Global Leadership
Services:
- Pre-First through Grade 12 education
- College preparatory curriculum
- Advanced Placement courses
- Isdell Center for Global Leadership (global education)
- Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School facilities
- 37-acre Buckhead campus
- Athletics across multiple sports
About: Pace Academy was founded in 1958 by Jane Tuggle on a 37-acre campus in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood and has developed into one of Georgia’s top-ranked private high schools, earning the Niche designation as the number one best private high school in the state. Head of School Fred Assaf has led Pace since 2005, guiding an ambitious campus expansion including the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School and the establishment of the Isdell Center for Global Leadership, which ensures that every Pace graduate receives a global education component before graduation. The school’s character development emphasis, grounded in Judeo-Christian values without sectarian affiliation, produces graduates who are academically prepared and personally grounded in a manner that resonates strongly with the Atlanta families who choose Pace generation after generation. US Department of Education Blue Ribbon School recognition validates Pace’s academic standards against national benchmarks.
3. Atlanta International School
Founded: 1985
Phone: (404) 841-3840
Website: https://www.aischool.org
Licenses & Certifications: IB World School (PYP, MYP, DP, CP); AAAIS, COGNIA, SACS, CIS, SAIS accredited
Services:
- Diploma Programme (IB DP) Grades 11-12
- Career-related Programme (IB CP) Grade 11-12
- World language instruction
- Global citizenship curriculum
- Boarding option for Grades 9-12
- Intercultural community
About: Atlanta International School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme at the high school level, providing the full continuum of IB education from the earliest preschool years through grade 12 in a genuinely international community. The school’s boarding program for grades 9 through 12 attracts families from across the United States and internationally who value the IB framework and the cultural diversity of the AIS community, creating a high school environment with a distinctly global character. AIS’s multiple accreditations from the IB Organization, COGNIA, SACS, CIS, and SAIS reflect an institutional commitment to quality standards validated by the most rigorous independent evaluation bodies in international education. For students pursuing university study in the United States or internationally, the IB Diploma provides recognized preparation that is well-regarded by admissions offices globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I evaluate college placement outcomes for Atlanta high schools?
A: Ask for a complete college placement report for recent graduating classes, not just a list of impressive admissions but the full distribution of where graduates enrolled including how many attended in-state universities, community colleges, or gap years. Ask what percentage of graduates applied to and were admitted to their first-choice institutions, as this is a more meaningful success metric than a curated list of prestigious names. Also ask about merit scholarship outcomes, as the financial value of scholarships earned by graduates reflects the academic preparation the school provided and matters significantly for families paying private school tuition through the high school years.
Q: What does private high school tuition cost in Atlanta?
A: Private high school tuition in Atlanta ranges from approximately $15,000 to $35,000+ per year at the area’s established independent schools. Westminster, Pace Academy, and Atlanta International School are at the upper end of this range, with the most comprehensive facilities, faculty, and programs. Faith-affiliated private high schools typically offer lower tuition starting around $8,000 to $15,000 per year. Most Atlanta private high schools offer need-based financial aid, and families are encouraged to apply for aid regardless of assumptions about eligibility, as many schools prioritize community diversity and commit significant endowment resources to aid programs. The financial aid application process typically runs parallel to the admissions application with overlapping deadlines.
Q: What extracurricular opportunities should I look for at Atlanta high schools?
A: Beyond core academic programming, the depth and quality of arts, athletics, and service learning opportunities significantly affect high school experience and character development. Westminster’s 84+ teams across 17 sports and fine arts programs reflect a commitment to extracurricular breadth that exceeds most competitors. Pace Academy’s Isdell Center for Global Leadership provides every student a structured global education component that is explicitly programmatic rather than optional. Atlanta International School’s language and cultural immersion opportunities leverage the school’s uniquely international community in ways that no other Atlanta school can replicate. When evaluating extracurriculars, look for programs that are genuinely robust rather than nominal, asking specifically about participation rates, program budgets, and recent achievements.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s private high school market offers nationally recognized institutions for families seeking a rigorous, resource-rich educational environment. The Westminster Schools brings 70+ years of academic and athletic excellence from its 180-acre Buckhead campus with a legacy as an AP pioneer and a record of 290 state championships. Pace Academy provides Georgia’s top-ranked private high school experience under Fred Assaf’s leadership, with global education programming and outstanding college placement outcomes. Atlanta International School delivers the full IB Diploma Programme within a genuinely international community, with boarding options for high school grades for families seeking a distinctive global educational environment. Contact each school to arrange a campus visit and review admissions and financial aid timelines for the upcoming enrollment cycle.