The Paideia School

The Paideia School
Address
1509 Ponce de Leon Ave. Atlanta, Georgia, Dekalb 30307 United States
Coordinates	33°46′24″N 84°20′17″W / 33.77337°N 84.33796°W / 33.77337; -84.33796Coordinates: 33°46′24″N 84°20′17″W / 33.77337°N 84.33796°W / 33.77337; -84.33796
Information
School type	Private, Coed
Religious affiliation(s)	Non-sectarian
Founded	1971
School code	110214
Dean	Elementary: Mary Lynn Cullen Junior High: Jennifer Cox High: Brett Hardin
Headmaster	Paul Bianchi
Grades	K-12
Number of students	975
Average class size	14 (high school)
Language	English
Hours in school day	6.8
Campus size	Main: 16 acres Python Park: 12 acres
Campus type	Open
Color(s)	Blue and White
Song	O Mascot of Might
Mascot	Python
Team name	Pythons
Tuition	Half Day: $12,822 Elementary: $20,691 Junior High: $23,157 High School: $23,214-23,463

The Paideia School (pronounced pie-day-uh)^[1] is an independent school located in intown Atlanta, Georgia. It teaches children ages 3 through 18.^[2]

History

The Paideia School was founded in 1971 by parents who wanted an individualized, creative, and intellectually challenging education for their children.^[3] The original building at 1509 Ponce de Leon housed the entire school of 140 students during the first two years.^[4] In 1973 the school purchased the adjoining property and added a high school program. Two additional buildings were constructed in 1977 to allow for increased enrollment and to provide improved facilities for existing programs.^[5] Additional buildings were purchased in the 1980s for classrooms, laboratories, and the upper school library.^[6]

A new gym and theater complex was opened in 1989, and a 25,000-square-foot high school classroom building with library and computer facilities was opened in 1995. In 1999 renovations were completed on the Neel Reid house at 1341 Ponce de Leon and a half-day program was moved there. Playing fields were opened in 1999 in Avondale Estates, and the Music and Art Center opened in the fall of 2001. With the start of the 2008-2009 school year, the school opened several new facilities for the junior high, physical education, drama and music programs built with money raised in the $25 million Campaign for All Ages.^[7] These facilities include a new junior high building, an expanded chorus program room, an expanded main gym, a multipurpose gym, a black box theater, art display area, a fitness center, an open green space and increased parking. Paideia School now has over 900 students from age three through 12th grade. The school is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools.^[8]

Facilities

• Main campus on 16 acres (65,000 m²) on Ponce de Leon Avenue with 14 buildings, 7 of which are repurposed 20th century homes.
• Python Park: 12 acres (49,000 m²) in Avondale Estates with two soccer fields and a baseball/softball field.

Clubs

A wide variety of extracurriculars take place on campus. Student interest drives most activities.

Competitive

• Policy Debate, the team travels nationally and locally. They are primarily student driven. The Paideia debate team has grown rapidly during the past few years. The school now features a high school and junior high team.
• Mock Trial, the team finished top eight in the state for the 2013-14 school year; qualifying through both regional and district competitions.^[9]
• Robotics, the team competed at the World Competition in Anaheim, CA in 2011-12 and the National Competition in Omaha, NB in 2012-13.^[10]
• Chess Club
• Math Team
• Model UN
• Science Olympiad
• The Junior High Academic Bowl team won the Junior National tournament in 2014 and won the Georgia Middle School Championship in 2016.

Non-Competitive

• Amnesty International, promotes human rights.^[11]
• Art Club
• Dreamers and Allies, dedicated to supporting undocumented youth.^[12]
• The Fems, explore feminism through reading, films, and discussions.^[13]
• French Club
• Green Team
• Grief Group
• Homeless Pets Club
• Jew Crew
• LASSO
• Men's Acappella
• Outdoor Club
• Politics Club
• Spanish Club
• Spectrum (GSA)
• Steering Club
• TRIBE Onyx
• Urban Ag
• Volunteer Paideia
• Whovian's United
• Women's Acapella

Student Government

The Steering Committee is Paideia's student government organization. The committee plans social events for the entire High School including, The Bash, Spirit Week, and Class Points competitions. The committee also provides financial support for other student organizations.^[14]

Student Publications

• The Forum, the School's Newspaper.
• Art Magazine, the Art Magazine gives every student at Paideia a forum for publishing their prose, poetry, or other literary works, as well as art for the Paideia community.
• Yearbook

Athletics

Over half of the students in the high school play on one of the junior varsity and varsity teams in 10 sports: soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, track, swimming and diving, volleyball, cross-country, ultimate Frisbee, and tennis. The athletic program emphasizes participation, high quality instruction, and teamwork. Presently, the no-cut system is being examined in the particularly crowded sports of soccer and basketball to try to address problems caused by this crowding.^[15]

References

External links

• Paideia School Website