Atlanta Private Schools Advice wanted on Westminster, Pace and St. Benedict's (Smyrna: neighborhood, best schools)

[idsoon]

My daughter was accepted to the pre-first program at Pace Academy and St. Benedicts and the Kindergarten program at Westminster. She was waitlisted at Trinity. We think that all the schools are great and are honored to have received acceptance letters. The hard part is making the decision. Most people who we speak with are encouraging us to strongly consider Westminster as it has a solid reputation and it is very tough to even get in. We liked the nurturing environment and small school feel of Pace and St. Benedicts. I was just wondering if the folks on this blog can share there experiences in the Pre-1st/Kindergarten programs at these schools. Many Thanks!!

[CMMom]

Where is St. Benedict's? I've never heard of that, and I'm an Atlanta native.

[yankeegirl73]

St. Benedict's is a different kind of school. I think that's your first choice...do you want the neighborhood religious school or Pace/Westminster?

As for Pace v. Westminster, both are great schools. If academics and extracurriculars are #1, Westminster. If a smaller, more nurturing school and non-religious atmosphere are #1, Pace. But really, those are generalizations. No school is so easily defined. I would go with where you felt comfortable.

[idsoon]

Thanks for your feedback. St. Benedict's Episcopal Day School is a new school in Smyrna. It is small but seem like it has strong academics and a nurturing enviornment. It also offers a lot in terms of languages and a global perspective. The staff and student body is also diverse in terms of religion, ethnicity, race and language fluency.

[amof]

Let me know what you decide. We will be applying to both Pace and Westminster for Fall 2011. We have toured both schools and love both for different reasons. I, also, live in Smyrna and am familiar with St. Benedict's. One of my concerns with St. Benedicts is that it's a short term school. What do you do after 5th grade; apply again to Pace and Westminster? Will they get in in 6th grade? Yikes!

[bilbo799]

To be totally honest, it's not fair to compare Westminster and Woodward. It's really easy to generalize and say, "oh, they're both good schools" or "either one is really good." But Westminster is one of the top schools in the country: it has the largest endowment for a non-boarding school in the country, its SAT scores are as good as any prep schoo, and its facilities are phenomenal. Woodward objectively does not compare, even though it is one of the best schools in Atlanta.

[Marsha33]

Is anyone here familiar with St. Benedict's Episcopal Day School in Smyrna?

[St. B Mom]

My daughter's in her second year at St. Benedict's. She started in Kindergarten and LOVES it! We were accepted to Whitefield, Lovett, Pace, and waitlisted at Trinity. Chose St. B's for a number of reasons, including location and size. So far, her experience has been phenomenal. Teachers are great and the small school/community feel is wonderful. Just received notice that they've been granted the approval to add a middle school, so that placed our "what next" fears to rest.