Holy Innocents Episcopal School

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.

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!
--Submitted by a 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.
--Submitted by a parent

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.
--Submitted by a 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.
--Submitted by a student

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.
--Submitted by a 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.
--Submitted by a 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.
--Submitted by a 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.
--Submitted by a 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.
--Submitted by a parent