Holy Spirit Preparatory School

This school is a hidden gem compared to other Atlanta private schools and Catholic schools in the area. A strong Catholic education is the foundation of this school. Committed to valuing every child as a gift from God and wiling to teach all children so that they can reach their highest potential. Worth taking a second look...
—Submitted by a parent

Ask yourself a couple of questions....why has the class size dropped so dramatically (especially 9th grade, 2013) and why are they having to bring in foreign exchange students to fill the gaps? Do your homework and ask questions.
—Submitted by a parent

Strong academics and traditional Catholic values are the foundation for this school. Our family couldn't be more challenged and happier in this environment.
—Submitted by a parent

There is a lot of teacher turnover in this school. Parents serving as coaches bordering on abusive. If you are considering the resource program at this school, ask a lot of questions. Ask what the qualifications are of the teachers. Are the students in the resource program Catholic? What will the tuition be? Get it in writing. The school raised the resource tuition right before school started this year and again during the school year. Does the school remediate or just accomodate? Do they use a multi-sensory approach? If you have a child coming out of Schecnk or the Speech School there are better options in Atlanta.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have attended Holy Spirit Preparatory School for the past six years. This school is wonderful and we couldn't be any happier with our children's education. We highly recommend Holy Spirit for parents who want their children to obtain a complete education.
—Submitted by a parent

Please read all the postings before you decide to send your children here. There were many more comments that seem to have been deleted from this space. That is not fair. After 4 years our family was been very unhappy with the level of instruction and environment HSP offers. Teachers come and go every year and seem to leave under secretive circumstances. This school is NOT part of the Atlanta Catholic Archdiocese. Don t walk away Run away
—Submitted by a parent

I do not have an upper school child, but my daughter is a student in the lower school at HSP, in the first grade. She loves school, talks often about what she has learned from day to day, and has never wanted to leave at the end of the day! I have watched her grow in leaps and bounds and am very happy that we found our place at Holy Spirit Prep. I love the smaller class size and appreciate that all the teachers know and greet her on a daily basis, not just her own teacher. It's a very safe, nurturing environment that all parents should consider for their younger children.
—Submitted by a parent

School is way behind in math and language arts, especially in middle school. My child is struggling to catch up at a new school. Ask questions. I wish I had. Very casual atmosphere with a lot of behavioral, teasing and bullying issues. Spanish and Religion was great. The rest, not up to par. Not worth the money, in my opnion
—Submitted by a parent

I have worked at other schools in the Atlanta area, and I have been so happy teaching at Holy Spirit! It is a wonderful school that finds a way to challenge children while also giving extra support to those who need it. The teacher turnover is no worse than any other school, and all the teachers I work with have a background in education.
—Submitted by a teacher

Our family loves Holy Spirit Prep! We have 2 children on the Lower School Campus and couldn't be more pleased with our experience over the past 5 years. The teachers are nurturing and genuinely care about forming the whole child. Classes are academically challenging and the learning is individualized. Technology is on the rise with one to one chromebooks being used in the Middle School and Promethian Boards and Ipads used in the lower grades. This school has a real family feel that we haven't found anywhere else in the Atlanta area. Thank you Holy Spirit!
—Submitted by a parent

In life's major decisions in regards to your child, it is important to complete due diligence on all sides of the avenue coming and going. We are going into 5 years with a gifted child who has challenged and supported to succeed. I will too say you have to give or yourself to make successes happen at any school. Its life's circle of influence. It is too hard to accept when it is your child that may be having the problem.
—Submitted by a parent

We have attended other Catholic school schools in Atlanta and HSP has exceeded our expectations. This is based on my child's standardized testing scores, and his overall happiness at school. The school offers a program for their advanced students at the lower school which has not only challenged my child but given him outstanding confidence. He has tried out for and participated in many of the extra carriculars offered that surprised me like the talent show, book club competitions, and many of their sports. He loves his teachers and is the happiest, kindest, smartest kid you would ever meet. I give HSP credit for a lot of this.
—Submitted by a parent

As you can read from the reviews enclosed on this school, this school is very controversial. Unfortunately, the administration allows and contributes to a school with a very toxic environment. The faculty doesn t stay very long, once they find out the direction the school is going in (downward spiral) they move out quickly. We were misled as to the educational capabilities the school could provide. Worst decision we ever made for our children, once we paid, we tried to register for high school classes and realized there was no process, no room, no good quality teachers the math and science expertise is absent from this school and there is no attention to writing skills - a critical element for every child. Carefully evaluate your educational decisions for your children - good first step looking here to see the "real" scoop. Good Luck and move to an established institution - Newly formed schools like HSP are a dangerous choice - pick a 100 year old institution. There is a reason they are not affiliated with Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools (AAAIS) - they don't want to be regulated or controlled, the administration can do whatever they chose - DANGEROUS!
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children at HSP and it would be impossible for me to be any happier with our decision to send our children here. We have been at the school for 4 years and are constantly amazed by the staff, the school, the education my children are receiving, and the Catholic morals they will have with them their entire lives. The staff's credentials are absolutely amazing and FAR above what I would have expected from Elementary teachers. They have many enrichment programs for advanced students needing additional stimulation as well as programs for students that need extra support in particular areas. The only complaint we ever had about the school was regarding the need for rennovations at the lower school (including our muddy soccer fields). However, that thought is a distant memory! The school underwent an amazing renovation over the summer and is now absolutely beautiful - including astro-turf soccer fields!! This school is a bit pricier than other local Catholic schools - BUT WORTH EVERY CENT AND MORE! In the hustle and bustle and stresses life deals us every day, our child's education is the one thing my husband and I NEVER worry about. How can you put a price tag on that?!?!!?!
—Submitted by a parent

We have had an amazing experience at Holy Spirit. The teachers are fabulous and my children are thriving in this positive, individualized environment. The dedication of the teachers and administration to help each child reach their fullest potential is outstanding.
—Submitted by a parent

I am also very disappointed with this school. The athletic program is very weak. They still use parent coaches. You spend $18,000/yr and they can't afford to hire real coachs? The baseball diamond is a disaster and they rent space to play football. Their football league is not sanctioned. Everyone is crowded into one basketball court. If you want sports avoid this school. Overpriced !!! Go to Blessed Trinity or Marist.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school! We loved the overall experience at Holy Spirit. Lovely families and great education. One negative was when we moved out of state with a great deal of advance notification. The school would not refund our prepayments. We lost a lot of money! Don't sign their contract or pay unless you are DEFINITELY going to be at the school! Their contract doesn't seem clear on this, disappointing from a Christian school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have always had the highest regard for Holy Spirit Prep and I believe I always will. However, I was shocked and horrified at the behavior of our President and Headmaster at a varsity basketball game last week in our gymnasium. We were playing a local rival school. The players on the court and the student cheering sections were competing fiercely throughout the game. Suddenly, very near the end of the game, the Headmaster walked to the visitor cheering section and physically pulled a very young student and preceded to throw him out of the gym. Apparently, the Headmaster did not like the morph suit the student was wearing for some reason. When a female parent from the visiting school came to the Headmaster to understand what was going on, he physically grabbed her and was screaming at her. Luckily the incident cooled down before it escalated because a number of visiting parents (a few men) came to the lady's rescue. The Headmaster then proceeded to scream at one visiting parent after another. After completing these actions the Headmaster gave high fives to some students in our cheering section. I don't believe the actions or the celebration with our students were appropriate.
—Submitted by a parent

We chose Holy Spirit Preparatory after looking at several private schools in the Buckhead area. This is our second year at the school and we couldn't be more pleased with our choice. Our child has a warm, caring teacher who "gently" coaches her to excel. She is doing work one grade level higher in both math and english. When our friends with same age children at other schools discuss what their children are learning, we are always amazed that it is the work our child was doing last year. As a Catholic school, religion is an intricate part of their teaching philosophy but it is not obtrusive. Our child is thriving with the perfect mix of religious and academic education.
—Submitted by a parent

My two children attend this school. I have always been impressed with the staff and the level of individualized attention each student receives. I am writing this review today because they have impressed me beyond words today. All of my son's teachers and the success director met with us to see how they can make my son's learning experience even better. He is very bright but not a traditional learner. He needs more of a tactile (Kinaesthetic learning) learning environment. They will be infusing more of this style into his curriculum. It is so amazing to me that I literally have a team of educators behind me, helping and guiding and yes even some prayers to boot! It may not have the fanciest facilities, but it sure is the very best where it counts.
—Submitted by a parent