Atrium School

We are thrilled to have our two children at Atrium. We were looking for a small, independent, progressive school that nurtures and respects children, and we found it at this amazing place. Our children are thriving academically, socially, and emotionally. The understanding that the teachers have of each child is nothing short of amazing.
—Submitted by a parent

Atrium has a warm, nurturing atmosphere and very thoughtful teachers. The curriculum is creative and promotes joy in learning and discovering. We are thrilled with the school!
—Submitted by a parent

The Atrium has been a wonderful experience for all of us. They offer a warm, nurturing environment and many wonderful programs. The class sizes are small and the teachers really care about each and every student. I couldn't be mroe pleased.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son had originally been accepted at Atrium for Kindergarten and we chose another school which seemed as good from the surface but was much more convenient to our home and commute patterns. This turned out to be a huge mistake, which we finally were able to correct by enrolling our son there for the fourth grade. I can't say enough good things about the school and the directors, teachers and staff. Here is a school that truly understands that children are all different and have their own challenges and strengths, where community is fostered but not foisted upon you, where diversity and respect are part of the fabric of the school and not a project to be worked on. It is also extremely unusual for an elite school to truly understand that boys and girls have intrinsic differences in how they learn. Could not recommend more highly.
—Submitted by a parent

It is a good school with excellent teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I am so grateful to the Atrium School. Both my children thrived there. They not only acquire all the academic skills one expects, they each, in their own way, found a voice, a way of learning, and a sense of self. Worth every $$. An investment for a lifetime.
—Submitted by a parent

The Atrium has been the best experence of my life! Not only education wise, but in every aspect of my life! I have had the most amazing times at the Atrium! I only wish that they did not stop teaching at sixth grade! I wish I could go to the Atrium my whole life!
—Submitted by a student

One of the many things I love about this jewel of a school is the combination of both the attention to the social and emotional development of my child as well as a strong, thoughtful academic life of my child. This school gets that balance and does it right!
—Submitted by a parent

Kudos to the Atrium School. We first learned about the school when our friend s children attended Atrium. We ve had the luxury to see their kids go on to great academic success, based on the excellent foundation from the Atrium. We are confident our son will follow the same path. The Atrium faculty and staff have created a diverse, open and creative learning environment, that only a truly committed, cohesive, and caring group of educators can provide. Students learn respect, collaboration and community through their interaction in the classroom, between classrooms, and outside to four walls on various projects in the surrounding community. The big bonus is a great parent community and lots of communication between parents, faculty and staff. As parents of an Atrium student,(one and with a Masters Degree in Education), we could not be happier with the school.
—Submitted by a parent

The parent community at Atrium is amazing; we have made as many new, close friends as our daughter! Parents here are involved, caring, smart, and fun to be with. The school involves them in the classroom, at assemblies, and in volunteer jobs. The academic curriculum is strong, and offers a range for children, from an innovative social justice foundation to the usual math, science, reading, and writing. The school offers an integrated program, which means that art and music are taught in the classrooms in tandem with the academic material. Teachers are dedicated to reaching the WHOLE child--the emotional, physical, and intelelctual aspects of development. Sports are not offered on a formal basis, although kids learn skills in PE. Overall, this school is a warm, community-spirited place where children feel loved and inspired to learn. My kid loves coming to school; Atrium teaches kids to be curious, constructive and kind.
—Submitted by a parent

This, Kindergarten, is our first great year at the Atrium. Our daughter is completely honored for who she is as a whole person. The teachers and staff are very open to the parents and families and we never get the feeling from them that they are the 'experts' on our child; this is a big reason why we chose this school. We happen to be o.k. with how art and music are more of a casual part of the everyday curriculum. I don't agree with involuntary time blocks of the arts anyway. We would, however, like to see some arts and sports offered at no additional charge as opposed to solely afterschool at a charge. Perhaps that would need to be worked into choice times and study options during regular hours. We agree with the 'matter-of-fact' approach to diversity rather than 'wearing a banner' approach, which defeats the whole purpose.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has been a disappointment for us. Atrium's programs and approach are not for every student. They are designed for bright and creative children who are gifted in math and English. Children who require more guidance and structure are lost. Regarding diversity, it is heavily advertised by the school but it is restricted to gathering students with different skin colors. Diversity in learning styles and academic and extracurricular interests are not honored simply because the school does not have the resources and the teachers lack the training.
—Submitted by a parent

The Atrium is a wonderful, loving supportive atmosphere for children. I am grateful that my daughter is able to be a part of their community. They have allowed her to flourish in a place where she feels confident to explore and question. The Atrium has done a lot of work towards creating and keeping a diverse community. The children are all taught to celebrate differences. There is a wonderful thematic based curriculum. Parents are encouraged but not pressured to be active in the school. The ratio of teacher/student is impressive. The administration and curriculum planners are very open to suggestions and feedback. This is a wonderful place to be a part of. It makes me want to go back and relive my childhood. This school is also very friendly towards working parents schedules. It offers a fun, safe and challenging afterschool program. There are activities such as Karate, African drumming and theatre.
—Submitted by Kim Soderberg, a parent