George
Walton Academy... Where
Students Come First
Philosophy and Purpose
George
Walton Academy is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational day
school dedicated to providing a learning environment in which
a young person can grow, learn, be challenged, and find success.
We are interested in the development and well being of the total
child as a person, scholar, citizen, and athlete. We believe that
each child is different, but we have high expectations of all
our students in all aspects of their school experiences and expect
that they will put forth their best efforts at all times. The
Academy emphasizes the importance of good manners, concerns for
the rights of others, and proper conduct. We believe that a school
setting with small classes, competent and caring teachers, and
a strong college preparatory curriculum which stresses excellence,
intellectual challenge, student responsibility, and hard work
creates a confident young person prepared and ready for the adult
world.
Expectations
Once
a student is enrolled in George Walton Academy, it is important
for parents and the school to have open lines of communication
and to understand each other's expectations. We set high goals
for our students. We expect them to work hard and to strive to
reach their potential as young people. We expect them to conduct
themselves properly, to treat others with respect, and to be the
best they can be in all areas. We expect our students to abide
by the rules of the GWA dress code. We also expect parents to
be supportive of the faculty and administration as we work with
their children. Every parent and student is required to read and
be aware of the "rules and regulations" of the Academy
set forth in the Student Handbook. Parents are very much a part
of the GWA family, and they are encouraged to take part in the
numerous activities of the school as well as participate in our
Annual Loyalty Fund. George Walton Academy cannot continue to
be a quality educational institution without the interest, cooperation,
involvement, loyalty, and confidence of our parents. In return
the administration, faculty, and staff pledge to put forth every
effort to encourage your child to do his or her best at all times,
to communicate with parents, to have high standards of instruction,
and to deserve the trust and responsibility we have been given
as teachers and counselors. Parents are very much a part of the
GWA family.
Mission
Statement The
mission of George Walton Academy, a college preparatory school,
is to establish a safe environment, to promote lifelong learning,
and to assist students in becoming responsible, self-disciplined
adults who will contribute positively to a rapidly changing society.
Beliefs •We
believe all students have the right to receive an education in
a safe environment.
•We believe each student is a valued individual with unique
physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.
•We believe learning is a life long process.
•We believe it is crucial to monitor a student's progress
so that curriculum modifications and staff development can be
structured to enhance noted strengths and weaknesses.
•We believe that students should demonstrate their understanding
of essential knowledge and skills, and be actively involved in
solving problems and producing quality work.
•We believe a student's self-esteem is enhanced by positive
relationships and mutual respect among and between students and
staff.
•We believe our school staff and stakeholders in the community
should present themselves as positive role models for students.
•We believe that part of our job as educators is to help
students learn the value of taking personal responsibility for
their work and actions.
•We believe that assessment of student learning and our school's
effectiveness should be ongoing in order for us to work continuously
to improve the learning process.
GWA
Profile School
George Walton Academy is a coeducational, independent,
non-profit, college-preparatory day school founded in 1969. The
school has over 975 students in grades K4-12th grades.
The academy serves students from Walton, Newton,
Rockdale, Oconee, Morgan, Gwinnett, Clark, DeKalb, and
Barrow counties. The Academy is governed by a self-
perpetuating Board of Trustees and is a member of the
Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Georgia Independent
School Association.
Faculty
The school has 128 faculty and staff members with a ratio
of one professional staff member to each twenty students. School
counselors coordinate guidance, and individual
faculty members assist as advisors to the students. The upper
school counselor provides college and academic
counseling.
Accreditation
George Walton Academy is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting
Commission and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
School
Year
George Walton Academy's school year consist of 180 days
divided into two semesters. Each semester is divided into two
nine-week marking periods with students attending six classes
daily.
Rank
Student ranking is determined at the end of the academic year.
All grades are weighted equally except for advanced placement
and honor courses; these are weighted for class- ranking purposes
only. The academy does not weight AP
or honor courses on transcripts. Grades from previous
schools figured as transferred. Twenty-two units of credit
are required for graduation.
College
100% of George Walton Academy graduates have been
accepted into a college or university. A large majority of
our graduates are eligible for scholarships with the average
college scholarship being more than $8,000 per senior.
