The Montessori Community School, Inc. d/b/a Counterpane School is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization founded in 1974 and “Accredited With Quality” by the Georgia Accrediting Commission. Currently, Counterpane School is one of the few schools in the country extending the Montessori philosophy from the 3-year-old child through twelfth grade. Approximately 80 students and 10 teachers share in this co-worker, co-learner environment, and the student body and staff reflect a wide cross-section of backgrounds.

Our campus is on 14 wooded acres with organic gardens and farm animals. The academic program emphasizes experiential and authentic work; it relies on mixed ages, an interdisciplinary curriculum, and a fully integrated creative arts program.

The student body from 3-year-old pre-school through high school is divided into three self-contained communities of learners: Primary (3 to 6 years), Lower School (6 to 12 years), Upper School (12 to 18 years). This format ensures an environment in which each student advances to the next piece of work only when mastery is achieved, therefore developing intellectually and emotionally at his or her own rate. At every level through 12th grade, each student’s work emphasizes writing, problem solving, public speaking, time management, community service, conflict resolution, and exploring one’s interests.

At the high school level (15 to 18 years), the curriculum is exclusively college preparatory, and the environment closely resembles college with individual contracts, group projects, Socratic discussions, student/teacher appointments, and flex-scheduling. Self-directed independent study, long-term research projects with oral defenses, service to others, and microeconomy are inherent in the program. Dual enrollment with local colleges and internships are incorporated as achievement, commitment, and maturity permit.

Honors courses are available throughout the curriculum. Counterpane prefers a student dual enroll in a local college or design a yearlong independent study in lieu of AP coursework; AP courses are not offered unless a student requests them. A student may opt for an additional year in high school if personal needs or goals dictate.

Each student is assisted in addressing individual strengths and weaknesses to achieve independence and college readiness, both academically and emotionally. The resulting confidence, self-awareness, and genuine desire for inquiry make college a natural conclusion and confirm life as a continuous learning experience.

To date, 100% of Counterpane graduates have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities including Agnes Scott College, Andrews University, Auburn University, Berry College, Boston University, Bowdoin College, Brown University, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon University, Claremont McKenna College, Clark University (Boston), Colorado State, Columbia University, Cornell University, Culinary Institute of America, Emerson College, Emory University, Evergreen State College, Fashion Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, Hampshire College, Harvey Mudd College, Johnson & Wales, Lawrence University, Macalester College, Mercer University, Oberlin College, Ohio University, Ohio Wesleyan, M.I.T., New Mexico School of Mining and Technology, New York University, Penn State University, Rhodes College, R.I.T., Savannah College of Art and Design, Southern Polytechnic State University, St. John’s College, St. John’s University, Sweet Briar College, Tulane University, The University of Georgia, and many others.

Counterpane evaluates students through written assessments, and students do not receive grades until they begin high school transcript work. Courses taken at other high schools that were completed with passing grades and earned credit are included on Counterpane’s transcript. Students are not ranked, and grades are not weighted. A student’s GPA is based on a 100-point scale and is exclusive of Fine Arts and P.E.