“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Why Habersham?
At The Habersham School, we believe excellence in education begins when we share a common educational philosophy with families and cooperate both in goals and in methods. This is why we attempt to give prospective parents a full understanding of who we are, what we believe, and what we do. Our admissions process is designed to evaluate the whole child. We attempt to balance the needs of the student with the needs of the school and class to make sure we can serve the student well. We will consider each student’s academic potential, scholastic motivation, character, and extra-curricular interests. Read more about our Admissions Process.
Why Habersham?
At The Habersham School, we believe excellence in education begins when we share a common educational philosophy with families and cooperate both in goals and in methods. This is why we attempt to give prospective parents a full understanding of who we are, what we believe, and what we do. Our admissions process is designed to evaluate the whole child. We attempt to balance the needs of the student with the needs of the school and class to make sure we can serve the student well. We will consider each student’s academic potential, scholastic motivation, character, and extra-curricular interests. Read more about our Admissions Process.
Admissions Calendar
Can’t make it to a scheduled Admissions Event? Click here to schedule a Patriot Preview!
October 1
2020-21 Online Applications Open
November 5
November 12
Upper School Academic Night | RSVP Here
November 15
Early Childhood Open House | RSVP Here
December 1
First Round Admissions
December 6
Pre-K4 – 12th Grades Open House | RSVP Here
December 10
Upper School Open House | RSVP Here
January 17
Pre-K4 – 12th Grades Open House | RSVP Here
January 31
First Round Admissions Deadline
February 1
Second Round Admissions
February 7
Pre-K4 – 12th Grades Open House | RSVP Here
February 29
Second Round Admissions Deadline
March 1
Rolling Admissions
March 15
Tuition Assistance Application Deadline
Tuition Assistance and Scholarships
The Habersham School seeks to foster an environment that is reflective of the Christian community as a whole. Through the Tuition Assistance Program, we hope to enable qualified candidates to join our school community, regardless of their financial need, to open the doors of classical, Christian education to those who would not otherwise have the opportunity, and to build a student body that reflects a broad spectrum of socio-economic backgrounds. Whatever the level of need, The Habersham School works with families to provide tuition assistance through the following channels:
FACTS Grant & Aid
The Habersham School employs the services of FACTS Grant & Aid, a third party entity which assesses all tuition assistance applications and makes recommendations to the school accordingly. Click here for more information regarding the Tuition Assistance Process.
Arete Scholars Fund
The Arete Scholars Fund awards need-based scholarships to qualifying families. The Arete application is separate from the FACTS application, and a family may submit applications to both organizations.
Thomas C. Welch III Scholarship
In honor of the late Thomas Welch and with the generous spirit of his wife, Lucia Welch, the Thomas C. Welch III Scholarship is extended to current students at the Habersham School who embody character and academic achievement that promotes The Habersham School’s stated Mission and Vision. Eligible students from the 6th-8th grades are eligible for nomination.
Are you accredited?
Yes! We are fully accredited with highest designation (Accredited with Quality) by The Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC). Further, we are recognized as a partner school within the Classical Latin School Association and are a member of the Society for Classical Learning.
Do you offer Aftercare services?
Yes! We offer full time and part time After Care services until 5:30 daily. Click here for more information.
How long does the Admissions Process take?
This can vary from family to family, but on average, the Admissions Process will take around two weeks.
What sports do you offer?
Varsity and Junior Varsity teams compete in the Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS). Middle School (5th-8th) teams compete in The Savannah Parochial Athletic League (SPAL). Habersham fields teams in these leagues for the following sports: Upper School – Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Swimming, Bass Fishing; Middle School – Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, Soccer, and Bass Fishing. These teams are coached by qualified and experienced coaches who combine a deep understanding of their sport with a desire to see their players develop as Christ-centered young men and women while they develop as students and athletes.
What co-curricular activities do you offer?
We offer co-curricular activities in four categories: General Music Education, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and The Conservatory.
Do you have a Student Travel Program?
Yes! St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” In short, we firmly believe in this sentiment of this quote. Click here for more information.
What is your age cutoff date?
Our cutoff date is the 1st of September.
What visitation opportunities are there?
There are three ways in which we encourage interested families to take a closer look.
Patriot Preview (Private or Group Tour), Open House, Shadow Days
Please email our Admissions Office at admissions@thehabershamschool.org for further information.
AP + IB?
When colleges evaluate our students, they want to see that our students take the most challenging curriculum available to them at our school. Colleges do not concern themselves with, or expect our students to take AP or IB courses because, in most disciplines, we choose to offer creative and rigorous courses rather than the AP or IB curricula. This is a growing trend among many of the best schools in the country. For instance, Phillips Exeter Academy (NH), St. Paul’s School (NH), Phillips Academy (MA), and The Lawrenceville School (NJ) are rated among the 5 best schools in the country, and all exclude AP and IB courses from their curricula. We believe, and college administrators confirm, that the best education available to students is independent of the AP or IB programs.
Do you have an application and/or registration fee?
Our Application Fee is $25 and is non-refundable. Upon acceptance, a non-refundable $400 Tuition Deposit is due in order to reserve your child’s seat. This deposit counts toward your total tuition cost. It is not an additional fee.
Uniform Requirements?
Click here to see our Uniform Policy. Habersham uniforms are purchased through Bahama Joes.
When does school begin/end?
Gould Cottage Campus – 505 E 54th Street
Early Childhood (Pre K4 – K) First Dismissal 8:00 – 1:00
Early Childhood (PreK4 – K) Late Dismissal 8:00 – 2:30
K – 4th Grades 8:00 – 2:30
5th – 8th Grades 8:00 – 2:50
Habersham Hall Campus – 235 Habersham Street
9th – 12th Grades 8:00 – 3:05
Creedal and Covenantal?
While the classical education program finds its genesis with the pagan Greeks, Christendom has long seen the value in a program that has as its goal the freedom of human beings. We can see from the Medieval period that the classical program is best worked out when it is appropriated within a rich and robust Christian worldview which values Truth and sees the human being as a glorious image bearer of God. At the same time, the goal of the classical, liberal arts tradition has always been to produce men and women who seek out Truth by questioning, investigating, and dialogue. This can only be done when there are questions to ask and matters to be discussed. Thus, a theological foundation that is too thorough might stifle a true search for knowledge by rendering all of the important questions answered. The quest for knowledge and understanding, according to Socrates, begins with acknowledging one’s own ignorance. We can also find wisdom in this approach by understanding how the modern search for certainty had the ironic effect of ushering in our relativistic age of uncertainty. Therefore, it seems appropriate both historically and philosophically to root the classical, liberal arts tradition in a creedal Christianity which provides a proper trajectory for the educational program, places limits on the paths which it can take, and allows freedom for those paths to be explored in an intellectually honest manner.
What is the significance of the name “The Habersham School”?
The Habersham School acquired its name from one of Savannah’s premier colonial citizens, James Habersham. A man of deep spiritual convictions, Habersham is known for his time spent as a schoolteacher, businessman, and acting governor of Georgia. Although he found great success in his business and political careers, it was his work in the founding of Bethesda that prompted our founders to name the school for him.
Do you have Chapel?
Yes! Each school, Lower and Upper, have chapel once a week. The Lower School students are led by the Dean in the pledge, patriotic song, the hymn of the month, and a short devotional. Upper School students are led by the school chaplain in prayer, singing, and brief devotional.
Why do you teach Latin?
Why do we take a “dead language” so seriously? Latin provides an excellent cornerstone subject for language studies. It helps students become better English speakers and writers. The most obvious reason is English words come from Latin, so learning the root words helps students understand the English derivatives of Latin. A student who learns for example, that “caput” means “head” will learn that many words with this root will refer to the head of a person or body (capital punishment, the state capital, the Capitol building, decapitate, capitulate, captain, and per capita) to name a few. Learning Latin words is an efficient way for students to build English vocabulary and students often develop a genuine love for words. But Habersham Latin studies go well beyond vocabulary, and we would contend that vocabulary is not the best reason for studying the language. Students are deeply immersed in Latin grammar and eventually reading. Latin solidifies English grammar. In mastering this rigorous and orderly language they learn to structure material in their minds. They memorize forms and vocabulary and rules, and learn how to apply them. This long process of learning leads to more logical thinking and expression. Along this challenging Latin journey, students develop strong study skills, which carry over to other subjects. Teachers, however, are also in the business of soulcraft. The work of Latin builds character and exposes students to timeless and ennobling ideas. Concordia cum veritate – in harmony with truth!
To what grades do you teach Latin?
We teach Latin from 2nd grade through Upper School.
My child has never had Latin. Can he/she succeed at Habersham?
At Habersham, we have several starting points for Latin. We have beginner classes in the Lower and Upper School to accommodate incoming students with no Latin background. An early start is optimal, but our late-start students succeed as well.
What colleges or universities have graduates gone to?
In our short existence, our graduates have attended the honors colleges of Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, and Mercer University and have been accepted to: New York University, the Coast Guard Academy, Wake Forest, Furman University, Ole Miss, and Hardin Simmons University, just to name a few.
What is your philosophy in using technology?
Technology is a necessary and helpful tool for living in the 21st Century. Because technology is so pervasive in our culture, children are often learning on their own how to use it. With that said, we want to use our time with students in ways that are relational, face to face, developing excellent language skills. We want to teach them to think so they are masters of the technology rather than allowing technology to become masters of them. We believe the best teacher is a human rather than a machine!
How many students are at Habersham and in each class?
Our enrollment is approximately 250 and growing! Our average class size is around 16 students.
How do I know what school supplies to order/buy?
Once you are enrolled, you will have access to the “Current Families” page on our website. All supply lists will be posted there.
Is there a school calendar of events?
Do you have any parent organizations?
We have two wonderful parent organizations. Our Patriot Parent Organization (PPO) functions as a standard PTO. Our Patriot Club functions as a standard booster club, with a dual focus on the Arts and Athletics. We encourage all parents to join both organizations!
