Message From Our Director

Thanks for your interest in Berry College Elementary & Middle School.  At BCEMS, we recently celebrated our 30th Anniversary!  All this time, BCEMS has worked to continue the tradition and educational vision of Berry’s founder, Martha Berry.  Ms. Berry was a believer in the power of knowledge, and she sought to change lives through its acquisition and application.  She believed in the importance of educating not only the head, but also the heart and hands of every student.

We carry forth her philosophy to this very day.  This theme is integrated into our curriculum, and we strive to develop students with strong academic, social and civic foundations.  We encourage students to reflect upon issues of social justice, we create opportunities for direct student leadership, and we expect our students to serve their community in unique, innovative ways.

Our students attend classes in two facilities: one on the main campus of the college and the other on the Mountain Campus close to where Martha Berry’s first school house still stands.  While the 26,000 acres of Berry College provides the ultimate outdoor classroom, BCEMS is known for its team of master teachers who love to teach and bright kids who love to learn.  Our students excel on nationally standardized tests, consistently scoring class averages between one to three grade levels above the national average.  Our middle school students graduate BCEMS with a solid foundation, with most entering high school ready for honors-level classes, level 2 Spanish, and math at the Algebra II level. 

BCEMS is a member of the Georgia Independent Schools Association (GISA), the National Association of Laboratory Schools (NALS), and is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC).  All of our faculty members have earned their teacher certification, with over 75% having earned a Masters-level degree or above.  Our teachers are indeed an outstanding group of folks, having more than 200 years of combined experience in the field.

Additionally, our school has one of the lowest adult-to-student ratios in the country due to the fact that teachers are paired for an entire year with an outstanding student teacher from Berry College’s nationally recognized Charter School of Education and Human Sciences.  Each classroom also benefits from a dedicated group of college student workers providing essential, year-round teacher assistance and close student supervision.

Our school is the best choice for any parent wanting their child to benefit from a small, personable environment that provides a progressive curriculum based on national standards.  We seek those wanting to be part of our small, close-knit community, who connect with and care for one another, and who believe, as did Martha Berry, in the power of educating every head, heart, and hand.

Again, thanks for your interest!

Sincerely,

Paul Atkinson

Director

Berry College Elementary and Middle School