Atlanta Girls’ School opened its doors in 2000 and is the only independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school for girls in grades 6 through 12 in Georgia. 

Mission Statement

Inspiring Girls to Lead Lives of Purpose

AGS’s mission, Inspiring Girls to Lead Lives of Purpose, is more important than ever before and is at the heart of all the programs we offer. In a world becoming exponentially more complex, girls will face challenges in college and beyond that will require curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and confidence to be solved.

At Atlanta Girls’ School, we teach girls to be world-class problem solvers. Our curriculum and culture emerge from a distinct vision of what girls must learn individually and collectively to become thoughtful and capable leaders.

AGS provides a challenging college-preparatory program in a learning environment designed to foster the full potential of each student and to enable her to become a vital contributor to our complex global society. We achieve this by using proven and emerging educational techniques tailored to how girls learn, integrating big-picture thinking, high expectations, and leading-edge technologies. Our girls learn to take appropriate risks, be courageous leaders, give back to their communities, and project personal confidence and competence in all they do.

Vision

AGS is committed to helping girls and young women develop their fullest potential intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Our school provides a safe, ethics-based environment, where community members encourage and support one another, are respectful of one another’s unique talents and interests, and are aware of and accepting of cultural, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds that may be different from their own. We aim to prepare students not only for college, but also for lifelong learning. With a curriculum that is strong in the arts and humanities and in math, science and technology, AGS helps girls and young women become equipped to meet the challenges, demands, and opportunities of the future.

Our girls develop strong cognitive skills that can be applied to problems that are mathematical, scientific, artistic, social, moral, ethical, or personal. These skills, learned in an atmosphere that is intellectually stimulating and emotionally nurturing, allow girls to gain confidence, discipline, and courage and enable them to grow into resilient, responsible, and productive leaders of their communities.

Our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan outlines our strategic objectives and action plan for our school for the next five years.

History

Female single-gender schools disappeared from the Atlanta landscape in the mid 1950s. In August 1997, research began on the feasibility of establishing a single-gender school for girls in Atlanta.

Even though single-gender independent school education is common in cities as diverse from one another as Memphis and Pasadena, New York and Tacoma, Charlottesville and Providence, Pittsfield and Chattanooga, Atlanta had no girls’ schools and our school founders—Emily Ellison and Brooke Weinmann—set about reintroducing this construct to the Atlanta scene. In 1998 the name “Atlanta Girls’ School, Inc.” was officially reserved with the Secretary of State, a Board of Trustees was formed, and initial fundraising was started.

Founders' Day 2014

Co-founders Brooke Weinmann (left) and Emily Ellison (right) joined by alumna Elizabeth Mashburn ’08 at Founders’ Day 2014.

Opening Day 2000

Opening Day 2000

On August 28, 2000, we opened our doors to students in grades six through nine, and AGS became a reality. In each of the next three years, an additional grade was added so that by the start of school in August 2003, we opened to a full complement of students in grades 6 through 12. In June 2004, our first graduates walked across the stage to accept their diplomas. Today, AGS has graduated over 280 girls—all of whom have gone on to attend a four-year college or university.

Co-founder Emily Ellison on her 2016 Walk Across England, raising over $25,000 for AGS.

Founders’ Charge

All of life is school; therefore, be in attendance daily.
Choose wisdom, generosity, and kindness as your teachers.
Judge tenderly and be forgiving: everyone else is learning too.
During the leaden hours of loss or failure, ask others for help and help those whose suffering is greater.
During the bright moments of success or celebrity, say thank you and wield power with compassion and humility.

All of life is journey; therefore, pack lightly and travel broadly.
Choose courage, integrity, and wonder as your companions.
Along the way, unload yourselves of fears and hubris.
Find work that profits your souls and gives you purpose.
Leave each corner of the world better than the way you found it.
Keep your hearts soft and your minds open.

Listen. Ask questions. Be bold. And wed yourselves to joy.

– Emily Ellison, Co-Founder of AGS, May 22, 2004

The Atlanta Girls’ School admits qualified students without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded and made available to students at the School. The Atlanta Girls’ School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid program, athletics, and other School administered programs and activities.