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February/March 2009 Mount Pisgah School
A school that started small, Mount Pisgah Christian School has long been inspiring its students to dream big. The school opened in 1986 in Alpharetta with 70 preschool students. By 2004, an upper school was completed in time for the first graduating class. Today, the school educates more than 1,000 students. Many attend from preschool through graduation. Allowing families to create long-term relationships with the school results in a true sense of community—students are provided with rigorous Christian-based academic, art and athletic programs in a safe, nurturing environment.
“Many schools want children to grow up fast,” says Mount Pisgah president Scott Barron. “We definitely expect the best from our students, but we also want them to enjoy life.” Encouraging students and families to build relationships goes hand-in-hand with Mount Pisgah’s motto, which is “one God, one family, one choice.” “We are very committed in our development of a relationship with God. It’s a key part of our curriculum,” says Barron. Enrollment is open to families of all religious backgrounds. The relationships among families are further developed through the parents’ many opportunities to connect to the community and school. “Students perform better academically when parents are involved,” says Barron. Mount Pisgah features an Early School (6 weeks to 4-year-old kindergarten), Lower School (K-5th), Middle School (6th-8th) and Upper School (9th–12th). For all grade levels, the school aims to provide an outstanding college-preparatory education grounded in Christian faith and values. Technology also plays a prevalent role in instruction—images, multimedia and Web sites enhance discussions. At the elementary level, students begin to learn important organizational skills. The classroom is student-centered, and teachers adapt instructional styles to the way their students learn. In the middle and upper schools, Mount Pisgah maintains a heavy focus on reading, writing and math. Class sizes remain small so teachers can make sure each student understands new material before proceeding. Mount Pisgah offers more than the standard level of advisement for college. As freshmen, students begin a goal-setting process that allows them to identify their passions and create a roadmap to achieving their dreams. “Getting the kids to dream big is an important part of our strategy,” says Barron. The school also has a strong sports program, offering 35 sports, including football, softball, volleyball, cross country, soccer, cheerleading, basketball, tennis, baseball and golf. More than 60 percent of students participate in at least one sport. The arts program is thriving as well. There are many opportunities for students to participate in the arts—concerts, full-scale productions, band, a variety of visual arts classes and more. Students at Mount Pisgah also participate in missions both locally and in places like Montana, New Orleans, Costa Rica and Kenya. Service work begins in the Lower School with projects like making blankets and kits for homeless shelters. “The goal is for students to understand that life is much bigger than just us,” says Barron. “It’s about serving people who cannot pay you back.”
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