The Walker School in Atlanta [Expert Review 2024]

What is The Walker School?

The Walker School prides itself on the balance of academics and the whole child experience. The school focused on the individual needs of all students. Students and families form strong connections with administrators and teachers, which leads to not only academic success but also, to becoming well rounded citizens of the world. Valuing thoughtfulness and tradition, the school is distinguished by their three language requirement, which really sets them apart from other schools.

Walker graduates are worldly and have flexibility in thought. That’s because students are encouraged to “stretch their rubber bands,” explains Katherine Harrins, Director of Admissions. “They try every way of doing things, using different approaches.”

Walker is proud of its diversity, with 42% of students identifying as people of color. In addition, Walker seniors achieve 100 percent acceptance to top four-year colleges and universities.

The Walker School Campus

Walker has 950 students and 2 campuses, located in Marietta, GA.

The Primary Campus houses Early Learners (3 years old) through kindergarten and the Main Campus houses grades 1 through 12.

Where is The Walker School located?

The Walker School is located at 700 Cobb Pkwy N, Marietta, GA 30062, just off the I-75, along the 45 bus line. Walker offers a two-way bus service with multiple pick-up and drop-off locations throughout Atlanta including Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Acworth, and considers requests to add additional pick-up locations, as well.

Walker School National, State, and Local Rankings

Rankings should always be taken with a grain or two of salt, as the most important part of choosing a school is making sure it’s the right fit and environment for the child applying.

Walker is consistently ranked in the top 10 private high schools and college prep schools in Georgia (of which there are close to 200) and is also in the top 10 in the Atlanta region. According to The Walker School’s page at Niche.com, the school is ranked nationally as 205 out of the Best 2,594 Private Schools in the USA.

Average SAT scores at Walker are around 1300 (660 Math, 640 Reading), while average ACT scores at Walker are 30 (29 Math, 31 Reading, 31 English, 29 Science). These scores are very impressive when compared to the national average of 1030 (SAT) and 21 (ACT).

Walker School Programs

Teachers at Walker use an inquiry-based approach. College preparatory curriculum is centered, and students have the freedom to explore subjects they find personally interesting.

I was excited to learn that Walker has created the New Avenues Dyslexia Program for students grades 1 through 5. These students are supported by their Orton-Gilligham certified teachers. This is such an important resource for families, particularly when they enroll their children in the school at kindergarten and younger and do not yet have a sense of what their learning challenges might be.

Along with a robust arts education and athletics programming, The Walker School offers the following academic programs in each of its schools.

Primary School Programs

Zoo Phonics and Fundations programs are used for phonemic awareness, which prepare students for Orton-Gillingham instruction. For Math, young learners are set up for success in Pre-K and Kindergarten Math in Focus/ Singapore Math, by learning one-to-one correspondence, grouping, and regrouping.

Early learners are immersed in lab-based science exploration, Spanish, T.E.C. (Technology, Engineering, and Creativity), library time, art, music, and physical education.

Additionally, a Primary School Counselor supports young students, teachers, and parents in navigating students’ overall growth, learning, and development.

Lower School Programs

At Walker’s Lower School, young learners begin on their path to becoming strong scholars. The New Avenues Dyslexia Program becomes fully immersive in grades 1-5. In addition to excellent programming in pedagogies such as Orton-Gillingham, Singapore Math, and Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, programming is well rounded with arts, music, library time, and fun extended day activities.

Middle School Programs

In addition to core curriculum courses in English, Math, and Science, Middle School students are educated in World Languages (French, German, Latin and Spanish), Computer Science, Drama, Choir, Band, and Technology (Computer Science, Digital Media, Introduction to Engineering, Robotics).

Academic learning is rounded out by fun extracurricular activities, like podcast production, sports, and acting in Shakespearean plays. Walker even has an Aerospace Club!

Upper School Progams

Walker’s distinctive college preparatory curriculum is personalized based on students’ talents, strengths, and interests.

In addition to core curriculum subjects, students are offered:

• 26 College Board Advanced Placement Courses
• Post-AP classes in all academic departments
• Advanced courses in subjects such as Humanities, Drama, Psychology, Critical Thinking, Robotics, Cyber Security, Graphic Design, Film and Video
• Internships opportunities

The Walker School Acceptance Rate

Walker accepts approximately 65% of applying students according to statistics gathered by Test Innovators.

How hard is it to get into The Walker School?

Walker's acceptance rate of 65% is lower than the national average private school acceptance rate of 81%, making it more difficult to get into compared to many private schools nationally.

Walker School Tuition

As of 2023, Walker Schools 2023-2024 full tuition and fees range between about $15,000 annually (half day for early learners) to about $29,000 annually to attend the middle or high school.

Additional expenses may include books and supplies (for grades 6-12), fine arts trips, international travel, and extra athletic apparel (not including uniforms).

Does The Walker School offer scholarships or financial aid?

Walker does not provide merit-based scholarships to students.

Financial Aid is available for all grades starting with Pre-K. The maximum financial aid granted for Pre-K to Grade 5 is 50% of yearly tuition. The maximum financial aid granted for Grade 6-12 is 90% of yearly tuition.

The deadlines to submit financial aid applications for the 2023-2024 school year are February 15, 2023 for returning students and March 15, 2023 for new applicants.

How do you apply to The Walker School?

The Walker School has some important dates coming up, as well as grade-level specific admission requirements. If your family plans to apply to Walker, get ready to mark your calendars and read up on all of these important admission details!

The Walker School is “test optional,” which means students can choose to take the SSAT for admissions or submit transcripts and writing samples instead. All students applying will have a campus visit. Applicants 2nd grade and up will have a shadow visit. There are no parent interviews at Walker. Admission decisions for Early Learners and Pre-k are made on a rolling basis, but all other grades follow the AAAIS notification and reply date guidelines.

Important Walker School Admission Dates

• October 1, 2023: Applications Open
• February 15, 2024: Application Deadline
• March 30, 2024: Admission Decisions communicated
• April 11, 2024: Enrollment Decisions from families

Early Learners and Pre-K

1. Schedule a campus visit using Ravenna, or contact Walker’s Admission Office
2. Complete Walker’s online application and submit an $85 non-refundable application fee.
3. Register your child for an observation visit through your Ravenna account. Observation visits begin in January.
4. If applicable, submit the confidential teacher evaluation form to your current school. The completed form will be returned by the school directly to Walker.
5. Track the progress of your application through Ravenna.
6. Admission decisions will be announced by March 30, 2024, but may be communicated on a rolling basis prior to this date.

Early Learners must have turned 3 years old by August 1.

Pre-Kindergarteners must have turned 4 years old by September 1.

Kindergarten

1. Schedule a campus visit using Ravenna, or contact Walker’s Admission Office.
2. Complete Walker’s online application and submit an $85 non-refundable application fee.
3. Register your child for an observation visit through your Ravenna account. Observation visits begin in January.
4. If applicable, submit the confidential teacher evaluation form to your current school. The completed form will be returned by the school directly to Walker.
5. Have your child’s pediatrician send a current immunization form if your child was immunized outside the state of Georgia. Current immunization records are due the first day of the school year.
6. Track the progress of your application through Ravenna.
7. Admission decisions will be announced by March 30, 2024, but may be communicated on a rolling basis prior to this date.

Kindergarteners must have turned 5 years old by September 1.

New Avenues Dyslexia Program

1. Schedule a campus visit using Ravenna, or contact Walker’s Admission Office.
2. Complete Walker’s online application and submit an $85 non-refundable application fee.
3. Sign the transcript release form in your online account, requesting your current school to send Walker School your child’s transcripts.
4. Contact Walker’s Admissions Office for the New Avenues Dyslexia Program Parent Statement Form and the Teacher Evaluation Form. The Teacher Evaluation Form will be used instead of the form provided in your Ravenna account.
5. Provide Walker’s Admissions Office with a copy of your child’s psychoeducational evaluation report (from within the last three years).
6. Once the application, transcript, Parent Statement and Teacher Evaluation Forms, and psychoeducational evaluation report are received, Walker’s Admissions Office will contact you to schedule an assessment. Walker’s Admission Committee will provide feedback for you shortly after this visit.
7. Admission decisions will be announced by March 30, 2024, but may be communicated on a rolling basis prior to this date.

Grade 1

1. Schedule a campus visit using Ravenna, or contact Walker’s Admission Office.
2. Complete Walker’s online application and submit an $85 non-refundable application fee.
3. Register your child for an observation visit through your Ravenna account. Observation visits begin in January.
4. Have your child’s pediatrician send a current immunization form if your child was immunized outside the state of Georgia. Current immunization records are due the first day of the school year.
5. In January, submit the confidential teacher evaluation forms to your child’s current teachers. Send the transcript release form to your current school. Completed forms will be returned directly to Walker.
6. Track the progress of your application through your Ravenna account.
7. Admission decisions will be announced by March 30, 2024, but may be communicated on a rolling basis prior to this date.

Grades 2-5

1. Schedule a campus visit using Ravenna, or contact Walker’s Admission Office.
2. Shadow visits are available to students in Grades 2-5 to spend a day in a classroom. Register for a shadow visit through Ravenna.
3. Complete Walker’s online application and submit an $85 non-refundable application fee.
4. Have your child’s pediatrician send a current immunization form if your child was immunized outside the state of Georgia. Current immunization records are due the first day of the school year.
5. In January, submit the confidential teacher evaluation forms to your child’s current teachers. Send the transcript release form to your current school. Completed forms will be returned directly to Walker.
6. Track the progress of your application through your Ravenna account.
7. Admission decisions will be announced by March 30, 2024, but may be communicated on a rolling basis prior to this date.

Grades 6-12

1. Schedule a campus visit using Ravenna, or contact Walker’s Admission Office.
2. Shadow visits are available to students in Grades 6-12 to spend a day in a classroom. Register for a shadow visit through Ravenna.
3. Complete Walker’s online application and submit an $85 non-refundable application fee.
4. In January, submit the English and Math confidential teacher evaluation forms to your child’s current teachers. Send the transcript release form to your current school. Completed forms will be returned directly to Walker. Transcripts must include standardized testing. If none is available, sign up for SSAT testing. Remember: you can contact Ivy Tutors Network for an SSAT tutor! Students submitting standardized testing from current school instead of SSAT testing will be asked for a brief writing sample. Walker’s Admission Office will provide a writing prompt.
5. Walker’s Admissions Office will contact you to schedule an in person or remote interview with your child.
6. Track the progress of your application through your Ravenna account.
7. Admission decisions will be announced by March 30, 2024, but may be communicated on a rolling basis prior to this date.

International Students

1. Complete Walker’s online application and submit an $150 non-refundable application fee.
2. In addition to regular admission requirements, complete the International Student Supplement in your Ravenna account.
3. The Walker School does not offer English as a Second Language courses. Non-english speaking international students must have strong English reading, writing, and speaking skills to be considered. International students may submit results from the TOEFL or SSAT. All documentation, transcripts, and evaluations must be received in English.
4. Interviews will be held on Google Meet.
5. Student I-20s will be provided once enrollment contract and deposit is received by Walker. International students must provide a current, valid passport.
6. Track the progress of your application through your Ravenna account.
7. Admission decisions will be announced by March 30, 2024, but may be communicated on a rolling basis prior to this date.
8. International students living in the U.S. with a parent may follow the same admission process as domestic students.

If you're ready to apply to Walker, talk to your child about observation visits and evaluations (for Early Learners, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and New Avenues), or Shadow Visits (for Grades 2-12). Ask them how they feel about visiting The Walker School, listen to them, and offer them any encouragement and support they may need in considering the possibility of attending a new school.

Good luck!