Finding Your Way, Guided by Wisdom
When you walk around our Upper School campus, you'll feel like you're on a college campus, and that's intentional.
Our beautiful facilities and wide array of curricular and cocurricular opportunities will prepare you to confidently navigate your future. With a student to teacher ratio of 7:1, you’ll get close attention from dedicated teachers who inspire, challenge, and support. You will learn from peers who bring fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking and develop lifelong friendships. At Woodward, you can dive deeply into the subjects that inspire you, build the confidence to make a difference, and discover strengths and qualities that only you bring to the world. Whatever your passions—in academics, the arts, or athletics—you can follow them. You can find your way.
Respecting ourselves, each other, our school and our world is the Woodward Way.
“My leadership in the Woodward community ranges from my role as a board member of Woodward Equality Alliance to a captain of the varsity girls soccer team to a summer camp counselor, where I discovered my love for kids and teaching. My time at Woodward has developed me into the person I am today.” Upper School Student
Respecting Ourselves & Others
While we are one of the most diverse private schools in Atlanta, even the nation, we believe that it’s not enough merely to be diverse in our demographics. You’ll learn alongside classmates who represent diversity in all its forms—racial, ethnic, religious, and geographic as well as differences in learning style. You’ll engage in service projects to give back to others with partners including the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Jesse Draper Boys & Girls Club. You can join affinity groups like the Genders & Sexuality Alliance, Black Student Union, Yad B’Yad, and the Interfaith Council. As a senior, you’ll complete a Compassion Capstone project that will allow you to explore, from multiple perspectives, a complex subject that inspires you. You’ll go into the world understanding how to engage in dialogue with others who think differently and to work together to make the world a better place.
Arts
If you’re a visual artist, you can take advanced painting, fiber arts, jewelry-making, film photography, and art history; some in year-round classes. Musicians can study the violin, guitar, trumpet, or percussion, or create your own pieces in our digital lab. You can sing and act in spring musicals like “Mamma Mia” or dance in the Young Choreographers Series. Whether you’re marching with the award-winning band under Friday night lights or touring Europe with our choral group, you’ll find your way and your passion while learning from teachers who are working artists, in studios and classrooms that rival college spaces.
Cocurriculars
With more than 100 student clubs and organizations, opportunities abound for Woodward students to pursue their passions and interests on a deeper and more meaningful level. Whether you are interested in the environment, religion, a world language, government, art, or film, Woodward has something for everyone.
Learn more about our vast cocurricular offerings.
Athletics
Camaraderie. Teamwork. Winning with grace and integrity. When you’re a student-athlete at Woodward, coaches guide you with these philosophies as they give you the skills to succeed. At Woodward, you’ll be able to choose from 18 varsity sports and compete at the state and regional championship levels. You’ll be challenged to do your best in athletics and academics while being supported by coaches, trainers, teachers, and teammates who care about you. And who knows? You might become one of the many Woodward grads who go on to play college sports at every level.
Diploma Distinctions
You can pursue your passion by earning a diploma distinction in Global Studies, Sustainability, or Service Learning. Apply by the end of your 10th grade year to graduate with a distinction, and you’ll gain an advantage in college admissions and future career opportunities in one of these areas that are truly vital to the future of our world.
Maymester
As an Upper School student, you will participate in Maymester during the last week of the school year and choose from a variety of unique courses that provide real-world learning opportunities. Designed as a short-term enrichment program, Maymester is anchored in the philosophy of experiential education to prepare you for life beyond the gates of Woodward. You can choose from cross-disciplinary courses—from Zoology, to Service Learning, to Outdoor Education, and much more—where you’ll be exposed to different ideas, cultures, community, and relationships through a memorable hands-on learning experience.
College Counseling
During your Upper School journey, you’ll benefit from the wisdom and guidance of our College Counseling team who will empower, advise, and support you through your transition to higher education. Starting with college awareness in 9th grade and continuing through personalized college planning during junior and senior years, you’ll have access to a wide array of resources. Our comprehensive four-year program matches your talents and aspirations with top colleges and universities for the next stop on your educational journey.
Student Publications
Student Publications includes a variety of classes and cocurricular activities to learn new skills or strengthen the ones you have–all while creating and publishing your work and the work of your peers. These opportunities include student-run media outlets, such as The Phoenix (Academy-wide yearbook), The Blade (student magazine), the butterknife (website and weekly newsletter), and Silent Voices (literary arts magazine). If you’re still exploring journalism as an interest, we also offer an Intro to Journalism course that focuses on building foundational skills and techniques. Whether you want to report the news, critique classmates' poetry, build a website to host student work, and much more, there’s opportunity for you to explore journalism in Woodward’s Student Publications program.
Faculty Focus
Tommy Ehrensperger's passion for physics is unmistakable and unwavering
An alumnus who graduated in 1978, he returned to teach in 1985, passing up a research career (including a possible job at NASA) after earning his physics degrees at Georgia Tech. He’s as gleeful as the proverbial kid in a candy store when he’s teaching Upper School physics, astronomy, and meteorology. Ehrensperger continues to be inspired by his students and colleagues, and loves teaching at Woodward. “I deeply appreciate the autonomy I’ve had. I collaborate with colleagues teaching common courses, and I’ve been allowed to play to my strengths, which I believe gives the students an optimal experience,” he said. “I was a science nut from an early age, and getting to teach it (for an actual living!) truly amounts to a joyful way to share my passion.”
Seniors RJ Snyder and Dillon Craig recently competed in the State Diving Championship.
The Upper School Honors Dance Ensemble performed in the Kennesaw State University High School Dance Festival February 1-2, 2025.
The WA Mock Trial team competed in the Georgia High School Mock Trial Regional Competition. This was Woodward's second year competing.
FAQs
- What academic tracks are available to students in the Upper School, and how are students placed?
- What does the daily schedule look like, and how do students balance academics and cocurriculars?
- What is SEE Learning?
- How will my student get to and from Woodward?
- What is the transition to high school like?
- Does Woodward offer any no-cut sports?
- How does College Counseling work at Woodward?
What academic tracks are available to students in the Upper School, and how are students placed?
What does the daily schedule look like, and how do students balance academics and cocurriculars?
What is SEE Learning?
How will my student get to and from Woodward?
What is the transition to high school like?
Does Woodward offer any no-cut sports?
How does College Counseling work at Woodward?
Meet Our Team
Jonathan Merrill
Ronda Zents
Stephanie Stephens
Anthony Thomas
Luke Underwood
Tonya Dedeaux
Chato Hendrix
Leigh Shelor
Explore Further
Your child’s education is a unique journey of growth, enlightenment, and exploration as they find their way into the world. At Woodward, we provide the compass for that journey.