Tallulah Falls School
The Tallulah Falls School story started in the early 1900s when summer resident Mary Ann Lipscomb of Athens met many of the local children and was moved by their hunger for knowledge. She began to teach a few of these children on her front porch, but she knew this was not enough. Mrs. Lipscomb saw the need for the children of the area to have a school of their own, and, largely through her efforts as president of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs (which still owns and operates the School today), Tallulah Falls School became a reality. The school opened its doors in July 1909 to 21 children from neighboring Habersham and Rabun Counties and continued to serve as both a public and private institution of learning for more than 60 years. In 1970, the School became a privately chartered institution, serving students from throughout the world. Tallulah Falls is a school with a talented, diverse student body. Accordingly, the School believes that students should not be denied attendance based on finances. Because of the generosity of its owners, alumni and friends, Tallulah Falls is an affordable school for all students through its financial aid program, which is designed to bridge the gap between what a family can afford and what it actually costs to attend (approximately $30,000 per year). All financial aid is awarded on the basis of need and is determined by the family's financial situation. Tallulah Falls School’s non-discriminating financial aid program is available to students regardless of race, creed, or national origin. Upper SchoolTallulah Falls Upper School serves grades 9 through 12. It is here that students find comfort in themselves and find their voice in the world that awaits them. The school feels its role is to help these students think critically, dare intellectually and act responsibly. In preparing them for their graduation, the school provides a strong, balanced curriculum, a spectrum of clubs and activities, and a beneficial work program. These programs are designed to prepare students to excel in institutions of higher education and to become contributing members of their communities.Middle SchoolMiddle school at Tallulah Falls School is designed to prepare students for the rigors of Upper School. To help meet this challenge, the Middle School academic classes have no more than 10 students in them. Smaller classes ensure the students obtain the skills necessary to succeed in the Upper School. Outside of the classroom, age appropriate activites help students to develop appreciation and respect for classmates, the school community and the world.Advisory ProgramTallulah Falls School seeks to educate "the head, the heart, and the hands" of each individual. To this end, the school places great emphasis on the Advisory Program. This program's primary focus is the facilitation of relationships that are necessary for healthy development and learning. Therefore, time is scheduled into each school day for the children to meet with their faculty advisors.These groups, which consist of a small number of children and one faculty member, discuss developmentally appropriate issues, plan service/learning projects, and allow for the exchange of information and ideas in a small, safe, and nurturing setting within the larger environmental context of the school. Further, the program serves as an additional support service wherein students can discuss personal and academic concerns. Within this formation of family-type groups, students have the opportunity to receive an extra measure of personal attention from a caring adult, thus assuring that no student's needs go unnoticed or unattended. Students and teachers establish a relationship of respect and trust outside of the formal confines of the classroom. This foundation enables the faculty advisor to assist the children with their general school welfare, study habits, social relations, personal issues, and overall adjustment to the boarding school. Much change has taken place in the intervening decades since the School's founding. The original campus, which consisted of five acres of land and one five room building, today includes 20 buildings, 500 acres of land and a physical plant valued in the millions of dollars. Students once drawn from a tiny mountain area now come from the far reaches of the globe. Some traditions remain as they were in Mrs. Lipscomb's day. A bell still rings out over Cherokee Mountain to call students to meals. Students continue to perform daily chores, learning the value of work along with the priceless value of scholarship. Homework assignments are still completed, and rooms are still tidied up before school. And, every day, the School community gives thanks for women like Mrs. Lipscomb who had the vision to make Tallulah Falls a reality. Visit the Tallulah Falls School website for more information. |
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Tallulah Falls School is a unique co-educational boarding school for students in grades 7-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 1:11. Tallulah Falls prides itself in offering a quality academic program that ensures the success of every student. Small classes and a close-knit campus community enrich students both academically and socially.