Educational opportunities are expanding daily in Savannah, GA, which is the site of a public school system that's pursuing an aggressive building-improvements program, as well as a multitude of private schools and of colleges. There are more than 20 private schools serving the area with programs that offer a variety of learning environments
With an enrollment of more than 36,000 students, SCCPS is the largest stakeholder on the local education scene. Thanks to a $221 million building program, 13 new schools were opened between 1996 and 2003.
Quality pre-kindergarten programs are offered at 29 sites for eligible 4-year-old children, five full days per week, for 36 weeks per year. Children who are 4-years-old on or before September 1 may be eligible to attend. The pre-K programs provide a positive atmosphere in which children can learn and grow at their own pace. Caring, professional certified teachers and teaching assistants offer developmentally appropriate pre-K activities that enrich children's lives and provide them with the skills they need for lifelong learning. For more information about Savannah-Chatham's pre-K programs, call 912-201-5635.
Full-day kindergarten programs are now offered at 31 elementary schools. The curriculum is designed to educate the whole child and provide a solid foundation for learning in all subjects. Children must be 5 years old on or before September 1 of the year entry is desired to enroll in kindergarten. Children who are age 5 by December 31, who were legal residents of one or more other states for a period of two years immediately prior to moving to Georgia, and were enrolled in a public or accredited state or regional kindergarten, are also eligible to enroll.
There are 11 middle schools (one of which is a charter school), seven high schools, and nine educational centers in the school district. If you are registering your child in a district middle or high school for the first time, call the school for hours.
To register a child for public school, the following must be provided:
Children must be registered in the school attendance area in which their parents or legal guardians reside, unless they are accepted into an academy program. If you need information about your attendance area, call the Student Placement Office at 912-201-5584. Parents of students who speak a language other than English should call 912-201-5484. For additional questions, call the school your child will be attending. School registration offices close for summer vacation during the month of June and re-open in late July for registration.
Due to the plethora of private schools located in Savannah, GA, residents have a variety of options concerning education on the elementary and secondary school levels. Private schools offering classes in pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade range in size from 264 students to 1,442, with annual tuition costs as low as $1,800 and as high as $11,520.
Many schools offer programs that are Christian in nature, but others take a purely secular approach. On the whole, institutions that have high school programs structure their programs to prepare students for college.
If you're contemplating sending a child to a private school, be sure to visit the institutions you're considering and check out class sizes; facilities; whether or not meals are served, their costs and quality; and the availability and composition of before and after school programs. Ask about student test scores and success rates, obtain information regarding the educational backgrounds and experience of the faculty and inquire as to what colleges are accepting graduates.
Each of the following drgree-granting institutions is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered in more than 75 academic programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Health Professions and the School of Computing. Armstrong Atlantic also offers an abundance of weekend and evening classes and non-credit courses through the Department of Professional and Continuing Education. Courses are offered at various off-campus sites.
- 6,000 students
- In-state tuition: $1,300/semester
Twenty-three undergraduate degree programs are available through the colleges of science and technology, business administration and liberal arts and social sciences, the last of which also offers a master of social work, a master of science in urban studies and a master in public administration.The school's newest graduate degree is in marine science. Specialized programs for non-traditional and evening students are available, as are continuing education courses. On this residential campus, housing options range from traditional residence halls to apartments with modern amenities.
- 2,700 students
- In-state tuition: $1,415/semester, including fees
Graduate and undergraduate degree programs are offered in 130 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the colleges of liberal arts and social sciences, business administration, education, health and human sciences, graduate studies, and science and technology. Off-campus centers, including one in Savannah, GA, extend graduate courses to students throughout South Georgia.
- 15,075 students
- In-state tuition: $1,456/semester
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, accredited, co-educational college open to resident and non-resident students. The college offers a bachelor of fine arts, master of architecture, master of arts and master of fine arts degrees in animation, architecture, architectural history, art history, broadcast design, fashion, fibers, furniture design, graphic design, historic preservation, illustration, interior design, media and performing arts, metals and jewelry, painting, photography, industrial design, sequential art, film and television, sound design, interactive design and game development, and visual effects.
- 5,800 students
- Tuition: $19,035 per academic year
Savannah Technical College, the third fastest-growing two-year college of its size in the country, has been serving its community for nearly three-quarters of a century. Building on a tradition of partnership, pride and service, the college serves 3,600 students in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties. As a leading provider of quality technical education, Savannah Technical College offers more than 50 certificate, professional diploma and associate degree programs in fields ranging from automotive technology to surgical technology and from aircraft structural assembly to computer information systems.
- 3,600 students
- In-state tuition: $324/quarter
South University's students attend classes on the main campus, an almost 9-acre site with a 47-foot clock and bell tower in the heart of the Southside. This site includes all classrooms, labs, an expanded library and technology center and administrative offices. In the School of Business Administration, students may pursue a bachelor of business administration degree, a bachelor of information technology and a bachelor degree in legal studies. The recently established School of Pharmacy offers a doctorate in pharmacy. The School of Health Professions offers a master's degree in physician assistant, a bachelor of science in physician assistant and an associate of science degree in medical assisting or physical therapy assistant.
- 720 students
- Tuition: varies by degree program
