Private education has a long history in Macon and Middle Georgia, with schools representing diverse educational philosophies including Catholic, Protestant Christian, non-sectarian college preparatory, and Montessori approaches. The region’s private schools serve students from preschool through twelfth grade, offering alternatives to the Bibb County public school system. Many of these institutions trace their origins to the mid-twentieth century, while others date back to the post-Civil War era. Private school enrollment in Macon exceeds the state average, with approximately 16% of local K-12 students attending private institutions compared to the Georgia average of 9%. The schools featured in this directory represent different grade ranges, religious affiliations, and educational approaches, providing families with options that align with their values and academic expectations.
1. St. Joseph’s Catholic School
Sector: Private Catholic Elementary Education
Grades Served: Pre-K2 through 6th Grade
Founded: Established by the Diocese of Savannah (operates within the Sisters of Mercy educational tradition in Macon)
About: St. Joseph’s Catholic School is a private Catholic school located in historic downtown Macon that offers Christian education to children of all faiths from Pre-K2 through 6th grade. The school operates under the Diocese of Savannah and provides a curriculum developed by the Diocese that is based on both national and state standards. The faculty and staff partner with parents to integrate faith, culture, and life into a balanced yet challenging academic curriculum. Students are taught to be responsible, independent, and enthusiastic learners in an environment that embraces diversity and a collaborative approach with families. The preschool program serves children ages two through four in a nurturing environment focused on learning, growth, and play. During the elementary years, students are encouraged to become creative thinkers, problem solvers, and active leaders through various learning models. St. Joseph’s maintains a partnership with Mount de Sales Academy, providing a seamless transition for students continuing their Catholic education through middle and high school where the Sisters of Mercy legacy continues. The school participates in the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, which provides dollar-for-dollar state tax credits for donations supporting need-based financial aid. Community partners include local businesses and organizations that support the school’s educational mission.
Address: 905 High Street, Macon, GA 31201
Contact: (478) 742-0636 | [email protected] | sjsmacon.org
Hours: School day hours; office hours vary
2. Mount de Sales Academy
Sector: Private Catholic College Preparatory Education
Grades Served: 6th through 12th Grade
Founded: 1876
About: Mount de Sales Academy is the oldest independent school in Middle Georgia and the first school in the region to racially integrate in 1963. Founded on February 28, 1876 by five Sisters of Mercy who arrived in Macon from Columbus, Georgia, the school was originally chartered as a junior college for women with boarding facilities and the right to confer degrees under Georgia law. The first graduation exercises took place in 1882 with three graduates, all of whom became Sisters of Mercy. The school’s name honors Saint Francis de Sales, and the institution continues to be sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy while now operating under lay leadership since 2002. Mount de Sales became coeducational in 1959 at the request of the Bishop of the Savannah Diocese to provide Catholic high school education for boys in Macon. The boarding school closed in 1963. The campus occupies one of Macon’s highest hills at the corner of Orange and Columbus streets, with Cavalier Fields, a 77-acre athletic complex, located approximately 7 miles west of downtown. The school holds accreditation from Cognia and the Southern Association of Independent Schools and maintains membership in the National Catholic Educational Association. Mount de Sales has produced more National Merit Semifinalists than any other school in Middle Georgia over the past 20 years. The Class of 2025 earned $6.77 million in scholarships and achieved a 72% three-year average acceptance rate to the University of Georgia. The school offers 30 AP and honors courses and requires students to complete Mercy in Action service hours totaling over 10,000 hours annually across the student body. Notable alumni include Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell, musician Bill Berry of R.E.M., and actress Natalia Livingston.
Address: 851 Orange Street, Macon, GA 31201
Contact: (478) 751-3240 | mountdesales.net
Hours: School day hours; administrative offices Monday through Friday
3. Stratford Academy
Sector: Private Non-Sectarian College Preparatory Education
Grades Served: Pre-K (age 3) through 12th Grade
Employees: Approximately 100 faculty and staff
Founded: 1960
About: Stratford Academy is an independent, non-sectarian, college-preparatory school that opened in September 1960 in the Overlook Mansion (now the Woodruff House) on Coleman Hill in historic downtown Macon. The school began with 117 students and 17 faculty members, and the first graduating class of 13 students received diplomas in 1962. The current campus was established in 1974 on more than 107 acres of wooded land in northwest Bibb County on Peake Road, with the Lower School and Kindergarten completing their move to the campus in 1978. Stratford is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools and holds membership in the National Association of Independent Schools, the Georgia Independent School Association, and the College Board. Among the school’s founding principles is intellectual independence, teaching students how to think rather than what to think. The school maintains a student-teacher ratio of approximately 15:1 and draws students from 13 Middle Georgia counties. Stratford offers 23 AP courses and has produced 759 AP Scholars since 1997, more than any independent school in Middle Georgia. The school has had 25 National Merit Semifinalists since 1999 and maintains 100% college matriculation with graduates outperforming peers in GPA (3.1 vs. 2.6) and HOPE scholarship retention (89% vs. 35%). Stratford offers 23 varsity athletic teams with approximately 85% of upper and middle school students participating on school-sponsored teams. The Eagles and Eaglettes have combined to win 199 state championships. The 400-seat Henry Harding Tift Fine Arts Center and Auditorium provides performance space for theatre, choir, and band programs. The school operates Camp Eagle summer enrichment programs that have served families for more than 45 years. There are over 4,100 Stratford graduates living in 46 states and 17 countries.
Address: 6010 Peake Road, Macon, GA 31220
Contact: (478) 477-8073 | stratford.org
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
4. First Presbyterian Day School
Sector: Private Christian College Preparatory Education
Grades Served: 3K through 12th Grade
Students: Approximately 733 students
Founded: 1970
About: First Presbyterian Day School was chartered in 1970 by Macon’s First Presbyterian Church after several years of study and planning. The founders sought to develop the whole child to live a life pleasing to God, serve families of First Presbyterian Church, and impact the broader community. The school opened with 205 students in grades kindergarten through eighth, with Mr. Henry Middlebrooks serving as the first Head of School alongside 11 faculty and staff members. Initial facilities consisting of ten acres of land and an elementary building valued at $265,000 were purchased through a capital fund drive within the church membership. The planning committee established an independent Board of Trustees to govern the school under a charter issued by the state of Georgia. The campus has since expanded to 240 acres with multiple academic buildings, two playgrounds, a fine arts center, six athletic fields, two gymnasiums, tennis courts, multi-purpose courts, and a complete 5K cross-country course. FPD is Macon’s only three-time National Blue Ribbon School for Exemplary Performance, receiving the designation in 2003 and 2015 for the elementary school and in 2012 for the middle school. The school was nominated by the Council for American Private Education based on standardized achievement test scores placing FPD among the top 15% of public and private schools nationwide. The school offers Project Lead The Way curriculum and 26 sports programs. Matt Kitchell was named Head of School in spring 2025. FPD’s mission is to educate and equip students to change the world for God’s glory through a relationship-focused, academically strong, Christ-centered experience. The school integrates biblical worldview throughout curriculum and instruction with students surrounded by Christian mentors.
Address: 5671 Calvin Drive, Macon, GA 31210
Contact: (478) 477-6505 | fpdmacon.org
Hours: School day hours; administrative offices Monday through Friday
5. Tattnall Square Academy
Sector: Private Christian College Preparatory Education
Grades Served: Pre-K4 through 12th Grade
Students: Approximately 528 students
Founded: 1969
About: Tattnall Square Academy was chartered as a non-profit corporation by the State of Georgia on February 5, 1969. Founded by Tattnall Square Baptist Church, the school opened in September 1969 with 98 students attending classes in a building on Mercer University’s campus. The academy was the long-held vision of Tattnall Square Baptist Church to provide quality Christian education to the community. The school relocated to its permanent campus off Wesleyan Drive on Trojan Trail in 1972, near Wesleyan College. The original campus consisted of the main building, Trojan Hall (then a gymnasium), and baseball and football fields. Expansion continued with a football and track complex opening in 1988, followed by a new elementary building, high school building, and athletic complex. In 2004, the original gymnasium was converted to Trojan Hall, a 512-seat auditorium, and a new athletic complex was added with basketball court, locker rooms, and sports medicine facility. Tattnall is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Cognia, and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). The school is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Tattnall Square Baptist Church members and school parents. Tattnall competes in the GHSA Single-A Private division and has established a championship standard in academics and athletics, with the math team averaging 19 first place trophies annually and winning GHSA Single-A Private State Championships. The school offers 22 AP and dual enrollment courses through Middle Georgia State University and Central Georgia Technical College, along with 15 honors courses. Two consecutive graduating classes have achieved 90% HOPE Scholarship retention. The school maintains a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, 100% college acceptance rate, and awards approximately $1.2 million in scholarships annually. Students complete 10,000 community service hours each year.
Address: 111 Trojan Trail, Macon, GA 31210
Contact: (478) 477-6760 | tattnall.org
Hours: School day hours; administrative offices Monday through Friday
About Macon, GA
Macon is located in Bibb County in central Georgia at the geographic center of the state, approximately 85 miles south of Atlanta. The city serves as a regional hub for education, healthcare, and commerce throughout Middle Georgia.
Population and Demographics: The Macon-Bibb County consolidated government area has a population of approximately 157,000 residents. The metropolitan statistical area encompasses several surrounding counties. The population includes diverse socioeconomic backgrounds with families seeking educational options across public, private, and parochial school systems.
Educational Landscape: Private school enrollment in Macon exceeds state averages, with approximately 16% of K-12 students attending private institutions compared to the Georgia average of 9%. The average private school tuition in Macon is $11,297 for elementary schools and $11,130 for high schools, which is lower than the state average of $14,361. Approximately 60% of private schools in Macon maintain religious affiliations, most commonly Catholic and Christian denominations. The presence of Mercer University, a private research university founded in 1833, contributes to the educational culture of the community.
Catholic Education in Macon: The Sisters of Mercy have maintained continuous Catholic educational presence in Macon since 1865, predating the establishment of the Bibb County Public School system in 1872. Mount de Sales Academy and St. Joseph’s Catholic School operate within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah and continue the educational mission established by the founding Sisters.
Higher Education Connections: Macon-area private schools maintain relationships with local colleges and universities including Mercer University, Middle Georgia State University, and Central Georgia Technical College. Several schools offer dual enrollment programs allowing high school students to earn college credit. College acceptance rates among private school graduates in Macon approach 100%, with many students attending University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mercer, and universities throughout the southeastern United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between parochial and independent private schools?
Parochial schools are affiliated with and often operated by religious organizations, typically a church, diocese, or religious order. In Macon, St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Mount de Sales Academy operate within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Mercy. These schools integrate religious instruction and faith formation into the curriculum and school culture. Independent private schools may be non-sectarian (not affiliated with any religion) like Stratford Academy, or may have religious foundations but operate independently of denominational governance like First Presbyterian Day School and Tattnall Square Academy. Both categories maintain independent governing boards and set their own admissions, curriculum, and operational policies.
What financial assistance options are available for private school tuition?
Private schools in Macon offer various financial assistance options. The Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program allows individuals and businesses to receive dollar-for-dollar state tax credits for contributions to student scholarship organizations that fund tuition for qualifying students. Many schools offer need-based financial aid determined through application processes that typically require income documentation. Merit scholarships may be available for students demonstrating academic, athletic, or artistic achievement. Payment plans allow families to spread tuition costs across the school year. Some schools offer sibling discounts for families with multiple children enrolled. Families should contact individual school admissions offices to learn about specific programs and application deadlines.
How do private school students transition between schools in Macon?
Several Macon private schools maintain articulation relationships that facilitate student transitions. St. Joseph’s Catholic School serves students through 6th grade and has established a pathway to Mount de Sales Academy for students continuing Catholic education in middle and high school. Students at elementary-only or K-8 schools typically apply to high schools during their 8th grade year, with admissions processes including academic records review, standardized testing, teacher recommendations, and family interviews. Private schools generally accept transfer students at various grade levels subject to space availability and admission requirements. Transcript evaluation ensures appropriate grade and course placement.
What accreditation should families look for in private schools?
Regional accreditation from organizations such as Cognia (formerly AdvancED and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement) indicates that a school meets quality standards for curriculum, instruction, and governance. The Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) provides accreditation specifically for independent schools in the South. Catholic schools may hold accreditation through diocesan programs. Accreditation ensures that academic credits transfer to other schools and that college admissions offices recognize the institution. Families should verify current accreditation status with individual schools and understand that accreditation cycles typically require periodic renewal through review processes.
What are the typical class sizes and student-teacher ratios at Macon private schools?
Private schools in Macon generally maintain smaller class sizes than public schools, with student-teacher ratios typically ranging from 10:1 to 15:1. Mount de Sales Academy reports average class sizes of 15-17 students. Tattnall Square Academy maintains a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. First Presbyterian Day School operates with approximately 11:1 student-teacher ratio. Stratford Academy averages 15 students per class. Smaller class sizes allow for more individualized attention, differentiated instruction, and closer monitoring of student progress. Lower school classes may be smaller than upper school classes, and specialized courses like advanced placement may have varying enrollments based on student interest and scheduling.