Innovative programs and a caring tone are often integral to learning and motivating kids to be excited about school. Here are some schools that do just that.

The Museum School, Avondale Estates

“The school’s partners and curriculum concept gets the kids out into the community more than most traditional schools. This year my daughter Alice has been to the Atlanta History Center, Zoo Atlanta, the Avondale Estates Fire Department, and many local Avondale Estates businesses,” says Museum School board member Matt Spaulding. “The trip to the history center, the fire department, and the businesses were part of the kindergarten’s first thematic unit, ‘A Day in the Life.’” Each trip is tied to the unit the kids are studying. The school hosts an “Exhibit Night” to allow the students to show parents what they have learned.

Fulton Science Academy, Alpharetta

Each month, the school has a different theme related to values. September’s theme was Childhood Cancer Awareness, and students ran with the idea of Coins4Cure, raising more than $8,000, eight times their goal, through operating lemonade stands, holding car washes and organizing other fundraisers. On “Dress Like a Pirate Day,” hundreds of students paid $5 each to wear pirate costumes instead of a school uniform, raising almost $5,000 in one day, says Megan Bowman, director of advancement, media, marketing and philanthropy.

Sharon Elementary, Suwanee

In the DIGS outdoor area, students try gardening and learning about plants and ecosystems – and sample what they grow. Sharon recently participated in the “Feed My School” program, a year-long initiative, led by the cafeteria staff, that educated students on Georgia-grown and farm-to-table foods. Many students tried new foods. “It was a huge success,” Principal Amy Bartlett says, and won the state’s “Golden Radish” award.

North Atlanta High School and Sutton Middle School, Atlanta

Through an innovative musical theater collaboration, high school students direct and produce a full length musical theater performance starring middle school actors. The collaboration was started in 2012 by two North Atlanta High students, Caroline Geckler and Parker Whitlow. This year’s production of Grease included over 24 North Atlanta students and 33 Sutton students.

Mount Bethel Elementary, Marietta

Before the first school bell rings, kids at Mount Bethel get moving. “A fantastic group of professionals in the PE department have recognized for decades how important a cardio workout is for kids,” Principal Jessica Appleyard says. Kids can learn to ride a unicycle, take advanced unicycling – some ride a seven-foot tall giraffe cycle – or join a jump rope or juggling club. Each year, the unicyclers take part in the East Cobber Parade, and the jugglers and rope jumpers put on a show for parents.

Sarah Smith Elementary, Atlanta

Before school, 110 kids on the school’s two campuses put on their running shoes and become Marathon Kids, a club started by PE teacher Daniel Sprague. Kids commit to run four marathons, or 104.8 miles. “One step at a time, kids track their progress on mileage logs. They fuel their bodies right; they get stronger; they reach their goals, and they keep on running,” Sprague says. “Our students gain self-confidence. They proudly see themselves as athletes – some maybe for the first time. They become motivated to eat (and be) healthy off the track.”

The Swift School, Roswell

When parents and kids pull up in the carpool lane every morning, they’re likely to see Head of School Richard Wendlek out there to greet them. “He likes to set the tone for the day by shaking each student’s hand accompanied by a warm greeting and usually a bit of innocent teasing,” says communications manager Jennifer Clark. She sees how this simple act affects the school’s dyslexic students. “Two or three weeks after enrolling … they are hopping out of the car sticking their hands out to greet Mr. Wendlek and making jokes … They really transform into confident, young self-advocates.”

Westside Middle School, Winder

“People don’t realize that some of our students prefer being at school rather than at home,” says eighth-grade teacher Cheryl D’Aloisio. “They may be going to a home with little food and no adults. We try to make our students comfortable – free breakfasts, food bags on Fridays, so they have something to eat over the weekend. We even have a teacher mentor program where students check in with their mentor daily to make sure they’ve had a good day. We don’t want them giving up in middle school because they have no support system at home.”

Arabia Mountain High School, Lithonia

This DeKalb County school is adjacent to the Arabia Mountain Natural Heritage Area, a beautiful and historic public recreation space, says Myriam Dormer, whose son is a freshman there. “Because of its environmental academic focus,” she says, “students here can apply for a four-week paid internship through the Nature Conservancy that sends them to live and work on nature preserves around the country.”

Morningside Elementary, Atlanta

Morningside has developed 40 triathletes and lots of enthusiasm from students and parents since its program began last spring. Just eight kids started the program; this fall, 40 kids competed in at least one triathlon. “I had a passion for triathlons,” PE teacher Aly Nussear says, “so I thought, ‘Why not bring it to the kids?’” In competition, young triathletes typically do six laps in a pool, 4-6 miles on a bike and a 1-mile run. To get ready, Morningside’s kids work on overall fitness, and train by lying flat on a scooter to “swim” across the gym, then put on a helmet and hop on the scooter to bike, then they run laps.

– Amanda Miller Allen