Admissions Information

step 1 Fill out the online application.

We are proud to be an active member of the Georgia Promises program, which supports families in accessing innovative and student-centered educational opportunities. Click here to learn more about how this program can help make The Forest School experience accessible to your family.

We look forward to welcoming your family into our community and supporting your child on their unique learning journey at The Forest School!

Who is The Forest School for?

• Parents and caregivers who want their children to become self directed, independent learners

• People who believe the traditional school system no longer works to prepare children for the modern world

• Entrepreneurs

• Creators and creatives

• Out-of-the box thinkers

• Families who care equally about education and dynamic character

• People who want the benefits of child-directed learning without having to make a full-time commitment to homeschooling

• Families with flexible schedules 

• People who need flexible attendance for travel and family obligations. (We will operate on an 11-month calendar with 4-7 week sessions and breaks in between)

• Children who want additional time to pursue their passions beyond traditional after school hours

• People who want to maximize their family time

• Trailblazers and trendsetters

• Families who value their freedom and want their children to develop a love of learning

Is The Forest School the Right Fit for Your Family?

We want to be honest: The Forest School is not for everyone.

Our model is built around learner agency, Socratic guiding, experiential learning, and increasing freedom through demonstrated responsibility. It works beautifully for some families—and it can feel frustrating for others.

Forest may not be the right fit for your family if:

1. You are looking for a traditional classroom where teachers deliver daily direct instruction, set the pace, enforce deadlines from the top down, and closely manage each student’s progress.

2. You prefer adults to be the primary drivers of motivation—regularly telling students to sit down, focus, and complete work—rather than expecting learners to own their goals and face natural consequences when they fall behind.

3. You want a highly structured environment where attendance, dress, behavior, and academic pacing are tightly controlled by adults rather than gradually entrusted to students as they demonstrate readiness.

4. You are uncomfortable with student voice and shared responsibility in the studio community, including peer feedback and elements of self-governance under adult oversight.

5. You believe accountability should rest almost entirely on the school, rather than being a shared responsibility between learner, Guide, and family.

6. You do not have the time or desire to partner closely with us—especially through consistent Monday and Friday check-ins with your hero about goals, progress, and challenges. In our model, those conversations are not optional add-ons; they are part of the architecture.

7. You want a school that guarantees the same experience and outcomes for every child. Forest is designed to cultivate independence, initiative, and character over time. Learners who already demonstrate—or are ready to develop—discipline, curiosity, and intrinsic motivation tend to thrive most quickly here.

Forest is a learner-driven, high-accountability environment. Freedom is earned. Mastery matters. Adults guide, mentor, and set clear standards—but learners are expected to rise to them.

If you’re looking for a school that gradually transfers ownership to your child, asks your family to be deeply engaged, and believes that independence grows through responsibility, you may love Forest.

If you’re looking for adults to carry most of the structure and enforcement so your child doesn’t have to, you may find yourself frustrated here.

We believe clarity is kindness. The best school is not the most innovative one—it’s the one aligned with your family’s values, expectations, and readiness.