 The First Presbyterian Day School was chartered in 1970 after fifteen years of study by members of the First Presbyterian Church, who recognized the need for a school to provide elementary and secondary education from a Christian perspective. The initial facilities, consisting of ten acres of land and an elementary building, valued at $265,000 were funded by a capital funds drive within the membership of the church.
An independent Board of Trustees was established in 1969 and given authority to govern the school under a charter issued by the state of Georgia. The school opened with 205 students in grades 5k-8. In 30 years it has grown to its present enrollment of 945 students in grades Pre kindergarten through 12, having graduated its first class of 33 students in 1975. Since that time an additional 17 acres have been acquired and the school plant is valued at over $6,000,000.00. Since the school’s first alumni in 1975, more than 1800 young people have graduated from the school.
The First Presbyterian Day School has always had a racially non-discriminatory admissions policy. It is a coeducational, non-sectarian, college preparatory school, seeking to provide the highest quality education from a Christian world-life view. The Board of Trustees has insisted that the entrance requirements remain high and that the student/teacher ratio not be compromised.
First Presbyterian Day School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and is a member of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA).
As previously stated, the school is governed by an independent Board of Trustees. Trustees are elected to serve four-year terms on a yearly rotating basis. All regular trustees shall be members of First Presbyterian Church with the exception that four regular trustees need not be members of said Church. Ex officio members include the pastor of the Church and not more that two associate or assistant pastors. Ex officio members have all rights, privileges and immunities of regular members. Also serving in ex officio capacity is the headmaster.
Although the First Presbyterian Church created the school with gifts of money, land, and time, the school operates independently and apart from the Church.
The Church continues to express support for and interest in the school, with gifts of money to the program of Christian Education and time by individual staff members. In addition, a scholarship fund for qualifying members of the Church is maintained and administered by a committee of the Session of First Presbyterian Church.
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