• Augusta Preparatory Day School

    Applications are now open for the 2025-26 school year

  • Join us for Open House, Nov. 11

    Register at our Open House page

  • 57 State Championships

    Appreciation of an active and healthy lifestyle and the joy of competition

  • Top-notch programming

    The Augusta area's No. 1 private school per Niche.com

Welcome to Augusta Prep!

Through small classes and flexible programs, talented and committed teachers provide individual attention to help each student achieve his or her academic best. Our motto, “To be, rather than to seem,” describes this community of doers who work together to make the world a better place.
  • Lower School (Age 2-4th Grade) Lower School (Age 2-4th Grade)
    We recognize the importance of these formative years when students master essential academic skills. In keeping with Augusta Prep’s tradition of academic excellence, our Lower School program emphasizes the acquisition of tools necessary for scholastic success.
  • Middle School (5th-8th) Middle School (5th-8th)
    An engaging college-prep curriculum, small class sizes, and strong relationships between both teachers and students and students and their peers serve as the framework for our Middle School program, which fosters student motivation and success.
  • Upper School (9th-12th) Upper School (9th-12th)
    From our challenging curriculum to the myriad opportunities to engage and grow beyond the classroom, the Upper School community is dedicated to providing a personalized, balanced, and innovative experience in which all are invited to develop their intellect, talents, and character.

List of 6 items.

  • #1

    Best Private K-12 School in Augusta area
    Augusta Prep is the top-ranked private school (K-12) in the Augusta area per Niche.com. Augusta Prep also ranks as the top Private High School in the Augusta area, the top College Prep Private School in the Augusta area and the best high school for STEM in Augusta and Columbia County.

  • 100%

    College Acceptance Rate
    Augusta Prep has a 100 percent graduation rate, our students going on to attend some of the most prestigious colleges and universities across the United States. Our acceptance rates to popular in-state schools such as Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Clemson are typically much higher than their average acceptance rates.

  • 7:1

    Student-teacher Ratio
    Augusta Prep students receive plenty of individual attention throughout Lower, Middle and Upper School. We work with parents on creating a personalized educational experience for their student(s).

  • 32%

    Student Diversity Rate
    As the Augusta area's only Age 2 through Grade 12 independent school, we attract students from many different backgrounds.

  • 41

    AP and Honors Courses Offered
    Augusta Prep offers top-notch college preparatory programming, including 27 AP and 14 Honors courses that will prepare Upper School students for college and allow them an opportunity to earn college credits.

  • 41

    Athletic Teams in Upper and Middle School
    Augusta Prep has one of the best athletics programs in the Augusta area with 57 State Championships, 56 State Runner-up Championships and 159 Region Championships in our 61-year school history. 

School News

  • Augusta Prep ranked in nation's top 1 percent in Challenge Index

    In the recently-released Jay Mathews Challenge Index rankings, Augusta Prep checks in at No. 114 out of 22,000 high schools in America. Augusta Prep is the highest-ranked school in Aiken, Columbia or Richmond County on the Challenge Index list.

    The Challenge Index is the oldest high school ranking system in the country, beginning in 1998 in both Newsweek and The Washington Post, according to the Jay Mathews website.
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  • Augusta Prep ranked as No. 1 private school in Augusta area for 2024-25 school year

    In the recently-released Niche.com rankings, Augusta Prep was tabbed the No. 1 private school in the Augusta area for the 2024-25 school year. Augusta Prep is also ranked among the top 10 private schools in Georgia.
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  • Three Augusta Prep students earn AP Capstone Diploma

    Three members of the Augusta Prep Class of 2024 earned the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma. Nacha Ramanathan, Chance Ruiz and Sara Beth Trotter each earned this diploma, which includes the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. 

    All three students, now alums, are matriculating at colleges around the country. Nacha is studying at the University of Michigan, while Chance is attending the University of Miami and Sara Beth is at the University of Georgia.
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  • Augusta Prep alum to compete in U.S. Olympic Trials

    Amy Riordan, Augusta Prep Class of 2022, is competing this weekend in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis.
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  • Four Augusta Prep students earn prestigious GIAA Academic-Athlete Award

    Four Augusta Prep student-athletes recently received the prestigious Georgia Independent Athletic Association 2024 Morris C. Johnson Academic-Athlete Award. Class of 2024 graduates Fripp McDougal, Hank Monnig, Aine Trapp and Sara Beth Trotter were four of the 10 student-athletes recognized in GIAA Class AA for their hard work in the classroom and in athletics. Augusta Prep had the most award recipients of any school in Georgia. 
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  • Augusta Prep senior Connell signs Division I football offer

    Augusta Prep senior Sam Connell signed a football offer this afternoon to play for Mercer University in Macon, Ga.
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  • Augusta Prep hires Director of Digital Integration and Innovation

    Augusta Prep is proud to announce the hiring of Mary White as its new Director of Digital Integration and Innovation for the 2024-25 school year.
     
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  • Augusta Prep senior signs athletic offer with NCAA Division I school

    Augusta Prep senior Aine Trapp signed an offer Tuesday to run cross country and track at the College of Charleston at a ceremony in the Boardman Athletic Center.  The Cougars compete in the NCAA Division I Coastal Athletic Conference.
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  • Augusta Prep welcomes two Heritage Academy scholarship students for the 2024-25 school year

    Augusta Preparatory Day School is proud to welcome two Heritage Academy students, Sylas and Jacob, for the 2024-25 school year. The two incoming freshmen, who have each earned merit-based scholarships, will start their Prep careers in August as members of the Class of 2028.
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  • Faculty Profile: Chris Hines

    Job title:  Assistant to Facilities Manager

    Years working at Prep:  10

    Family:  Chris is married to Christi and they have two daughters (Kennedi and Kensley). They also have two pets - both girls - a cat named "Spot" and a dog named "Stella."
     
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  • Hedinger hired as next Augusta Prep Head of School

    The Augusta Preparatory Day School Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Eric Hedinger as the next Head of School at Augusta Prep effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Hedinger comes to Prep from Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C., where he has served as Head of the Upper School since 2012. 
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  • Augusta Prep wins state literary competition

    Augusta Prep won the GISA State Literary Competition on Monday, March 18 in Barnesville, Ga., for the fourth consecutive year. This time, the Cavaliers won the event in close fashion.
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  • Augusta Prep Middle School wins awards at Junior Model UN Conference

    The Augusta Prep Middle School Junior Model UN team participated in early March at the Augusta area Junior Model UN Conference at Augusta University.

    The team of Ayanna, Maheen and Sangha won the “Best Delegate” award. The team of Narek and Caleb won the “Best Negotiator” award. Also, 7th/8th History teacher and Junior Model UN advisor Chip Kirksey won the “Outstanding Advisors” award.
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  • Augusta Prep senior Nussbaum named National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist

    Augusta Prep senior Mayah Nussbaum has recently been named a National Merit Scholarship Program finalist for the 2023-2024 school year.

    In the National Merit Scholarship Program, Nussbaum ranked in the top one percent of all high school seniors when she reached the semifinalist stage in the fall. According to the National Merit website, "the National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year.
     
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  • Faculty Profile: Mary White

    Job title:  Technology Teacher, Middle and Upper School (Grades 7-12)

    Years teaching at Prep:  7

    Family:  Married to Bill, Augusta Prep's Dean of Curricular Innovation and Social Studies Department Chair. They have two children: George and Julia Wren.
     
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  • Augusta Prep holds ribbon cutting for new STEM facility, W. Rodger Giles Institute for Inquiry

    In January 2023, Augusta Prep broke ground for the W. Rodger Giles Institute for Inquiry. In less than a year, the Giles Institute officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 11. This new, 20,000-square-foot, one-of-a-kind #STEM facility for the Augusta area opened for classes on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

    Augusta Prep alum Clay Boardman helped unveil the building by officially cutting the ribbon. Mr. Boardman, Head of School Derrick Willard, Board of Trustees Chair Thomas Burnside, III, and Director of Development Kristin Ludwig all made opening remarks at the ceremony, which also honored the classes of 1989, 2014 and 2020 for their support of the building and the adjacent Teardrop Monument Plaza.

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  • Augusta Prep's Huo named STEM scholar in nationwide competition

    Augusta Prep senior Emily Huo was recently named a Scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. The competition is owned and produced by Society for Science.

    Of the 2,162 applications received from high schools in 46 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and 10 other countries, 300 were selected as a Scholar. Each student who is named a Scholar receives $2,000 and each school receives $2,000 as well. Later this month, the top 40 students in the competition will be named finalists.

    Emily was one of just three students in Georgia (and the only one in the Augusta area) selected as a Scholar. Her project title for the competition was: Targeting Macrophage Glycolysis Suppresses Kidney Scarring in a Rodent Model.
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  • Nussbaum named Augusta Prep STAR student

    Augusta Prep senior Mayah Nussbaum has been named Augusta Prep’s STAR student for the 2023-2024 school year. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program, presented by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, recognizes students who have the highest SAT score in their class and are also in the top 10 percent of their class based on grade point average.

    Mayah selected Upper School Science Teacher and Department Chair James Mason as her STAR teacher.
    Mayah and Mr. Mason will represent Augusta Prep next month in the Columbia County STAR recognition program presented by the Harlem Women’s Club at Harlem Baptist Church.
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  • Augusta Prep First Lego League team wins STEM award

    The Augusta Prep First Lego League Challenge team #53944, the CavBots, won the Innovation Project Award on Saturday, Dec. 16. The trophy for this STEM education accomplishment will go on display in the new W. Rodger Giles Institute for Inquiry in January.
     
    Paws and Claws Rescue Quest is a pop-up escape room idea that can be used by animal rescue organizations to educate people on why it is important to adopt pets, become foster families, and be good pet owners, as well as a way to raise money for shelter animals. The Escape Room inspires people through the use of games and puzzles, and incorporates elements like sound and video to immerse visitors in the game and promote empathy for shelter animals.
     
    Judges loved the team's detailed presentation, creative ideas, and passionate presentation.
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  • Faculty Profile: Ryan Bacheller

    Job title:  Lower School PE teacher, Varsity girls head basketball coach, Varsity boys assistant basketball coach, JV boys head basketball coach, and sports marketing and graphic design specialist.

    Years teaching at Prep:  7

    Family:  Ryan's father, Harry, was the first football coach at Augusta Prep and also served as athletic director. Ryan has two siblings and two dogs: Jessie (Australian Shepherd) and Chipper (Golder Retriever).
    Read More

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Learn more about Augusta Prep

Augusta Preparatory Day School develops the intellect, talents, and character of each student in a diverse, college-preparatory, and welcoming community of life-long learners.

We are committed to educating well-rounded, engaged students who embrace personal responsibility, global perspective, and service to others.
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Augusta Preparatory Day School

Augusta Preparatory Day School is an independent, college preparatory school serving children ages 2 through Grade 12 from the greater Augusta-Aiken area. Augusta Prep seeks to enroll a group of diverse students. We follow an open admission policy, whereby qualified candidates are admitted without regard to religion, race, nationality, economic background, or ethnic origin. 
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