The Paideia School was founded in 1971 by parents who wanted an individualized, creative, and intellectually challenging education for their children. The original building at 1509 Ponce de Leon housed the entire school of 140 students during the first two years. In 1973 the school purchased the adjoining property and added a high school program. Two additional buildings were constructed in 1977 to allow for increased enrollment and to provide improved facilities for existing programs. Additional buildings were purchased in the 1980s for classrooms, laboratories, and the upper school library. A new gym and theater complex was opened in 1989, and a 25,000-square-foot high school classroom building with library and computer facilities was opened in 1995. In 1999 renovations were completed on the Neel Reid house at 1341 Ponce de Leon Avenue, and a half-day program was moved there. Playing fields were opened in 1999 in Avondale Estates, and the Music and Art Center opened in the fall of 2001. With the start of the 2008-2009 school year, the school opened several new facilities for the junior high, physical education, drama and music programs built with money raised in the $25 million Campaign for All Ages. These facilities include a new junior high building, an expanded chorus program room, an expanded main gym, a multipurpose gym, a black box theater, art display area, a fitness center, an open green space and increased parking. Paideia School now has over 900 students from age three through 12th grade. The school is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools.
Facilities
Main campus on on Ponce de Leon Avenue with 14 buildings, 7 of which are repurposed 20th century homes
Python Park: in Avondale Estates with two soccer fields and a baseball/softball field
Clubs
A wide variety of extracurriculars take place on campus. Student interest drives most activities.
Competitive
Policy Debate, the team travels nationally and locally. They are primarily student driven. The Paideia debate team has grown rapidly during the past few years. The school now features a high school and junior high team.
Mock Trial, the team finished top eight in the state for the 2013-14 school year, qualifying through both regional and district competitions
Academic Bowl, founded in 2009 by Elizabeth Snyderman and Greg Chagnon. They won the Junior National tournament in 2014 and the Georgia Middle School Championship in 2016. Paideia has hosted a tournament called “PiFight” for the past few years.
The Steering Committee is Paideia's student government organization. The committee plans social events for the entire High School including, The Bash, Spirit Week, and more competitions. The committee also provides financial support for other student organizations.
Student publications
The Forum, the school's newspaper.
Blue Rider gives every student at Paideia a forum for publishing their prose, poetry, or other literary works, as well as art for the Paideia community.
Yearbook
Athletics
Over half of the students in the high school play on one of the junior varsity and varsity teams in 10 sports: soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, track, swimming and diving, volleyball, cross-country, ultimate Frisbee, golf, and tennis. The athletic program emphasizes participation, high quality instruction, and teamwork. Presently, the no-cut system is being examined in the particularly crowded sports of soccer and basketball to try to address problems caused by this crowding.
