By Marcus E. Howardmhoward@mdjonline.com

EAST COBB - Tucked away on Terrell Mill Road near Powers Ferry Road in east Cobb, Shreiner Academy is one of metro Atlanta's best kept secrets, its leaders say. However, the private school's new headmaster, Sarah Walker, hopes to change that.

On Saturday, Shreiner celebrated its 30th anniversary with an outdoor festival on its sprawling campus. The state-accredited school for students from 2 years old through eighth grade is looking to make a few added improvements to its curriculum and campus under its new leadership. It was purchased a year ago by the American Education Group, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based private company that owns several other private schools around the country.

"They believe in excellence in education and educating the whole child," said Walker, who previously worked at Cincinnati Country Day School.

"We have the most phenomenal community of faculty, students and parents. It's just a really wonderful community.

Shreiner has an enrollment of about 225 students at the 8-acre campus, which features 30 classrooms, a library, science lab, performing arts center, an athletics field, nine playgrounds and two swimming pools.

The purpose of Saturday's festival, which was free to the public, was to share what makes Shreiner stand out from other schools, officials said. There were games, raffles, food and live music performed by the Atlanta band 999 MPH.

Founded in 1980, by educators Harold and Marion Shreiner, the school prides itself on its average class-size of about 15 students, individual attention, its faculty, programs and accelerated curriculum. It also shuns school uniforms, preferring that students express their own uniqueness.

Larry and Jill Jones of Smyrna have sent their 10-year-old son, Gus, to Shreiner since he was in kindergarten. He's now in the fourth grade.

"The curriculum is an accelerated curriculum, so we like that it challenges our son to learn," Jill Jones said. "We tried a lot of different things prior to and looked at a lot of different things - including some exclusive private schools - but we absolutely love it here."

And so does Gus. He was just voted class president.

"I like the good education, field trips, free days and stuff like this," he said at the festival.

School began on Aug. 10 and registration is still continuing.

For more information about Shreiner Academy at 1340 Terrell Mill Road in east Cobb, call (770) 953-1340 or visit www.shreiner.com.

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