About Us

Our History

HMS Through the Years

Celebrating 50 Years!

High Meadows School began on an afternoon hike with friends in 1973. Today, students enjoy those same hiking trails and outdoor spaces every day at school.

Celebrating 50 Years!

While exploring the land that is now our campus, forward-thinking educators Jody Holden, Bill Crawford, Jay Dickerson, and Michael Drake conceived the idea of a progressive school and summer day camp designed to emphasize exploration, discovery, and multi-age learning.

At that time, the property was part of the former residence of Mr. and Mrs. Nat Franklin and was known as Franklin Farm. In honor of the 40+ sprawling acres sitting atop one of the highest points in Roswell, Georgia, the new owners–our school founders–named it High Meadows.

Timeline Highlights

List of 7 items.

  • 1973

    First classes for preschoolers

  • 1974

     First primary classes

  • 1975

    First elementary class

  • 1985

    Computer lab opens

  • 1992

    First middle school classes

  • 2002

    Accredited by NAIS

  • 2007

    Becomes IB World School

Our Founders

High Meadows School founders Jody Holden, Jay Dickerson, Mike Drake, and Bill Crawford had worked in various capacities at the Chattahoochee School, located where Roswell’s Chattahoochee Nature Center is now. All four had the experience, vision and drive to create a dynamic school that would support inquiry-based learning and the natural intersections of academics and our environment.

Bill Crawford provided fiscal leadership, managing the finances for both the School and the Camp, and took on the role as first groundskeeper. Jody Holden was a long-time professional educator, and had been head of the Chattahoochee School. Her vision of education guided High Meadows’ mission in its early days, and remains the cornerstone of our program today as an active member of the board of trustees.

Jay Dickerson and Michael Drake were also experienced educators with a strong interest in the summer camp program. Both men blended their traditional education backgrounds with a great respect for the innovative methodologies implemented at High Meadows.

High Meadows School Timeline

High Meadows began by offering early education and camp programs for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds. As recognition for excellence and demand for enrollment increased, the school added new grade levels, faculty and staff, buildings, classrooms, and outdoor learning spaces.

  • 1973

    First classes for preschoolers between the ages of three and five

  • 1974

    First primary class of kindergarten, first- and second-graders

  • 1975

    First elementary class of third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders

  • 1978

    Classroom/multi-use building added (now it’s the Connections Building)

  • 1985

    Parent organization, S.H.A.R.E. (School Home and Reach Everyone) created to organize activities, enrichment programs, and volunteer opportunities

  • 1986

    Computer lab opens

  • 1986

    First implementation of Nature Studies Program

  • 1989

    Norfolk Southern gives the school its storied caboose

  • 1992

    First middle school program for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders

  • 1993

    First eighth grade graduates

  • 1993

    Sheryl Smith Robertson serves as first Head of School

  • 1993

    The school is purchased from the original owners by a group of parents, community members, and teachers, and it becomes a nonprofit organization

  • 1997

    Paul Ebrahimi is Head of School

  • 1998

    Middle Years Building is complete

  • 2002

    Accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

  • 2004

    Liz Gembecki is Head of School

  • 2007

    Becomes an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the globally-recognized IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)

  • 2010

    Jay Underwood is Head of School

  • 2015

    The High Meadows Center for Progressive Learning is established

  • 2016

    The Neal M. Gibson Maintenance Building is complete

  • 2019

    Bud Lichtenstein is Interim Head of School

  • 2020

    Lisa Baker is Head of School
1/22

List of 2 items.

  • 50th Anniversary Magazine

    Our Archives & History Committee produced an amazing 50th Anniversary Commemorative Magazine! Click the image above to read through the magazine online. We have hard copies available for purchase in Franklin House. Please take the time to read through so many wonderful articles honoring and celebrating HMS&C!
    Read Now

  • Looking Back with Jody Holden

    This book, created with help from the Romeyn family, takes you through High Meadows’ history through founder Jody Holden’s eyes and offers an in-depth explanation of the basis of our educational philosophy.
    Read Now
The High Meadows community celebrates and perpetuates each individual’s quest for knowledge and skill, sense of wonder, and connection to the natural environment. We empower each to be a compassionate, responsible, and active global citizen.
Age 3 through Grade 8 | Authorized IB PYP World School
1055 Willeo Road, Roswell, Georgia 30075 | (770) 993-2940 | info@highmeadows.org