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General Information

The Clifton School is a full-day, year-round program for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. We also offer summer camp for children ages 4 to 8.

Our schools serve the benefits-eligible employees of Emory University (and affiliates),Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and full-time Emory students.

For the convenience of the families we serve, there are two Clifton School locations from which to choose. The Clifton Road site is located on the corner of Clifton Road and CDC Pkwy on the CDC's campus. The Clairmont Road site is located on Emory's Clairmont campus across the street from the Clairmont parking deck.

Both sites are licensed by the State of Georgia. The Clairmont Road site is nationally-accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The Clifton Road site will be participating in the new statewide Quality Rating System. For more information about the new statewide rating system, please click here.

As a non-profit corporation, we are managed by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from Emory,Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Our daily operations are managed by the Executive Director at our Clifton campus and the Site Director at our Clairmont campus.

Our purpose is to provide the best possible child care and learning experiences for children and to act as a family support system.

We have a strong, positive image of the child as an active discoverer and inventor who constructs knowledge from experiences with his or her environment.

Our educational focus is not on what children need to know, but on what they have the right to explore and learn. We believe in the rights of a child...and that it is our work to provide the environment in which they can flourish, learn, and grow.

Enrollment Process

1. Learn more about our school.

A. Peruse the website.

B. Come for a tour. Both Clifton School locations have a tour every Wednesday at 1:30.

2. Submit an enrollment application (and required registration fee). Be sure to include your child’s date of birth or your due date along with your preferred date of enrollment. The application may be mailed to or dropped off at either of our locations.

3. The wait. You may have no wait at all, or it could be up to 12-18 months before we have an opening for your child. The length of your wait will be determined by the following factors:

A. Waiting list date - the date that you submitted your enrollment application and registration fee

B. Age of your child - our Preschool Village is our largest village, thus there is greater availability for 3/5-year-olds than for one-year-olds

C. Site preference - opting for the First Available site may shorten your wait

D. Preferred date of enrollment - June is the most opportune time to enroll as it is the beginning of our school year

E. Student attrition - after June, we only have openings when children are withdrawn from the school

4. You will receive an enrollment offer via mail, email, or phone when we have an opening for your child. We begin sending offers for June enrollment in February.

5. Schedule a time to visit the classroom with availability. You may bring your child. During the visit, you will receive a classroom orientation packet containing classroom-specific information, including items to bring on your child’s first day.

6. If you choose to enroll your child, then you will pay a 2-week deposit to secure your child’s position in the classroom as of the offered date of enrollment. Your enrollment offer will specify a deposit deadline. The deposit will be applied towards your child’s final two weeks of enrollment. If you choose to decline your first offer, then you may request to be returned to the bottom of the waiting list. If you decline your second offer, then you will be removed from the waiting list.

7. After your deposit has been paid, you will receive an enrollment packet containing our Parent Handbook and all required enrollment forms. All forms (except for GA Form 3231 Certificate of Immunization – the State of GA allows 30 days of attendance prior to requiring this form to be on file) must be completed and returned in order for your child to attend class.

8. If possible, schedule a time for your child to visit the room for a few hours prior to his/her first day of attendance, so that he/she has an introduction to the environment and an opportunity to meet teachers and new friends.

Welcome, you are an official Clifton School Family! If you have concerns about your child’s transition into the school, please discuss them with your child’s teacher(s) during your visits.

Our educational focus is not on what children need to know... but on what they have the right to explore and learn.
Children are active inventors and discovers. They construct knowledge from their environment.
"Our classroom looks just like my house."

Toddler II