Welcome to

Pace Academy

“As a Pace parent, a classroom teacher and

a member of our administrative team, I can

think of no better place for a child to live,

learn and be loved than our school. Pace has

been the best decision of my life.”

— Fred Assaf Head of School

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Our PastEvery family has a story. For the Pace family— our students, teachers, staff, parents, alumni and friends—the story begins nearly 60 years ago when an interfaith group of community leaders envisioned a stimulating learning environment based on Judeo-Christian values. They imagined an intimate academic community that prepared students to THINK BIG about themselves, about others and about the world around them.

In 1958, this visionary group established Pace Academy in the former Ogden estate on W. Paces Ferry Road. Classes took place in bedrooms, in the basement and in the spacious bathrooms on the building’s top floor. The former dining room served as a cafeteria, and students enjoyed recess in the estate’s expansive gardens.

Under the leadership of the school’s dynamic first headmaster, Frank D. Kaley, and his successors, Pace grew into an institution focused on academic excellence and the development of the whole child— a community in which each student is known, loved and encouraged to live out Pace’s motto: “To have the courage to strive for excellence.”

It is not insignificant that our first classroom building was once a home, for it remains so today. Our footprint has expanded and our family has grown, but Pace’s core values and commitment to excellence endure.

Our founders may have started small, but their vision was BIG.

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“We, the students, realize we are not just

names in a file, but, as individuals, are

considered of utmost importance to Pace.

We will proudly wear the name of the first

graduating class of Pace Academy.”

— Lynn Ballou Class of 1964

Our Core ValuesWe create success through partnership with parents, students and faculty.

We are dedicated to developing the whole child.

We have respect for others and their unique ideas and beliefs.

We have pride in our accomplishments and our heritage.

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Our PresentWe’d like to think that Pace today is exactly what our founders had in mind. We are a community of engaged, energized individuals committed to fulfilling our mission to create prepared, confident citizens of the world.

We accomplish that mission first and foremost by emphasizing close student-teacher relationships; our students question, explore and succeed because they know they have the support to THINK BIG.

And while we touch hearts, we teach minds. Our rigorous academic curriculum and college-placement success rank Pace among the nation’s finest independent schools. Innovative programs like Design Thinking, Social Entrepreneurship and Global Leadership encourage students to think critically, solve problems, embrace failure, persevere and ultimately discover their passions.

We focus on further developing each child’s interests and strengths through our outstanding athletics and arts programs, and we encourage students to participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. You see, there’s no such thing as a typical Pace student. You’ll find one of our track stars playing trumpet for the fall musical and a state-champion debater broadcasting live from a Friday-night football game.

And while we know that excellence in academics, arts and athletics is vital to a well-rounded education, we also understand that an education today is more complicated than the three As; it’s about providing global perspectives in the classroom and an integrated experience before and after the bell rings.

That’s why building character is at the heart of everything we do. Pace students, guided by our outstanding faculty and staff, develop a deep understanding of the world and the people around them. Our graduates want to be successful, and they realize that true success means making a positive difference. They THINK BIG.

“Pace teaches the important lesson that

everyone is not the same, that you need to

care about people outside of this world. At

Pace, the whole person is the whole world.”

— Cara Isdell Lee Class of 1997

Pace Parent and Trustee

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Our MissionTo create prepared, confident citizens of the world who honor the values and legacy of Pace Academy.

Because of our founders’ ability to THINK BIG, we now create prepared, confident citizens of the world who do the same.

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Our FuturePace has been a vibrant part of the Atlanta community for nearly 60 years and continues to make an impact on our city—and world—today. But we’re nowhere near finished.

The fall of 2014 marked a new era in Pace history. The state-of-the-art, 75,000-square-foot Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School opened, fulfilling the school’s Master Campus Plan; the Knights kicked off the fall athletic season at Walsh Field, a stadium that completed our satellite Athletics Complex; and we launched the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL), a collaborative, cross-divisional program that supports a well-rounded global education for every graduate.

Our facilities now match the quality of the people and the programs inside, and so our task going forward is to expand our efforts to ensure that Pace students become ethical, empathetic, innovative, culturally competent and adaptable citizens of the world. We believe the ICGL does just that.

From the time a student enters our doors until gradua-tion, all educational experiences are viewed through an overarching global lens. The ICGL fosters this culture of global learning and leadership by exploring an annual, school-wide global theme. Curricular, co-cur-ricular and hands-on activities, a scholar-in-residence program, leadership fellowships, internships, and do-mestic and international study tours support education around these themes.

The exceptional Pace faculty serve as the heart of the ICGL, and faculty support is central to its mission. The ICGL is a resource for teachers as they develop ideas for their classrooms, offering curricular and co-curricular opportunities, and providing support and training.

Through the ICGL, we connect learning to life at every level. We THINK BIG.

Our PacePace is an institution rooted in history and tradition, yet we embrace new ideas and innovation while adapting to our ever-changing world. We start small and THINK BIG.

We are Pace.

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“At Pace, students test boundaries, explore the world,

and most importantly, become more educated and

understanding of other human beings. Pace students

learn to love others based on the experiences they

share—whether it be in the classroom, on the

field or simply ordering lunch—rather than the

preconceived notions taught by others.”

— Zeena Lattouf Class of 2012

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“Pace is special because of the

great teachers and friends.”

— Aman Hashim Class of 2020

“Pace is not just a school

where I go to be with

my classmates and learn.

We are a family.”

— Elizabeth Willis Class of 2015

“I have a passion for working with young

people because of my life experience. I’ve

learned that giving back will make you rich

at heart, and the Pace community is full of

respect, pride, joy, confidence and love.”

— Charles Smith Maintenance & Grounds Staff

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Learn more about life

at Pace, our curriculum

and the application

process on our website,

www.paceacademy.org.

966 W. Paces Ferry Road NWAtlanta, Georgia 30327

www.paceacademy.org