History:
The Murray-Grest School was an idea born out of a need. Melinda Grest and Pam Murray, the school founders, began with the idea that education could be different from what was being offered in their community. A shorter day, a hands-on approach to learning, and a non-institutionalized school experience for children—this educational environment did not exist in their area. After extensive research and discussions with like-minded parents, they decided to provide that choice to Gwinnett County. After several meetings, The Murray-Grest School debuted in September 1999 with five dedicated families.

The decision to be an independent school allows the co-directors the most freedom to conduct the school in the manner they desire—an integrated curriculum, blended age classrooms and a de-emphasis on standardized testing. These three important elements ensure that the school remains true to the philosophy envisioned by the co-founders.

We believe that each child learns differently, and with that in mind, our philosophy is to teach to the individual. It is our mission to provide a safe, nurturing atmosphere in which children are able to learn. Our focus will be a developmentally appropriate curriculum that is child-centered, with an emphasis on active learning. Parent involvement is critical to our mission. Classes will be multiage, combining two or more grade levels, and each child will be assessed individually within a non-graded classroom. Small class sizes will allow teachers to incorporate small group learning and individual learning methods. This also allows for a stronger student-teacher relationship and a stronger sense of community within the school. Students and teachers will be involved in community projects and environmental issues as a regular course of study.

The Murray-Grest School is a richly structured educational program in which parents and the community are considered to be an integral part of a child’s education. The program reflects a concern for all aspects of the student’s development: emotional, developmental, cognitive and physical.The curriculum is interdisciplinary and units are project-based, culminating in a product, project or performance shared with an outside audience or classmates.

“I have always dreamed that my daughters education would be very different from my own. I feel strongly that education can be so much better than what most of us experienced—that children should be involved in the process of learning and their ideas valued. It is my belief that every child is talented in his or her own way and deserves an education that celebrates these unique gifts. This school is the realization of my dream.”