Upper School & Guidance
The Upper School expands and further refines the programs begun in the earlier years. Working closely together, the faculty provide the strong curricular continuity that is the hallmark of an outstanding college preparatory school. Piedmont offers Honors classes at all levels including Biology, Calculus, English, United States History, European History and Humanities. 11th and 12th grade students have the opportunity to take dual enrollment classes.
24 Carnegie units are required for a honors college preparation diploma.
Student Honors Received by Piedmont Academy Students
Farmers and Merchants Bank Junior Board
Daughters of the American Revolution Award Recipient
National Merit Finalists
Presidential Scholars Awards
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholar
Governor’s Honors Finalists
Jasper County Star Student
Jasper County Star Teacher
International Exchange Students
Golden Eagle Awards
University of Georgia Certificate of Merit
LaGrange College Cunningham Scholar
Presbyterian College Junior Fellow Award
International Exchange Students
Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Award
Georgia Scholar
HOBY Service (CLEW)
Community Leadership Workshop
All-State Band
All-State Chorus
All-State Debate
Duke Tip
State & Regional Literary Awards
State & Regional One-Act_Play Awards
MathCounts Regional Champions
JETS State Championships
Piedmont Graduates
Piedmont graduates are accepted by and attend some of the nation's finest institutions including:
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Auburn University
Augusta Medical College
Berry College
Boston College
Brewton-Parker College
The Citadel
Clark College
Clayton State
Clemson University
Converse College
Crandall Business College
Emory Medical College
Emory University
Florida State University
Georgia College & State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Perimeter College
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southwestern University
Georgia State University
Gordon College
Griffin Technical College
Kennesaw State
LaGrange College
Lee College
Macon State College
Medical College of Georgia
Mercer University
Middle Georgia College
North Georgia College Oxford College of Emory University
Presbyterian College
Queens College
Samford University
State University of West Georgia
Stetson College
Transylvania Universit
Tennessee Technical
Troy State University
Tulsa University
United States Naval Academy
University of Georgia
Valdosta State
University Wesleyan College
West Georgia
Young Harris
Academic Guidance
Welcome to the Guidance Department! It is the Guidance Office's goal to assist students in their personal and academic development. The following services are provided:
- Personal counseling and referrals for additional help - one on one and small groups
- Study skills and academic counseling - tracking and advising of students
- Career counseling - interest testing, resources
- College counseling - personal assisting and monitoring of student's application process and financial aid/scholarship search
Find out about: Senior Year Calendar, Colleges, and Career visits
9th Grade
This year begins your transcript, which will be sent to colleges in the fall of your senior year.
Set goals for your high school years to include awards, honors, community service, and extra-curricular activities.
Remember the Georgia HOPE Scholarship GPA derives from all courses taken in the core areas of Math, English, Social Studies, Science, and Foreign Language.
10th Grade
If your GPA isn't where you want it to be, get help with study skills from the Guidance Office or your teachers.
Begin selecting a few extra-curricular activities that you wish to sustain over high school. This is better than a one-year commitment to a dozen activities.
Begin researching college and scholarship opportunities. The Internet has hundreds of informative sites. Be careful – do not pay anyone who offers to find scholarships for you. There are a lot of scams out there!
Visit college campuses when you are out of town. Call ahead for an appointment or tour. Spring break is a great time to visit college campuses.
11th Grade
Establish a GAFutures and, Attend the College Fair hosted by Piedmont Academy in the fall.
This is your final research year. Attend all Piedmont meetings with college representatives.
Visit campuses. Ask questions of college students you know: "Why did you pick this college?" "What do you like best?" "Least?"
Research regarding merit scholarships. Sources include parents' business and civic groups, Internet sites and colleges themselves. Notice competition essay topics - consider working on these over the summer.
Plan to take the SAT twice and the ACT once. You may test better on one format than the other. Colleges use scores for monetary awards.
By year's end, select 10-12 potential college choices, then narrow down your list and begin applications to those choices.
12th Grade
Be ready to apply to 3-5 colleges. The standard formula is 1 reach (a bit of a stretch given your GPA and SAT scores), 3 reasonable schools (you fit in their admission parameters) and 1 safety school (you are quite certain of admission here).
Release your transcripts on GAFutures to the schools you are applying to. These bright yellow/green forms are on the shelf outside the guidance office. Your first three transcripts are free and each additional copy is $5.00
If you are close in score to scholarship or admission qualifications, take another SAT or ACT to reach that goal.
Line up any recommendations you need. The writer needs two weeks notice to construct an effective, thoughtful letter.
Check all submission deadlines carefully! Missing one could seriously impact the application process.
If you have questions, email the college directly. They appreciate a proactive student.
You are eligible.
