Honor the Past, Build the Future
Since its founding, The Howard School has carried forth a legacy of preparing students to lead lives of meaning and purpose. As we mark this milestone anniversary, we honor the visionaries who shaped our journey and embrace the growth still ahead.
Come celebrate with us!
Celebrating 75 years of Making a Difference
Our vision began in 1950, when Marian Howard, a young teacher and graduate of Agnes Scott College, poured her life savings into starting a school. She saw the potential in students whose motivation to learn was diminished as they faced constant failure and challenge. She knew that teaching and learning could go beyond rote memorization and recitation of disjointed facts. She wanted to open a door.
Since then, thousands of students — the legacy of her leadership and learning — have passed through our doors out into a world they’ve helped to create. And for 75 years, those students, inspired by the school’s original progressive vision and its history of innovation, have offered tangible proof of our success.
Guided by the light of Marian Howard, we do not recognize boundaries. Nor labels. Nor diminished expectations.
From the Head of School
"For 75 years, The Howard School has been celebrating children, honoring their individuality, and refusing to see differences as barriers. Today, we stand on a strong foundation of profound courage and relentless optimism. I write this, fully aware of the tumult and jagged edges in our current world. I am confident Marian Howard felt much of the same over the course of her lifetime. She did not back down. She did not shrink. Instead, she transformed the approach to education and built one of the premier LD schools in the nation..."
Read more from "Celebrating 75 Years of Courage, Grit, and Joyful Learning," 75th Anniversary edition of Insights Magazine on page 4.
Interested in supporting our 75th initiatives?
Join us as a valued sponsor! Your support will connect your brand with our rich legacy and future vision while providing exceptional visibility throughout our anniversary year. Contact us at advancement@howardschool.org.
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Our Sponsors
Left: First location of The Howard School where Marian Howard enrolled three students in 1950; Upper Right: Founder of The Howard School, Marion Howard; Lower Right: The Howard School moves to 1946 Ponce de Leon Ave in 1979.
Marian Howard opens The Howard School in her home with three students.
The School is incorporated in 1952.
1950s
A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Marian Howard acted on her compassion for, and interest in, the education of “brain damaged children” with “normal” intelligence. In 1950, she started a class for three such children in a classroom in her home...
The Howard School moves to the Cator Wolford Mansion on Ponce de Leon Avenue 1960-70.
The first official school logo is unveiled in 1963.
Jean Abt succeeds Marian Howard as the Head of School.
1960s
In the 1960’s, education research focused on children who appeared to have the capability to learn and yet had invisible and puzzling learning difficulties...
Howard enrolls a record number of 51 students, ages 5 to 16, and employs six teachers, three support teachers, and one PE coordinator.
The Howard School moves to 1246 Ponce de Leon Avenue in 1979.
Mary Ben McDorman is named the third Head of School.
1970s
As the decade of the 1970’s opened, national attention focused on the educational needs of special education children. The United States Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that required school systems to provide a free and appropriate...
Before the final move to the current location on Foster Ave, this is one of the first locations where classes were held.
The North Campus
North Campus opens in Roswell
The Diagnostic Clinic opens.
Coach Hamilton created the Atlanta Athletic Conference so that smaller independent schools can compete in their own league.
Recognizing the unique and outstanding success of the school, in 1988, the United States Department of Education named The Howard School as one of its National Schools of Excellence.
Howard is the first accredited special-purpose school accredited by SACS in Georgia.
Pam Helms appointed as interim Head of School.
Sandra Kleinman named fourth Head of School.
1990s
In the mid 1990’s, the board affirmed its goal to continue to be a center of excellence for individuals with learning difficulties on the cutting edge of education research and practice. With this charge, they began a national search for...
Howard School unveils a new logo and the tagline, “A Different Approach Makes All the Difference.”
Construction is completed for its current location at 1192 Foster Street, Atlanta
Marifred Cilella is named the fifth Head of School.
The Howard Institute, now known as The Howard Exchange, is launched.
The Class of 2014, made up of 26 students, is the largest graduating class in our history.
Current location of The Howard School.
The Steve Young High School and the Marifred Cilella Student Center.
The Steve Young High School and the Marifred Cilella Student Center opens in March 2020 only to close a few weeks later due to the global pandemic. The school hosts a drive-in graduation ceremony for its seniors.
Dr. Anna B. Moore is named the sixth Head of School.
Enrollment is 300 students with 100 full time, and 17 part-time faculty and staff.
27 students graduate garnering 123 acceptances to 87 colleges and programs, and earning over a million dollars in scholarship awards.
The Howard School joins the International Thespian Society.
Tennis is added to the list of athletic offerings bringing the total number of sports teams offered to 11.
First time in school history the swim team wins their conference championship.
