Atlanta Speech School: A Local Guide for Atlanta Families
The Atlanta Speech School is one of the best-known education and speech-language centers in the city, especially for families seeking support with speech, language, literacy, and learning differences. If you live in Atlanta, are moving here, or are exploring resources while visiting, understanding what the Atlanta Speech School does—and how it fits into the broader local landscape—can help you make more informed decisions for your family.
Where Is the Atlanta Speech School and What Is It?
The Atlanta Speech School is a nonprofit educational and clinical center located in Buckhead:
- Address:
Atlanta Speech School
3160 Northside Parkway NW
Atlanta, GA 30327 - General Phone (main line): commonly listed as a central office number you can call to be directed to the right department; check current contact details before calling, as phone extensions and direct lines may change over time.
The school is known for combining:
- Independent school programs for young children
- Therapy and clinical services (speech-language, literacy, and related supports)
- Professional training and outreach for educators and families
Many Atlanta families first hear about the Atlanta Speech School from:
- Pediatricians or developmental specialists
- Local speech-language pathologists
- Other parents in metro Atlanta school communities
- Area preschools and elementary schools
Main Programs at the Atlanta Speech School
The Atlanta Speech School is organized into several core areas. Names of programs and specific structures can evolve, but in general, you’ll find four key types of offerings:
1. School Programs (Day Schools)
These are full-time school environments for children with specific communication or learning needs, typically from preschool through elementary ages. Programs often focus on:
- Language and literacy development
- Hearing loss and spoken language
- Speech and language delays or disorders
- Learning differences related to reading and writing
Families in Atlanta often look at these programs when:
- A child is not thriving in a typical preschool or early elementary classroom
- Traditional interventions in a public or private school setting haven’t been enough
- Specialists recommend a more intensive, language-rich environment
Enrollment usually involves:
- Intake or screening (phone or online inquiry)
- Formal evaluation to determine fit
- Admissions review and discussion with the family about expectations and goals
Atlanta families often plan months in advance, especially if aiming for enrollment at the start of a school year.
2. Speech-Language and Literacy Services
In addition to full-time schooling, the Atlanta Speech School offers clinical services that may include:
- Speech-language therapy
- Language intervention for expressive and receptive language
- Articulation and phonological support
- Fluency (stuttering) support
- Early literacy and reading intervention
These services can be:
- Part of a child’s school program inside the Atlanta Speech School
- Outpatient, where families bring their child for scheduled therapy sessions while the child attends another school in metro Atlanta
Many local families use these outpatient services when:
- They have an existing IEP or 504 plan in a public school and want additional, private support
- A pediatrician has recommended a speech-language evaluation
- A teacher in APS, Fulton County, DeKalb, Cobb, or other metro districts expresses concerns about language or reading
3. Programs for Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
The Atlanta Speech School is widely recognized for specialized education and therapy that support children who are deaf or hard of hearing, particularly those using spoken language and assistive technology such as cochlear implants or hearing aids.
Services typically emphasize:
- Listening and spoken language skills
- Access to early intervention, often starting in infancy or toddlerhood
- Close coordination with audiologists and medical teams in the Atlanta area
Parents across metro Atlanta—from the city of Atlanta to suburbs like Marietta, Decatur, Roswell, and beyond—may travel to the school for these services, given the relatively limited number of local centers with this focus.
4. Outreach, Training, and Online Resources
Beyond direct services for children, the Atlanta Speech School is known for its focus on literacy and language-rich environments more broadly. This can appear in:
- Professional development for teachers in Atlanta-area schools
- Collaboration with public school districts, early childhood centers, and community organizations
- Online resources and tools designed to support reading and language
For local families, this may show up as:
- A teacher or principal referencing training they received through the Atlanta Speech School
- A preschool using classroom strategies influenced by the school’s approaches
Who Typically Uses the Atlanta Speech School?
Different Atlanta families turn to the school for different reasons, but some common scenarios include:
- Toddlers and preschoolers who are late to talk or hard to understand
- Early elementary students who are struggling to learn to read
- Children with hearing loss whose families want strong spoken-language support
- Children with language-based learning differences, including some who later receive diagnoses related to dyslexia or language disorders
The school is not limited to a single diagnosis or type of learner; instead, the focus tends to be on language, communication, and literacy.
How to Get Started as an Atlanta Parent
If you’re considering the Atlanta Speech School for your child, a typical path looks like this:
Make Initial Contact
- Call the main office and ask to speak with admissions or the clinic, depending on whether you’re interested in a school program or therapy services.
- Ask which forms or records are helpful to share (for example, prior evaluations, teacher feedback, or IEP documents).
Schedule an Evaluation or Tour
- For school programs, you may be offered a tour or virtual information session.
- For clinical services, you may start with a speech-language evaluation, hearing assessment (done off-site with an audiologist), or a literacy/reading assessment.
Discuss Findings and Options
- Results are typically reviewed with caregivers, along with recommended supports or school placements.
- You can ask how services might coordinate with your child’s current school or daycare, whether in Atlanta Public Schools, or nearby districts like Fulton County, DeKalb County, Cobb County, or Gwinnett County.
Consider Practical Factors
- Transportation: The campus is off Northside Parkway NW, near I-75, which is convenient for some areas and more challenging for others during rush hour.
- Schedule: Many families balance sessions with existing school hours; Atlanta traffic can be a major factor in planning.
- Cost: The Atlanta Speech School is a nonprofit but not a public school. Tuition and therapy fees vary, and some families explore scholarships, financial aid, or insurance coverage for certain services.
Atlanta Speech School vs. Other Local Options
Families often want to understand how the Atlanta Speech School fits into the broader ecosystem of speech and education support in Atlanta. Here’s a general comparison to help you orient yourself:
| Option Type | Where You Might Find It in Atlanta | Typical Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Speech School | Buckhead (Northside Pkwy NW) | Intensive language, literacy, speech, and hearing-focused school + therapy |
| Public schools (APS and nearby districts) | City of Atlanta and metro counties | Special education (IEP), speech services during the school day, at no direct cost |
| Private speech therapy clinics | Throughout Atlanta (Midtown, Decatur, Sandy Springs, etc.) | Outpatient speech-language therapy; some reading and feeding services |
| Private schools for learning differences | Multiple locations across metro Atlanta | Broader learning differences (including dyslexia, ADHD, etc.), less clinical but more educationally focused |
| Hospitals / medical centers | Children’s hospitals and health systems in Atlanta | Medically oriented evaluations and therapy, often tied to medical diagnoses |
Many families in Atlanta use a combination of resources—for example, a child might:
- Attend a neighborhood public school,
- Receive school-based speech therapy, and
- Go to the Atlanta Speech School for more targeted language or literacy intervention.
Practical Tips for Atlanta Families Considering the School
Here are some locally practical points to keep in mind:
1. Plan Around Atlanta Traffic
- The campus is near the I-75 corridor, which can be heavily congested during rush hours.
- If you live in neighborhoods like Grant Park, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, or West End, build in extra travel time.
- Some families schedule early morning or later afternoon appointments to avoid peak traffic.
2. Coordinate With Your Current School or Provider
If your child already has:
- A speech therapist in the community
- An IEP or 504 plan through APS or a neighboring district
- Services at a local hospital
…you can ask how the Atlanta Speech School’s recommendations can complement existing supports. Many Atlanta families find that having aligned goals across providers helps children make more consistent progress.
3. Keep Documentation Organized
Before contacting the Atlanta Speech School, it’s helpful to gather:
- Previous evaluations (speech, psychological, educational, hearing)
- Recent report cards or progress reports
- Notes or emails from teachers describing concerns
- Any formal diagnoses or medical summaries (if applicable)
Having these ready can streamline evaluations and help staff tailor recommendations.
4. Consider Long-Term Needs
Some Atlanta families look to the Atlanta Speech School for:
- Short-term, intensive intervention (for example, a year or two in a specialized program before transitioning to another school)
- Long-term placement through the early elementary years
- Ongoing outpatient therapy that continues even after a child returns full-time to a different school setting
Thinking about your time horizon can make conversations with admissions and clinical staff more focused and practical.
How the Atlanta Speech School Connects With the Larger Atlanta Community
The Atlanta Speech School is not just a standalone school; it interacts with many parts of Atlanta’s education and health systems. You may see its influence in:
- Teacher training for APS and metro Atlanta educators on literacy and language-rich instruction
- Partnerships with preschools, Head Start programs, and early childhood centers to improve language environments
- Resources shared through community organizations serving families throughout the city
For parents, this means that even if your child never enrolls, ideas and approaches connected to the Atlanta Speech School may show up in your child’s classroom or in local literacy initiatives.
When the Atlanta Speech School Might Be a Good Fit to Explore
Atlanta families often consider reaching out to the Atlanta Speech School when:
- A child has ongoing speech or language challenges that haven’t improved with basic support
- Reading is significantly harder for a child than for peers, especially in early elementary grades
- There is hearing loss and a desire for strong spoken-language support
- You want a highly language-focused environment and are open to specialized, smaller school settings
For many in the Atlanta area, the Atlanta Speech School is one of the first stops when they want deep expertise in language, speech, and literacy, along with the structure of a school or clinic that is designed specifically around those needs.
If you live in or near Atlanta and are concerned about your child’s communication or reading, contacting the Atlanta Speech School for information about evaluations or school programs can be a concrete next step alongside conversations with your pediatrician and current educators.