How school and adult education help works in AtlantaA short guide: who to call first and what to expect.
To finish high school as an adult, take GED classes at a technical college or an adult education center. The classes are free. The test has a fee, and many programs can cover it. See GED and adult education.
To read better, adult reading programs teach one to one or in small classes. They are free and private. See reading help.
For college or a trade, fill out the federal student aid form, called the FAFSA, at studentaid.gov. It is free, and it is how you get a Pell Grant, which you do not pay back. In Georgia, the HOPE Grant pays part of the tuition for certificate and diploma programs at technical colleges. The HOPE Career Grant covers the rest in fields that need workers, such as welding, nursing and truck driving. Apply at gafutures.org. See trade school, college help and scholarships.
For your child, a public school must enroll a child who has no fixed address or is missing papers. Ask for the district's homeless liaison. If your child struggles in school, ask in writing for a special education evaluation. It is free, and Parent to Parent of Georgia, 800-229-2038, helps parents through it. Libraries have free homework help. See tutoring.
Before you sign up for a class, ask when the next one starts, whether there is child care, and whether there is help with bus fare.
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a museum in downtown Atlanta.S. Civil Rights Movement and on human rights around the world, plus a children's gallery for ages 12 and under. It also holds family events on Saturdays, group and school visits, and programs for schools.
The Black Achievement Fund is a nonprofit that collects monthly member contributions to build Black-owned land, community spaces and programs. Members get a free online African history course, and the group runs events and online programs, including some at its Kemet Club on Church Street. Membership is open to anyone who believes in its mission.
The Warren Boys & Girls Club is on Berne Street in Atlanta. It is part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. Kids and teens can join for after-school time with help in school, sports, and leadership programs.
Morehouse School of Medicine is a medical school in Atlanta.L. Clinic, a free health and wellness clinic that sees patients by appointment on Saturdays and some Wednesday evenings. The school also runs science and health career programs for students from grade 5 through college.
The Woodruff Arts Center is a campus in Midtown Atlanta that is home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the High Museum of Art. It offers plays, concerts, and art exhibits. It also runs arts classes, camps, school programs, and a free play space for children from birth to age five.
Westside Works is a job training and career center on Atlanta's Westside. It is an initiative of CareerRise. It offers training in construction, culinary and hospitality, healthcare, and technology, plus career advising, job clubs, and job fairs.
The Carlos Museum is an art and history museum at Emory University. People can see art and objects in the galleries, join tours, and do hands-on activities with kids. Adult tickets cost $10, but Sunday FUNdays, the Georgia Public Libraries Family Pass, and free membership are ways to get in without paying. The museum says admission will be free starting January 6, 2027.
The Alliance Theatre is a professional theater at the Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown Atlanta. It puts on plays and musicals, including shows for families and for babies and toddlers. It also runs classes, teen programs, and programs for schools and teachers.
The King Center is a nonprofit in Atlanta that teaches Dr.'s ideas of nonviolence. People can visit its free campus, take nonviolence trainings, use classroom resources, or do research in its archives. Students, teachers, and volunteers can join its programs.
Washington Park Branch is a public library on Atlanta's Westside. It is part of the Fulton County Library System. You can get a library card, borrow items, use computers and study rooms, and ask staff your questions. The library system's social services team can also connect you to other help in the community.
Grant Park Cooperative Preschool is a parent-run preschool in Atlanta's Grant Park neighborhood. It cares for children from infants to age 5 and uses a play-, art- and nature-based Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. Families help run the school, and morning and extended-day programs are offered Monday to Friday.
Dogwood Library is a neighborhood branch of the Fulton County Library System at 1838 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW. It has a computer lab, study rooms, meeting rooms, and a book return that works after hours. Staff help with research questions, and the branch hosts classes and events for adults, teens, and children.
Frederick Douglass High School is an Atlanta Public Schools high school in southwest Atlanta for grades 9 to 12. Its school food pantry is listed as closed. Atlanta Public Schools families can get free groceries by appointment at the district's Goodr Grocery Store, and can call the school to ask about other help.
This is the state office that leads Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education for Georgia's public schools. It helps students get ready for college, a job, an apprenticeship, or the military after high school. It offers career pathways, student clubs, college-credit options, and free career-exploration resources.
The Center for Ethics is part of Emory University in Atlanta. It holds talks, film nights, exhibits, workshops and research seminars about right and wrong in health, the arts, character and leadership. It also teaches Emory students and advises other organizations on ethics.
Premier Academy is a nonprofit childcare and early learning group in Atlanta. It runs two child development centers, one of them at 120 Renaissance Parkway. It offers free Georgia Pre-K for 4-year-olds, free counseling for young children and their families, and links to more than 20 partner providers.
The Buckhead Library is a branch of the Fulton County Library System at 269 Buckhead Ave. NE. You can borrow books and media, use free public computers, printing and copies, and book meeting and study rooms. It also has a teen center and classes. The system's Social Services team helps people find referrals and apply for benefits.
The Emory Alumni Association connects Emory graduates to the university and to each other. Alumni can use benefits like campus library and gym access, research databases, alumni travel trips, and events and volunteer chances.
This is Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy, an Atlanta Public Schools school for girls in grades 6 to 12. It has school counselors, a college advisor, college classes for high school students, and a yearly application for new students.
This is the Literature, Media, and Writing Department at Spelman College, a college for women in Atlanta. It used to be called English. Students can major in it or take a minor in creative writing, film and visual culture, or writing.
