By KATY RUTH CAMP
32 COBB LIFE | APRIL 2019
cabin and lake, extensive athletics facilities,
Dozier Hall (the high school), Sewell Cottage
(the preschool), multiple playgrounds,
Mulkey Building (which houses administration,
the lower school, the middle school,
two gyms, two media centers and a dining
hall) and the Murray Arts Center (a
state-of-the-art performing arts facility).
Founded in 1976, MPCS is fully accredited
(SAIS/AdvancED) and, according to its
mission statement, partners education with
home and church to prepare servant-leaders
to honor God, love others and walk in Truth.
In 1976, with a staff f only two, the
Mount Paran Christian School Learning
Center was established. The program began
with a preschool-kindergarten program at
Mount Paran Central Church of God in
Atlanta. A combined fi st and second grade
class and an after-school program were
added the following year. That same year saw
the development and adoption of the name
Mount Paran Christian School (MPCS) and
the establishment of the fi st offi al MPCS
school board. Thi d and fourth grade
programs were added in 1978, followed by
one grade addition each year through 1982.
During the 1984-1985 school year, the
Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools found the MPCS elementary
program to be in full compliance with all
Association standards, awarding the
elementary and middle schools their full
accreditation. Mount Paran Church of God’s
acquisition of a 65-acre site on Allgood Road
in Marietta in 1985 provided fulfillment of
the vision for a total high school program.
Existing facilities on the acquired property
were renovated and enhanced. The high
school program (grades nine through 11)
began in 1986 with 94 students. The
following year, grade 12 was added and
MPCS received its full accreditation through
the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (SACS) for kindergarten through
grade 12.
With the rapid expansion of the middle
and high school instructional areas,
establishment of a well-planned, highly
structured athletic program soon followed,
and athletic facilities were constructed. In
1986, MPCS became a member of the
Georgia High School Athletic Association
(GHSA). With an experienced athletic
director and a staff f quality coaches,
participation in interscholastic varsity and
junior varsity sports became an important
aggregate of the MPCS program.
In 1994, additional classrooms were
required in the elementary school to
facilitate growth. Fine arts courses were also
added, and the arts program began to
develop. Computer labs were installed and
the school introduced a technology program
to students.
MPCS purchased its current property
in 2002 and, in 2003, moved from the Mount
Paran North location in Marietta to the
beautiful 68 acres in Kennesaw where the
school campus is now located.
In December 2007, MPCS purchased
the performing arts center adjacent to the
school property. With its 577-seat main
theater, a black box theater, dance studios,
exquisite grand lobby, state-of-the-art
recording studios, band and choral rehearsal
spaces, practice rooms and classrooms, the
building was named the Murray Arts Center
at Mount Paran Christian School in honor of
the Stuart and Eulene Murray Family
Best
of the Best
YOU VOTED. A LOT. IN FACT,
23,368 OF YOU VOTED
247,337 TIMES. WHEW!
But out of the hundreds of
thousands of votes we received in
our Best of Cobb contest, there were
five winners who pulled rank with
you – our readers and their supporters
- to receive the most votes in
their individual categories.
It may come as no surprise that
more than one restaurant appears
on this list. The No. 1 spot, however,
requires a little more study.
Here are your 2019 Best of Cobb
top five vote-getters, in order of
rank.
1 MOUNT PARAN
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
1275 Stanley Rd NW,
Kennesaw 30152
(770) 578-0182
mtparanschool.com
SECTION: Kids and Education
CATEGORY: Best Private School
Mount Paran Christian School is a
preschool age three through twelfth
grade private Christian, non-denominational,
college prep school with a focus on
excellence in academics, athletics and the
arts. The school is located on 68 acres in
northwest Cobb County in the shadow of
Kennesaw Mountain and includes a historic
/mtparanschool.com