Opening its doors in August 2014 to educate students in the Clayton County School System, it was built to meet the needs of a rapidly growing fine arts community. This state-of-the art facility is home to grades 9-12 students with an enrollment of approximately 600. Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts has been named a Nationally Certified Magnet School by the Magnet Schools of America Organization and is the first school in the state of Georgia to earn this accreditation.
Offering fine art courses in the areas of dance, theatre, vocal music, orchestra, band, guitar, piano, and visual arts., Stilwell aims to provide a rigorous, challenging, and rewarding learning environment where all students develop the technical and interpersonal skills necessary to compete in a global society and become competent, independent musicians.
Orchestra students experience a professional environment within an educational setting by being immersed in practices, protocol, and etiquette identical to those followed by professional orchestras to drive learning, stage presence, and performance standards to the highest level. The Stilwell orchestra has performed on some of the world's finest stages including Carnegie Hall and consistently produces GMEA All-State, Governor's Honor's, and All-National musicians. Graduates from the Orchestra program have continued on to schools such as Curtis. Peabody, Oberlin, Jacobs, Emory, Georgia State, Valdosta State, and others.
The Vision of the Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts is to establish a learning community where all students achieve high academic standards, maintain good citizenship, and excel in their artistic environment. In supporting its vision, Stilwell School of the Arts maintains its mission to develop 21st century thinkers to become global leaders by providing the highest quality of education to all students in and through the arts.