MDE Admissions Process
- Initial Phone Interview – A preliminary phone interview will be conducted to determine if MDE is a suitable fit for your child.
- Parent Tour – Following the phone interview, parents will have the opportunity to tour the school and meet with Executive Director Mindy Elkan.
- Student Meeting & Assessment – If the family wishes to proceed after the tour, the prospective student will meet with the Executive Director for an academic evaluation to determine class placement.
- Enrollment & Deposit – Upon mutual agreement on the next steps, enrollment paperwork will be completed. To secure a spot for the upcoming school year, a $500 non-refundable deposit is required. This deposit will be applied toward tuition.
Tuition Information
MDE School and MDE Vocational Academy Tuition for the 2025/2026 school year $27,000 (excludes therapies)
MDE School offers flexible payment options to meet the needs of our families. Tuition may be paid in one of the following ways:
- Annual Payment: One full payment made before August 15th (a 4% discount will be applied to tuition)
- Semester Payments: Two equal payments due at the beginning of each semester (August and January)
- Quarterly Payments: Four equal payments due in August, October, January, and March
- Monthly Payments: Ten equal payments due the first of each month from August through May
All families are required to complete a Tuition Authorization Form, which will be made available on July 21, 2025.
- Electronic payment (ACH, debit card, or credit card) is required for all quarterly and monthly plans and for all before and after school care payments. Payments will be processed no later than the third calendar day of each month unless otherwise communicated.
- Annual and semester payers may pay by check or electronic payment.
- In the event an electronic payment fails, a 1.5% late fee per month will be applied to any payment not received within 15 days of the invoice due date.
In addition, Activity Fees ($250 per student) and Parent Council dues ($75 per student) will be processed in August.
If you have questions about payment plans or need assistance, please contact our administrative office—we’re here to help.
Financial Aid
There are several ways to offset the cost of your child’s education at MDE School.
Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (SB 10)
If you are interested in transferring your child from a public school to a private school in Georgia, you may be able to take advantage of a Georgia Special Needs Scholarship. These scholarships provide funding that can be used to offset tuition costs at participating private schools in the state of Georgia. Eligibility will be determined by using the scholarship calculator on the GSNS website. For more information on the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship and the parent application process, please visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website.
Georgia Student Scholarship Organization (GaSSO)
Georgia Student Scholarship Organization, Inc. (GaSSO) is one of the original and largest non-profit SSOs in the State of Georgia. GaSSO allows taxpayers to redirect a portion of their state taxes to help pay for private school education.
Since 2008, GaSSO is proud to have partnered with over 100+ Georgia private schools and have provided more than $55 million dollars in tuition scholarships supporting preK-12th grade.
GaSSO’s objective is to provide the State of Georgia taxpayer’s and accredited private schools with a simple, easy way to contribute and process funding to their preferred educational institutions.
For more information on how to participate in GaSSO to help fund tuition for your child, or to fund general scholarships at MDE School, please visit the GaSSO website (https://www.georgiasso.com/)
MDE school is staffed with the most professional, hardworking teachers and support staff I have ever seen. Each child is treated as an individual. Everyone works hard to ensure that every child’s educational goals are met and that life skills are imparted to better prepare them for life beyond school. Mindy Elkan has cultivated an amazing, all inclusive atmosphere for her students.
Who We Are
MDE School is the only special education school in the Atlanta metro area supporting neurodiverse students from preschool through early adulthood. As a nonprofit private school, we provide personalized education for students with developmental delays who may not thrive in traditional settings.
Our tailored academics, enrichment programs, and life skills training empower each student to reach their full potential in a supportive, nurturing environment. When ready, students can transition seamlessly to MDE Vocational Academy on our campus, serving young adults ages 15+ with a focus on vocational, life, and social skills.
Our experienced team specializes in working with students with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, communication disorders, and other learning differences supporting each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth at their own pace.
