The Clifton School is a full-day, year-round program for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.  We also offer summer camp for children who have completed Pre-K to age 9.

Our schools serve the benefits-eligible employees of Emory Hospital, Emory University (and affiliates), Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and full-time Emory students.

For the convenience of the families we serve, there are two Clifton School locations from which to choose. The Clifton Road site is located on the corner of Clifton Road and CDC Pkwy on the CDC’s campus. The Clairmont Road site is located on Emory’s Clairmont campus across the street from the Clairmont parking deck.

Both sites are licensed by the State of Georgia.  The Clairmont & Clifton Road Sites are both nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

As a non-profit corporation, we are managed by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from Emory, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Our daily operations are managed by the Site Directors who report directly to the Executive Director at our Clifton campuses.

Our purpose is to provide the best possible child care and learning experiences for children and to act as a family support system.

We have a strong, positive image of the child as an active discoverer and inventor who constructs knowledge from experiences with his or her environment.

Our educational focus is not on what children need to know, but on what they have the right to explore and learn.  We believe in the rights of a child… and that it is our work to provide the environment in which they can flourish, learn, and grow.

Updated COVID-19 Practices

All vaccinated and unvaccinated children who have been exposed while in the early childhood, environment are not required to quarantine as long as they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. They can attend school. However, they must test if they develop symptoms within 10 days of the exposure. Testing with a home test kit is allowed. If they test positive, they must follow our isolation policy.  

All vaccinated and unvaccinated children who have been exposed outside of the school environment are not required to quarantine as long as they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. They can attend school. However, they must test if they develop symptoms within 10 days of the exposure. Testing with a home test kit is allowed. If they test positive, they must follow our isolation policy. Families must provide a written plan for how they will keep the person who tested positive for COVID-19 isolated.   

Isolation Policy (currently being reviewed for updates)

Our current policy requires that if your child has COVID-19 they can return to school after 10 days of isolation if they are symptom-free. We follow this practice because young children cannot strictly adhere to masking for the second 5 days of the isolation period. In addition, there are times throughout the day when none of the children wear masks in the classroom. These times include meals, naps, and outside play.

However, the CDC provides guidance for removing masks sooner than day 10 with two sequential negative tests. The guidance states:

 If you have access to antigen tests, you should consider using them. With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10. Click here to learn more about the guidance.

Therefore, if your child (2 years+) is in isolation, they can test after day 5 and return to school on days 8 or 9, if they have two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart and are symptom-free without the use of fever-reducing medications. This would allow your child to return to school before day 10.

Updated Sick Child Policy:

If a child has any of the following symptoms, they must be excluded from the childcare setting and can return after 24 hours of being symptom-free.

Sore throat

Persistent hacking cough

Conjunctivitis

Muscle aches

Difficulty breathing

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Headache

Unknown rash or sores

Behaves as if they are not well enough to participate in daily activities

Fever at or above the threshold temperature of 101.0° F (including temperatures that would meet this criteria, if not for the use of fever-reducers.)

If one of the symptoms is a fever, they must remain fever-free and symptom-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and can return with a doctor’s note.