Founded in 2018, Savannah River Academy was built on a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves to be seen, challenged, and encouraged. Serving children from age three through eighth grade, the independent school has become a place where academic excellence and joyful learning go hand in hand.
For Head of School Jennie Hawkins, her first introduction to the academy came several years ago when her family was searching for a school where their children would be excited to learn. “We knew about SRA through friends and from the moment we visited, it felt special,” shares Jennie. “There was a sense of belonging that drew us in.”
As her daughters became more deeply rooted in the SRA community, Jennie found herself increasingly drawn to the school's mission. What began as a parent's appreciation for the school soon became a desire to be part of its work. "Eventually, I traded legal briefs for lesson plans and joined the middle school faculty before my recent move into school leadership."
Today, as Head of School, Jennie leads and serves the community that has played such a meaningful role in her own family's life. “I love walking alongside families during some of the most important years of their children's lives," Jennie says. “I get to watch children grow from curious, messy preschoolers into confident and capable young people. Spending my time with wonderful families who are so invested in their kids, remarkable teachers who pour their hearts into helping students succeed, and children who make me laugh and inspire me reminds me every day what an incredible privilege this work truly is.”
With approximately 150 students, Savannah River Academy intentionally maintains small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios, allowing teachers to build meaningful relationships with every child. Rather than asking students to fit a single educational model, the school adapts its teaching to meet each student's unique strengths, interests, and learning needs.
"We know children don't all learn the same way," Jennie explains. "Some students are ready to be challenged several grade levels ahead, while others simply need more time, encouragement, or a different approach. Our responsibility is to meet every child where they are and help them discover their full potential."
One of the school's distinguishing features is the thoughtful design of its classrooms and learning spaces. Every environment is intentionally created to help students grow academically, build confidence, and develop a love of learning. The academy's youngest students enjoy classrooms that open directly into outdoor learning environments, where curiosity, exploration, and play are part of every day. As students grow, movement and collaboration continue to be woven into the school experience through flexible seating, hands-on learning, and opportunities to engage with classmates.
"Children aren't designed to spend their entire day sitting quietly in rows of desks," Jennie says. "Active bodies support active minds. We want our students to be active participants in their education, not simply observers."
The school also offers an exceptional dyslexia program that uses research-based, multisensory instruction to help students strengthen their reading and spelling skills while building confidence that reaches beyond the classroom. “We believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and to be celebrated for exactly who they are,” Jennie shares. “Years from now, our students may not remember every lesson they learned in a classroom, but they will always remember how they were treated and how they were made to believe in themselves. Those are the things that shape a child's future.”
In addition to classroom instruction, Savannah River Academy offers an array of extracurricular opportunities. Students participate in choir, coding, chess, and 3D printing clubs, as well as athletics including basketball, volleyball, pickleball, soccer, cross country, and track. The school also produces an annual all-school musical, a beloved tradition that Jennie says is one of the highlights of the school year.
While academics and enriching opportunities are important, Jennie believes the true strength of Savannah River Academy lies in the relationships that define its community. “Raising children today isn't easy,” says Jennie. “Our students are growing up in a world where they're exposed to more information and pressure than any of us probably would have known what to do with at their age. Because of that, the partnership between school and home matters more than ever. When children know they have an entire team of adults working together, cheering them on and helping them navigate successes and setbacks, they flourish. So, we make it a priority to have a great partnership between home and school.”
In a time when families are searching for connection as much as education, Savannah River Academy continues to offer both—a close-knit community where every child is known, every family is valued, and every student is encouraged to reach their full potential.
Savannah River Academy, located at 213 S. Old Belair Road in Grovetown, offers rolling enrollment, allowing families to join the school throughout the year. To learn more or schedule a personal tour, visit savannahriveracademy.org or call 706-469-4522. Also follow Savannah River Academy on Facebook and Instagram.
Active bodies support active minds. We want our students to be active participants in their education, not simply observers.
When children know they have an entire team of adults working together, cheering them on and helping them navigate successes and setbacks, they flourish.