Piedmont Academy opened up its 2013-14 school year Monday with a total enrollment of 297 students, 45 of whom are new students.

There are 18 students in preschool; 93 students in grades K-5 through fifth; 76 in middle school; and 110 in high school. Twenty-five percent of this year’s student body has alumni parents or grandparents.

The Academy draws students from a 10-county area. Jasper County represents 46 percent of the student body; Newton County represents 23 percent, and Butts represents 25 percent, an increase of 2 percent from Butts County from the previous school year. Other counties represented include Rockdale, Baldwin, Putnam, Henry, Morgan, Jones, and Walton.

Piedmont Academy, an independent school, was founded in 1970 and is entering its 44th year in education. The school’s alumni association has 860 members.

The school is accredited with quality by the Georgia Accrediting Commission, accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SACS), and AdvancEd- certified. Piedmont is a member of the Georgia Independent School Association.

Additional information concerning Piedmont Academy can be obtained on the school’s website at www.piedmontacademy.com or the alumni page on the social network, Facebook.

Campus tours are available by appointment. Call Judy Nelson at 706-468-8818, extension 304. Piedmont is at 126 Highway 212, West, in Monticello.