The Junior Jacket Academy (JJA) program began in 2015 with just one class of three-year-olds. Today, we’re proud to serve children from infancy through Kindergarten, creating a strong educational foundation for every stage of early childhood.

This year, we are excited to announce the addition of our Infant Room, expanding our care to include our youngest learners. From six weeks to Kindergarten, our goal remains the same: to provide nurturing, high-quality learning experiences that promote growth, curiosity, and confidence.

Our program includes:

• Junior Jacket Academy

• Georgia Pre-K

• Kindergarten

Each JJA and Pre-K classroom at the CELA is designed to meet the developmental needs of its students through play-based, hands-on learning aligned with the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS). Our Georgia Pre-K classrooms are part of the state-funded initiative that began in 1993 and now serves over 84,000 children annually. At Calhoun, we house 11 Pre-K classes, serving approximately 220 students.

Our 15-Kindergarten classrooms build on the strong foundation laid in Pre-K, offering a well-rounded, developmentally appropriate curriculum that promotes academic and social growth. Students engage in daily reading and writing through the Benchmark Universe ELA curriculum, while building problem-solving and critical thinking skills using the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Math. In addition to core instruction, students participate in a variety of special area classes, including Music, Physical Education, Art, STEM, Theater, and Guidance, giving them opportunities to explore their interests, express creativity, and develop the whole child.

The Jacket Journey Begins Here.

CELA Orientation-English

CELA Orientation-Spanish