Public schools roll out the welcome mat for private school students

Some Atlanta area public schools recently held open houses, primarily for students attending nearby private schools that end at eighth grade.

It’s part of an effort by several public schools in Georgia and the nation to find creative ways to encourage private-school students to enroll.

The local schools guess about one-half of the private school students who tour their schools enroll. Experts say there’s minimal financial gain for public schools in adding these students. But many of them are top scholars, and having them in a school can boost its academic standing.