Sylvan Learning Announces Strategic Push to Bring Tailored Education Program to Students in Georgia

Angela Baron has always had a passion for education.

Growing up in Bartow County, Baron obtained her undergraduate degree in history and education from a private university. Appreciating the importance of academia, Baron decided to further her studies with a graduate degree at Jacksonville State University. It was during her transition from undergrad to her master’s degree that Baron wanted to embark on her career and begin her life in teaching. While looking at multiple tutoring services to grow with, she came across Sylvan Learning*—she immediately saw the perfect opportunity to exercise her desire to help children with their academics.

Even with the pressure of her school work, Baron made a name for herself as an educator at the Sylvan Learning in Cartersville, Georgia, and, eventually, she became the assistant to the director within a year and a half. In 2004, Baron relocated to Rome, Georgia to work under the director at another Sylvan Learning location. Over the next three years, Baron’s commitment and perseverance led her to inquire about ownership—and when presented with the chance to own the center arose, she jumped at the opportunity.

In the coming years, Baron brought success to the Rome location and developed a strong brand presence in the community. And today, she’s bringing the Sylvan’s unique tutoring services to hundreds of students throughout Northwest Georgia.

“You cannot beat the Sylvan Learning brand—there is nothing else out there that can even compare. I love the fact that each student has an individualized program to strengthen his or her weaknesses, and that’s what ultimately inspired me to bring those services to families in Rome,” Baron said. “This is a community that clearly values high quality education, and I’m excited for the future growth that’s undoubtedly ahead of us.”

Baron is one of several franchisees who have found success with Sylvan Learning throughout Georgia. And with 11 centers that are currently developed throughout the state, there’s still immense opportunity to grow Sylvan’s footprint even further.

“Georgia is a state that seems to truly understand the value of supplemental education. With a strong foothold in the area already, we’re seeing tremendous opportunity for growth,” said Georgia Chasen, the director of franchise development for Sylvan Learning.

In particular, Sylvan is targeting Atlanta for future development.  As the city’s population continues to skyrocket (the Atlanta Regional Commission estimates that there will be more than 2.5 million people living in the metro region by 2040), Chasen believes there’s nearly limitless opportunity for franchisees to build out new Sylvan Learning centers of their own.

But even more than Atlanta’s booming population, it’s the city’s demand for better college prep courses that has Chasen the most optimistic about Sylvan’s potential. With college admissions growing more competitive, Sylvan’s test prep programs and college prep courses are proven to lead to real results—from high scores on the ACT and SAT to standout college application essays and greater success in advanced courses. Which is why, today, courses that help students prepare for college are among the top revenue categories for Sylvan franchisees in Georgia—and more and more owners are joining the brand to help meet that demand.

“There’s a real interest throughout Georgia in helping kids prepare for college,” Chasen said. “Sylvan’s franchisees know how nervous students get when thinking about college. So by bringing our test prep programs and college prep courses, we’re giving teenagers the confidence they need to thrive once they graduate high school.”

Today, with more than 750 Sylvan Learning centers and counting throughout the country, the brand continues to tap into the vast potential of markets like Georgia to reach more students than ever before. And with a franchise fee of $24,000 with start-up costs ranging from $70,980 to $159,890, the most advanced technology in the industry, a unique emotional return on investment, and a franchisee-friendly licensing agreement, Sylvan Learning continues to position itself for success in the decades to come.

“We’ve seen time and time again that Sylvan can be successful in any community where there’s a genuine focus on education of their youth. Thanks to Sylvan’s modular programs, we’re able to tailor our services to meet the unique demands of every town we service,” Chasen said. “We’re excited about what the future holds for our brand in Georgia.”