You need to apply for the visa at the Schengen country in which you will spend the most time during your trip. If that is France, then yes, you can go to the French consulate in Atlanta (the embassy is in Washington DC).

Some Schengen countries have online applications, but most do not. If you have not been before ( or in the last 5 years) you need to go to a consulate or embassy in any case as they will need to take your biometric information (your fingerprints). This goes for your parents as well.