Hapeville (Atlanta, College Park, Union City: apartments, rental homes, homes)

[Matrinka]

I was recently contacted about a teaching position in Hapeville Elementary school. Does anyone here have anything they would like to share about the education system and / or town of Hapeville? I'm a northerner looking to relocate, but can't find much "real" information out about the town. Recruiting brochures are nice... but only spin the positive features of the community. I'm looking for information that I'd really need to know before deciding to move.

Thanks!

[ATLienGirl]

Hapeville Elementary is in the southern part of Fulton County, hence, it is in the Fulton County school system. Overall, Fulton County is a pretty good system; my colleagues that are teaching there haven't really had any complaints. Plus, it is in a good cluster (clusters are elementary and middle schools that feed to a particular high school), and the area superintendent of that cluster is also doing some great things.

The area of Hapeville itself is sort of drab; many teachers that teach at that school commute from elsewhere. There is really nothing there; shopping, etc. But, it is close to Interstates 85 and 75 so if you wanted to go somewhere else, you could. It's kind of a dull place to live. Many teachers commute from cities south of Hapeville (Union City, Fairburn, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, College Park) and some even from the Atlanta area, including Downtown Atlanta.

Hapeville Elementary mainly consists of minorities; mostly black and hispanic, and there are some apartments and rental homes, so you will be dealing with a transient school population. I haven't really heard anything bad about this school, but, if you can deal with the demographics and the drabby dull area it's in, go for it. I think they made AYP this year (all elementary schools in Fulton except 2 I think made AYP).

One thing about it, make your decision carefully because in Fulton County if you are new to the system, you have to stay at the same school for 3 years before you can transfer to another one. So, if you get there and you don't like it, if you can't stand to be there three years, you will be going to another system. Just giving you a heads up.

[mamamarie]

to get some other opinions from Georgia teachers go to Teach.Net: great index of Teaching rescources for Teachers.

click on chatboards and find the georgia board (last in last column)