Child-Friendly areas for Emory-bound family? (Dunwoody, Decatur: budget, apartments, job)

[n8vbutterfly]

Hello,
I have to decide rather quickly where to move. I just got a job offer from Emory Univ. I have a toddler, and would like to be in an area where we can take walks, play at the park, join playgroups, etc...
I also have a 6th grader--- good schools?
I will only be in the area for one year, so I will be searching, if possible, for furnished apts. and will be bringing a vehicle.

I don't know the area very well, nor do I know how traffic is if I were to commute (which I am open to doing....).

If I had to pick a region, I would want to be between Emory and Jasper, GA.
Thank you,

[lastminutemom]

Are you currently in Georgia and is your child in a gifted program? If so, if I were only going to be here for a year, I would probably just live in the Emory area -- depending on your budget. Corporate apartments are very expensive, so don't be surprised.

Shamrock Middle and Henderson Middle are both ok -- not great, but middle school isn't usually anyway. The city of Decatur has its own school system and Renfroe Middle is ok as well, but I don't think you can easily find furnished housing there -- but I might be wrong.

[n8vbutterfly]

thank you for the quick response. No, I am not yet in GA. I live in AZ, now, and my child is in a gifted pgm... But---I am truly more concerned with Toddler-friendly places...
thank you!

[lastminutemom]

Frankly, you should be much more concerned about middle school -- some are downright horrid. Georgia doesn't have automatic reciprocity for out of state gifted programs -- and school starts here in 4 weeks.

Druid Hills is very pedistrian friendly and most churches/synagogues sponsor playgroups.

Dunwoody is a realitively easy commute to Emory and has a great playground and a skate park set to open any day now. Lots of young families... lots of apartments. Again, most churches and synagogues sponsor toddler type activities. Peachtree Middle is ok.