Anyone know about Inman Middle School? (Atlanta, Marietta: condos, house, neighborhood)

[CityFan]

Would like to hear from you if you have any comments on middle schools in midtown/downtown area. What is good or bad about Inman Middle School?

[SaraSatin]

I haven't heard of it but if you go to GreatSchools.net you should be able to get some feedback on it.

[rackensack]

I suppose it's sort of telling that you've had such a paucity of responses in several hours about such a successful school in such a densely populated area. The fact is that while the Virginia-Highland/Morningside/Piedmont Park areas have tons of relatively affluent homeowners (you have to be affluent to own even a small house there), very few actually send their kids to the Atlanta Public Schools system, especially after elementary.

Inman has a GreatSchools.net rating of 9, the best of any APS middle school, and its test scores are equal to or better than any other middle school in the APS system, and compare favorably with highly regarded schools in the suburbs.

Like the City of Atlanta itself, it's about 55% black, 40% white, and 5% other. It is essentially the only middle school in the midtown/Virginia-Highlands/Ansley Park/Piedmont Park/Morningside/Candler Park/Little Five Points areas -- the district extends from I-85 at Piedmont Rd on the north, along the city limits on the east side into the Candler Park area, along DeKalb Avenue on the south in the eastern part of the district, while North Avenue is the southern boundary closer to downtown, and west across the downtown area west of Peachtree and north of Edgewood and east of Marietta St.; the western boundary follows Marietta St to North Avenue, runs along North Avenue west to Northside Drive, then follows Northside to Bankhead Highway, then northward along Marietta Blvd essentially to the train tracks, and along the tracks to the Brookwood Split and then along I-85 back to Piedmont Road.

That's a vast amount of territory, but there are still only about 750 students. People who can afford to live in the area around the school generally can afford to, and do, choose private schools for their kids. Nevertheless, the school seems to be thriving by nearly any measure you choose.

You can check out what they have to say for themselves at Inman Middle School Online .

I haven't had any first-hand contact with the school myself -- lived only a few blocks away for many years, but school quality wasn't much on my mind in those days .

[lastminutemom]

I think it is one of those up and coming schools that I often refer to on this website. I have friends whose children attend and who do very well. Many of these parents are among the most responsible and educated people I know. I also, as Rackensack wrote, know that a tremendous number of parents, especially from Morningside Elementary are not K-12 public school parents.

Mary Lin and Centennial Elementary Schools though have lots of parents who are and I think a turnabout is happening at Morningside, slowly but surely.

You must be comfortable with diversity, if you are not Inman Middle isn't for you.

[CityFan]

Thank you all for your inputs. I will move into one of the high rises in downtown area. My son will go to that school enrolling into gifted program. I will give him extra lessons at home. I can't afford the top rank private school and don't want to send him to average ranked private school either. He was a top gifted student in elementary school. I just don't want to waste his hard work from elementary school. Thanks again.

[lastminutemom]

Wow, I am impressed that you are moving with a child downtown... Not that I haven't thought about it, high rise living sometimes seems very appealing. In the building you are moving to, do you expect there to be other families?

About the gifted program, are you coming from a public school in Georgia? A public school from another state? If you are coming from outside the state, and are not here yet, I would contact the school and find out what data they will need. The is no reciprocity for gifted identification in Georgia from other states -- your child will have to test in, though Inman may be able to do it with existing test scores, etc.

[CityFan]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

Wow, I am impressed that you are moving with a child downtown... Not that I haven't thought about it, high rise living sometimes seems very appealing. In the building you are moving to, do you expect there to be other families?

About the gifted program, are you coming from a public school in Georgia? A public school from another state? If you are coming from outside the state, and are not here yet, I would contact the school and find out what data they will need. The is no reciprocity for gifted identification in Georgia from other states -- your child will have to test in, though Inman may be able to do it with existing test scores, etc.

Thank you for your suggestion. We are moving from Florida into a new high rise in downtown. We are city people and don't like suburban living and I found Inman Middle School has a program so I bought into the condo. I believe there will be some kids who go to the same middle school since the building has quiet few two bedroom condos. I also spoke with school regarding enrolling my child in program. They seem to accept EP from gifted and state test which are not a problem. Since condo close date is delayed, my child can only enroll after we move in. So long as the school offers quality education, I am OK with it and we can do extra work at home to stay ahead. You seem to be knowledgable about school system. I will consult you with any questions that arise. I am glad to hear that the area is decent and safe. BTW, when he was in elementary school, the porgram was placed in an African-American neighborhood, however 99% students within the program were from other races. It's just funny.

[highlands girl]

I live a few blocks from Inman Middle School and am a Morningside Elementary School parent. I want to comment on the post that seemed to indicate most Morningside kids go on to private school. For at least the past 3 years, more than 95% of Morningside graduates attend Inman. While that certainly was not true 8-10 years ago, virtually all of the Virginia Highlands/Morningside kids attend Morningside and Inman. While the APS middle schools are pretty pathetic overall, Inman has the highest test scores in the system. The school pulls from many diverse elementary schools and its population reflects that. I have heard nothing but praise from my friends whose children currently attend Inman (all former Morningside grads!!) My husband's grandaughter just graduated from Inman this past May and she loved it and did well academically. The school has a tremendous amount of parental involvement.

[atlantamoi]

I'd love to send my kids there if the area wasn't so expensive.

[kgurl7900]

Given that many students attend Morningside and Inman.. what options are there in hs? I drove past the neighborhood and really like the feel of the neighborhood however, I was not sure of the school system in the area. Is Grady the only option for public hs? If so, how does it rate?