East Cobb schools vs. In Town private Schools comparison (Sandy Springs: neighborhoods, school district)

[krisATL]

How do East Cobb schools compare with in town private schools academically or otherwise? We have heard good things about Eastside/Dodgen/Walton and would love to hear about anyone's experience with these schools, most importantly the elementary schools.

What kinds of experiences have people had in East Cobb? Can anyone that has children that go to Eastside Elementary school comment on your experiences there? Any other comparable elementary schools in East Cobb that should be considered?

We have one child in private elementary school in town and are considering all the pros and cons of moving out to East Cobb.... Can anyone comment on if they have made this move and if it lived up to your expectations?

Thanks,
Kris

[aries4118]

Others can chime in with the comparison talk, but I just want to say...


It is important for you to understand that are dozens of elementary schools in East Cobb very similar to Eastside, and there are also several more "feeder paths" that are very similar to one you listed.


It would be wise to not just zero in on one school and one feeder pattern.


What else are you looking for in terms of housing and neighborhood (price range, commute-to-work, amenities, etc., etc...)?

[krisATL]

Thanks for the feedback. I do appreciate it.

Looking for a swim/tennis community in East Cobb more than likely... most likely a 4Bedroom/3 bath at a minimum up to 500K......Would love for it to be newer but the most important is to be in a good elementary school district with a good feeder pattern....academics are most important ... Commuting to perimeter area for work ...

I mentioned East Side Elementary as one that we have heard good things about but I cant really find any rankings for it compared to the other East Cobb schools...what are other comparable schools and neighborhoods that fit my criteria above?

Thanks ...

[HeyEng]

There was a thread that talked about feed patterns pretty extensively in the E Cobb area and it was recent too (within about a month). If I wasn't so lazy, I would use the search function for you but just search for "Walton Mt. Bethel Dodgen Murdock" and I am sure you will find it.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by krisATL

Thanks for the feedback. I do appreciate it.

Looking for a swim/tennis community in East Cobb more than likely... most likely a 4Bedroom/3 bath at a minimum up to 500K......Would love for it to be newer but the most important is to be in a good elementary school district with a good feeder pattern....academics are most important ... Commuting to perimeter area for work ...

I mentioned East Side Elementary as one that we have heard good things about but I cant really find any rankings for it compared to the other East Cobb schools...what are other comparable schools and neighborhoods that fit my criteria above?

Thanks ...

Comparable elementary schools to Eastside Elementary in East Cobb:

Mount Bethel*
Timber Ridge*
Sope Creek*
Eastvalley *
Tritt*
Murdock*
Shallowford Falls
Mountain View
Garrison Mill
Davis
Rocky Mount
Kincaid
Addison
Keheley
Nicholson
Blackwell
Chalker
and of course, Eastside* itself


The best part of East Cobb for commuting to the Perimeter Center Area would be most of the Walton High School District, the eastern-part of the Wheeler High School District, or the southern-part of the Pope High School District--a nice commute overall. The elementary schools above marked with an asterisk (*) are in the districts I just mentioned.

The rest of East Cobb would offer a decent commute to the Perimeter Center Area.

Originally Posted by krisATL

Looking for a swim/tennis community in East Cobb more than likely... most likely a 4Bedroom/3 bath at a minimum up to 500K......Would love for it to be newer ...

Some neighborhoods that meet the criteria above...
Easthampton: Mount Bethel/Dodgen/Walton or Timber Ridge/Dodgen/Pope
Northampton: Mountain View/Simpson/Lassiter
...and many more!

[LovelySummer]

Anyone got thoughts on the part of the orig ques re East Cobb schools vs private intown? That is an interesting ques. Would love to know the answer.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Comparable elementary schools to Eastside Elementary in East Cobb:

Mount Bethel*
Timber Ridge*
Sope Creek*
Eastvalley *
Tritt*
Murdock*
Shallowford Falls
Mountain View
Garrison Mill
Davis
Rocky Mount
Kincaid
Addison
Keheley
Nicholson
Blackwell
Chalker
and of course, Eastside* itself


The best part of East Cobb for commuting to the Perimeter Center Area would be most of the Walton High School District, the eastern-part of the Wheeler High School District, or the southern-part of the Pope High School District--a nice commute overall. The elementary schools above marked with an asterisk (*) are in the districts I just mentioned.

The rest of East Cobb would offer a decent commute to the Perimeter Center Area.





Some neighborhoods that meet the criteria above...
Easthampton: Mount Bethel/Dodgen/Walton or Timber Ridge/Dodgen/Pope
Northampton: Mountain View/Simpson/Lassiter
...and many more!

Some more helpful information:


http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice...Elementary.pdf

http://www.cobbk12.org/schools/CCSD_...terns_2012.pdf

[krisATL]

I appreciate the comments do far but would love to hear from anyone that has experience at East side elementary school or anyone that can compare East Cobb Elementary schools to intown private schools academically and otherwise?

I cant imagine we are the only people that have and are considering the switch from intown to East Cobb and want to know a fair assessment of the difference between the private and public schools. And while it seems so far that there are many great elementary schools, there really has to be a ranking whether its subjective or objective...so, which schools are the best? And what makes them the best to you?

Any teacher comments are kindly appreciated as well who know and can talk to the differences in the private vs. public debate. I hear public schools spend lots of time on testing and "teaching to the test"... How true it that? How distracting is the testing?

Thanks in advance for any comments you may have....

[pinetreelover]

I don't have East Cobb public school experience, but I do have Sandy Springs public school compared to private school experience so I'll throw in my thoughts. As you know, all schools have good teachers and not-so-good teachers. This is true even for the best private schools.

I had one child go all the way through private school and the other switched to public school in middle school. The biggest difference was in the "extras". The private school offered more variety and quality of art classes and performing art opportunities. The class trips were more sophisticated (and $) and enriching. School events were more organized and polished. If these things are important to you - private schools may be a better choice.

My public school child was much more of a "self-starter". She found the classes she wanted to take, advocated for herself to get into them and then did the work and performed well. My private school son need more encouragement to push himself and would not have pushed through some of the barriers that my daughter faced.

My daughter never seemed to be held back by "teaching to the test" - this wasn't a focus or a distraction at all.

In general, there are some frills that I think that my daughter missed out on, but she benefited from her education and the sweat equity that she put in more than my son did.

Good Luck.

[10 feet tall]

How do they academically compare? I think roughly equivalent, when comparing apples to apples. How do they socially compare? There is the difference, and that is why people pay $$$ for private school.