Cobb County schools - late start times (Dunwoody, Forsyth: daycare, house)

[NB9540]

Hey everyone

I am moving to ATL in just over a week and then have to start house hunting immediately. I was thinking about purchasing a house somewhere in the East Cobb area but then I checked out their school website and the middle schools don't start until 9:15. Just wondering if this is common or if there are any areas that start earlier??

I'm a single parent and this is freaking me out. My son is staying here in NY while I look for a place to live and will continue school up here, but I want to bring my son down to ATL as soon as possible. I will likely have to be at work every day some time between 8 and 9am. I will also need him to be in an after school program since I likely won't be home until 5-5:30ish. So I was wondering the following:

-Do most schools have activities in the early morning, or morning daycare programs?

-Also wondering, are there any schools that don't start this late in the morning that I should consider?? I will be working in Dunwoody right nearby to the MARTA exit/Perimeter Mall.

This could really be a huge issue for me if I need to hire a babysitter just to put my son on the bus every morning, and he's only 10 so I can't leave him home alone for any length of time or have him get on the bus alone.

Thanks so much in advance!!!

[Mattie]

You may be surprised just how early the bus pick up time is for that 9:15 start. Our middle school bus came at 8.

[lastminutemom]

DeKalb and Fulton both start at about the same time. Some middle schools do you have morning programs. You'll need to call the schools you're interested and ask.

[flyonpa]

Forsyth Middle schools Also start at 9am. They do most of the "After School Clubs" type things before school.

Studies have show its better for Middle school aged kids to start later, for a host of reason. The big one is they have less unsupervised time after school till the parents get home. (MS Kids tend to find trouble more after school then before.) Many Middle Schools you can drop your student off early @ school Normally around 8am. They can have breakfast, and hang out in the cafeteria, with supervision till classes start. Check with the school he would be attending.

[deacongirl]

Our middle school bus comes at 8:37. (Dodgen)
Elementary comes at 7:00.

[deacongirl]

Oh--and many mornings there are clubs that meet before school starts, and they do sports in the gym at 8:15.

[NB9540]

Thanks so much for the responses. I'm thinking he may end up attending Dodgen or Dickerson (Walton or Pope HS) but if his bus came at 8:37 this may really be too late for my schedule.. if I could drop him off early at school and he would be supervised, that would be OK.

I have this issue up here in NY too, because his school now starts at 9am, but they don't let students in the building before 8:45am if they're not doing something specific like chorus or intramurals. It really sucks and a lot of people have to get babysitters in the morning just to put their kid on the bus, if both parents work.

[deacongirl]

I don't know about all 5 days--but the odds are good that you could have something arranged most days at 8:15. And if he is into musical theater and does the play the practice is at 7:30 a.m. 2 or 3 days a week. Good luck--Dodgen is a great school and we have been very happy.

[NB9540]

Thanks!! Not sure if that's where we'll settle yet but who knows I'm still digging around to see what else is out there.

[Saintmarks]

As a former bus driver, school starts are staggered for the buses. Elementary runs first, high school second, middle school last.