Is East Cobb the nicest/safest area to raise a family? (Atlanta: rent, credit)

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by spacelord75

I'm guessing they are referring to the WHOPPING 100-150 pt. difference in SATs between Dunwoody and the E.Cobb schools, which equates to only a 4-6% difference with regard to the 2400 pt. test. They would probably also be referring to the non-homogenous nature of the student body (I think D'woody is 60-40 or so white/black). This just kind of goes back to what I posted earlier...is the score differential really that big of a deal? Obviously the school (and others in the metro area in the same vein....ie, Campbell, Lakeside, etc.) is decent since you have kids getting into top schools annually (including some ivy's).

I knew what he was referring to...but I wanted to see if he could actually come up with a rational explanation.

When people on here talk about "good", "bad", "so-so" schools, etc. its almost always about the racial makeup and the marginal difference in test scores.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by aries4118

I knew what he was referring to...but I wanted to see if he could actually come up with a rational explanation.

When people on here talk about "good", "bad", "so-so" schools, etc. its almost always about the racial makeup and the marginal difference in test scores.

Nope...it's not based at all on race. That maybe your inference, but it wasn't mine.

I was basing my original comments on such sources as Newsweek's Top 1300 US High Schools. Walton was ranked 109 in the US and Dunwoody didn't make the list of the top 1300. It was ranked at 1409. If you look at Dunwoody's Newsweek ranking in past years (shown with the 2008 ranking), it has decreased every year for the last 5, while Walton has been increasing in that same timeframe (as have other Cobb Schools). Look at other sources such as the AJC and you'll see similar statistics. There is much more than test scores that makes the difference at schools like Walton (and the others in GA that made the list ahead of Dunwoody).

I never said that Dunwoody HS isn't a "good" school, and it certainly isn't "so-so". It's probably better than 95% of the schools in America. What I said was that I don't consider it in the same class as Walton when doing a comparison. You may choose to disagree, and ignore things like test scores, but that's your bias and not mine.

EDIT: The thing to keep in mind here is that the original discussion of the thread was to ask about private schools and why people want to move to E Cobb, and someone asked isn't E Cobb just hype because so many people live there. I was just pointing out that E Cobb has schools, taxes, and other attributes that make it popular. The schools in Cobb ARE continuously, year after year ranked the best or among the best in GA. Dunwoody (and certainly Dekalb in general) can't say that and that was my point. Not that Dunwoody is bad, and certainly not anything racial.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Nope...it's not based at all on race. That maybe your inference, but it wasn't mine.

I was basing my original comments on such sources as Newsweek's Top 1300 US High Schools.

...which is a ranking of schools based only on the number of AP tests given per student, not on the results of those tests, or anything else that might actually hint at overall curriculum quality.

The Newsweek List has been brought up before on this and other forums, and it's a TREMENDOUSLY misleading measure.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

The Newsweek List has been brought up before on this and other forums, and it's a TREMENDOUSLY misleading measure.

OK..granted then for the sake of discussion. I wasn't only going by Newsweek, but I'll concede the point.

What are the objective and measurable criteria that you would use to compare 2 (or more) schools?

[spacelord75]

Originally Posted by neil0311

OK..granted then for the sake of discussion. I wasn't only going by Newsweek, but I'll concede the point.

What are the objective and measurable criteria that you would use to compare 2 (or more) schools?

I guess the point is that there really isn't a solid "objective" way to differentiate, especially when you've got minimal numeric differentials to navigate. I think that is where the "subjective" part of the decision comes in...ie, method of teaching, focus of curriculum, age/experience of teachers, etc....which can only be obtained from visiting the school, really. I think the basic bone of contention for many is that everyone is looking for THE best school, but the honest truth is that this mythical pinnacle of education is different to different people. Additionally, once you have limited your field of prospective school systems down to, say, a top 10 or so, you then get to apply other factors...the subjective measures noted above, as well as location, amentities in the area, culture within that particular community, etc.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by neil0311

OK..granted then for the sake of discussion. I wasn't only going by Newsweek, but I'll concede the point.

What are the objective and measurable criteria that you would use to compare 2 (or more) schools?

Even a simple common test score comparison would be better than the criteria used in the above study, IMO. Literally all they do is count the number of AP and other similar tests taken (not passed, just taken) by the student body with no regard for results, etc.

[gigi1966]

Sorry, but I am not a typical "wealthy" person. If I can find great public schools, then I can use that 14k-22k to help out other people; family, charities. This is what other people SHOULD be doing. I made a promise to myself that if I ever had more than I need, I wouldn't be selfish or self-indulgent.

Now, where, within a 45 minute or less commute to Atlanta is a there a place where my daughter can get an excellent education in a safe place....anyone?

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by gigi1966

Sorry, but I am not a typical "wealthy" person. If I can find great public schools, then I can use that 14k-22k to help out other people; family, charities. This is what other people SHOULD be doing. I made a promise to myself that if I ever had more than I need, I wouldn't be selfish or self-indulgent.

Now, where, within a 45 minute or less commute to Atlanta is a there a place where my daughter can get an excellent education in a safe place....anyone?

LOL...yea, the OP is back to bring everyone back to Earth.
To answer your ??? as simply as possible...
Yes, East Cobb is a good place to look for nice homes with good local schools and a reasonable commute to Atlanta. I would also consider Sandy Springs.

[gigi1966]

Op?

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by gigi1966

Op?

OP= Original Poster.

And from what I pick up re: your value system, maybe you ought to consider the city of Decatur; you'll find a lot of people here of like mind.