Relocating to Atlanta suburb (Woodstock: schools, subdivisions, price)

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by matt8325

I just laugh at parents that make such a big deal about where their kid goes to school. I've heard of parents living 30-40 miles away from work just so their precious kids can go to the best school. I guess it's a status thing or something, they like for everyone to know their kids go to a great school. It's a bunch of nonsense if you ask me. You can find good schools in just about every school in metro Atlanta. I went to Douglas County High School, which I'm sure the uppity people in North Fulton and East Cobb would consider a horrible school, and wouldn't dare even considering letting their children attend and I graduated from a great university and have a great job. If your kid is a good student, it doesnt matter where he/she goes to school. I'm just guessing that most parents who want their kid to go to school in North Fulton or East Cobb think their children aren't bright enough to do well in one of those "lesser" schools.

Matt, you didn't really need to go insulting the entire population of North Fulton and East Cobb in order to make your point. I actually agree with you that obsessing over the schools with the very best test scores, especially to the extent of parents taking on arduous commutes, is senseless, and that a good student can do well in any school system.

However, it's ridiculous to get carried away and suggest that North Fulton and East Cobb are entirely populated by snobs with distorted values. C'mon. I live in East Cobb and when the subject comes up, I'm happy to report that I'm very pleased with the schools my daughter has and does attend in this area. However, I'm living here not because I'm a test-score obsessed snob, but primarily because I work in Sandy Springs. For me, the northern part of East Cobb provided the right combination of affordable housing, reasonable commute and good schools.

[matt8325]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

Matt, you didn't really need to go insulting the entire population of North Fulton and East Cobb in order to make your point. I actually agree with you that obsessing over the schools with the very best test scores, especially to the extent of parents taking on arduous commutes, is senseless, and that a good student can do well in any school system.

However, it's ridiculous to get carried away and suggest that North Fulton and East Cobb are entirely populated by snobs with distorted values. C'mon. I live in East Cobb and when the subject comes up, I'm happy to report that I'm very pleased with the schools my daughter has and does attend in this area. However, I'm living here not because I'm a test-score obsessed snob, but primarily because I work in Sandy Springs. For me, the northern part of East Cobb provided the right combination of affordable housing, reasonable commute and good schools.

Ok, i'm sorry if I insulted the entire population of North Fulton and East Cobb, I just get tired of listening to parents acting like its such a tough decision about whether they should send their kids to a great school in East Cobb or a great school in North Fulton. Does it really matter ? If your kid is a good student you could send him/her to some horrible school in the inner city and they would still end up going to Harvard or some other great school. Some parents act like their kid's future will be in danger if their kid doesnt go to the absolute best school. I'm not trying to say that all parents in North Fulton and East Cobb or snobs, but I have known a few parents up there that do look down on schools that are less than perfect. I'm not saying that you shouldn't be proud of your child's school, but I do get the sense that some parents in North Fulton and East Cobb have this feeling of superiority when it comes to their kid's schools.

[lcsigmon]

Let me clarify that I don't want my kids at the "best" school. But we will be transferring from an area that has practically no diversity (yes, a disadvantage) and it's an upper class area. We are not in this area because of schools and test scores. We actually like being surrounded by educated, family oriented people. Let me assure you I know there are those types of people all over Atlanta, but my goal here is to provide a similar atmosphere for my kids as they have here. I know nothing about Atlanta, or Georgia for that matter, and it's a well known fact when the schools have excellent reputations, you've found yourself a decent area.

[GF72]

Originally Posted by lcsigmon

Let me clarify that I don't want my kids at the "best" school. But we will be transferring from an area that has practically no diversity (yes, a disadvantage) and it's an upper class area. We are not in this area because of schools and test scores. We actually like being surrounded by educated, family oriented people. Let me assure you I know there are those types of people all over Atlanta, but my goal here is to provide a similar atmosphere for my kids as they have here. I know nothing about Atlanta, or Georgia for that matter, and it's a well known fact when the schools have excellent reputations, you've found yourself a decent area.

East Cobb and North Fulton are, indeed, high-income areas with highly educated people. They are also fairly diverse.

However, there plenty of places in Atlanta where the school districts are not quite as top notch but the population is still highly educated - like many of the intown areas, as well as places like Dunwoody.


Matt - you do have a point in there but you're getting a little carried away. It's not black or white, sure, part of it is a status thing but part of it does have to do with education. Yes, a very smart student will do well regardless of where he is, but that doesn't mean that going to a good school vs. a bad school is the same thing to such a person. I know plenty of kids who moved to East Cobb and North Fulton schools from all over the country, and some of the best students say they are much more at home in the type of environment those schools have. I know one who came from a private school in Mississippi, where he was basically like Michael Jordon among a middle school basketball team - at his new school he actually has peers and teachers that teach at his level.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by matt8325

I just laugh at parents that make such a big deal about where their kid goes to school. I've heard of parents living 30-40 miles away from work just so their precious kids can go to the best school. I guess it's a status thing or something, they like for everyone to know their kids go to a great school. It's a bunch of nonsense if you ask me. You can find good schools in just about every school in metro Atlanta. I went to Douglas County High School, which I'm sure the uppity people in North Fulton and East Cobb would consider a horrible school, and wouldn't dare even considering letting their children attend and I graduated from a great university and have a great job. If your kid is a good student, it doesnt matter where he/she goes to school. I'm just guessing that most parents who want their kid to go to school in North Fulton or East Cobb think their children aren't bright enough to do well in one of those "lesser" schools.

You're so right, matt.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

Matt, you didn't really need to go insulting the entire population of North Fulton and East Cobb in order to make your point. I actually agree with you that obsessing over the schools with the very best test scores, especially to the extent of parents taking on arduous commutes, is senseless, and that a good student can do well in any school system.

However, it's ridiculous to get carried away and suggest that North Fulton and East Cobb are entirely populated by snobs with distorted values. C'mon. I live in East Cobb and when the subject comes up, I'm happy to report that I'm very pleased with the schools my daughter has and does attend in this area. However, I'm living here not because I'm a test-score obsessed snob, but primarily because I work in Sandy Springs. For me, the northern part of East Cobb provided the right combination of affordable housing, reasonable commute and good schools.

Hey Rainy--

You know "matt" was not attacking people like you at all...however, you also know that there are many people (especially on here) who really hurt the East Cobb/North Fulton rep because of all their talking about test scores, the status thing, horrible schools, etc.

It's unfortunate.

[lcsigmon]

Okay, we are coming to Georgia in three weeks to check out neighborhoods and schools. I am set on looking in Woodstock. How brutal is the commute to downtown from there. My husband will only have to go there about twice a week, so we're flexible on location. Also, I have settled on Mountain Road Elementary. I like that it is a smaller school. Does anyone have any useful suggestions as to which subdivisions I should target, or any nearby towns I should also consider. Our price range is around 200k. ThankS!

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by matt8325

If your kid is a good student you could send him/her to some horrible school in the inner city and they would still end up going to Harvard or some other great school.

If the quality of the school and its faculty has nothing do with the results obtained, then any smart kid with involved parents should be doing fine with great test scores and grades no matter what the school performs like as a whole....right?

That implies the kids who go to low achieving schools and are failing are just incapable. In your opinion, the fact that some schools achieve higher results has nothing to do with faculty and community, it's just dumb kids (or bad students) at the poorly performing schools? Is that what you're saying or did I misunderstand your comments?

[B Wagner]

[SIZE=3]If you’re going to work in Tucker look to the northeast and come up to Gwinnett County. In Gwinnett we have some of the best schools in the country, academically and athletically. With the growth over the last decade there has been more and more school involvement with and by the community. Grayson, Brookwood, South Gwinnett, and Parkview along with Greater Atlanta Christian School are some of the best schools anywhere academically and athletically.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]The Hwy 78 / 124 corridor is one of the best places to live in the metro Atlanta area with great shopping, commute to work, restaurants, entertainment and local social activities. The grid of interstate and rural highways can put you anywhere on the north side of Atlanta within 30 to 45 minutes. The malls are all within minutes, Gwinnett Place is 15 minutes down Ronald Regan Highway; Mall of Georgia is 20 minutes up Hwy 20; Stonecrest Mall is 25 minutes down Hwy 124; and there is The Avenue at Webb Ginn House in the middle on Hwy 124. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]If you have children they have the best athletic programs in the metro area. These programs swimming, softball, baseball, football, tennis, etc. all feed into the local schools such as Brookwood, Parkview, Greater Atlanta Christian School and Grayson High Schools which have some of the country’s top rated teams along with being rated as the top academic schools in the country this year.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]The housing market is full of homes in great subdivisons built after 1990 and right now is the time to buy with interest rates still low and if you have good credit you can buy with a FHA loan with 3.5% downpayment. There is a 10 month inventory and some great buys. Come and see Gwinnett, I believe you will be glad you did.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Did I mention the Gwinnett Braves will be here next year? [/SIZE]

[lcsigmon]

Originally Posted by B Wagner

[SIZE=3]If you’re going to work in Tucker look to the northeast and come up to Gwinnett County. In Gwinnett we have some of the best schools in the country, academically and athletically. With the growth over the last decade there has been more and more school involvement with and by the community. Grayson, Brookwood, South Gwinnett, and Parkview along with Greater Atlanta Christian School are some of the best schools anywhere academically and athletically.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]The Hwy 78 / 124 corridor is one of the best places to live in the metro Atlanta area with great shopping, commute to work, restaurants, entertainment and local social activities. The grid of interstate and rural highways can put you anywhere on the north side of Atlanta within 30 to 45 minutes. The malls are all within minutes, Gwinnett Place is 15 minutes down Ronald Regan Highway; Mall of Georgia is 20 minutes up Hwy 20; Stonecrest Mall is 25 minutes down Hwy 124; and there is The Avenue at Webb Ginn House in the middle on Hwy 124. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]If you have children they have the best athletic programs in the metro area. These programs swimming, softball, baseball, football, tennis, etc. all feed into the local schools such as Brookwood, Parkview, Greater Atlanta Christian School and Grayson High Schools which have some of the country’s top rated teams along with being rated as the top academic schools in the country this year.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]The housing market is full of homes in great subdivisons built after 1990 and right now is the time to buy with interest rates still low and if you have good credit you can buy with a FHA loan with 3.5% downpayment. There is a 10 month inventory and some great buys. Come and see Gwinnett, I believe you will be glad you did.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Did I mention the Gwinnett Braves will be here next year? [/SIZE]

I will look into Gwinnett. Thank you for the great information. I have heard great things about the area, but I'm not a big city person, so I wasn't sure if that would be far enough outside for me.