Moving to Kennesaw with a Pre-K kid in tow (Marietta: house, neighborhoods)

[sckenworth]

We were also transplants to Kennesaw years ago. There are many preschool programs around. When I was researching and speaking to people in the community, I found a church called First Baptist Church of Kennesaw that had a wonderful preschool program. The year I tried to enroll my son in preschool I could not get him into the program because they were booked. The people that did get their kids in, had great results. The only complaint I know of is the kids are so advanced, they get bored in regular school when they move out of the program. I understand they are accredited now and go up to the 5th grade. They have been around for 25+ years. You do not have to be a church member to enroll your child. All of my friends who enrolled their kids there, loved it. I had our son at another private school and he hated it. One of our kids graduated from Kennesaw Mountain and the other Harrison. Both have great Advanced classes if you want to pursue them.

[Butterfli_Bleu]

This is great information. I will definitely look into this program as we are looking for a program that is educational-based, not play-based. Do they accept Georgia Pre-K? As a first time Mom of a "school aged child", going through the search process for the first time, it's very stressful. We've got our Realtor and hopefully will be purchasing a home by the end of May.

We've also heard from a couple of the schools that the Georgia Pre-K program is lacking. Do you know about this by any chance?

Thank you in advance!

[Butterfli_Bleu]

Originally Posted by momof2kids

My daughter went to Kennesaw Elementary and is now at Big Shanty. We have had great experiences with both schools. We live in between the Kennesaw city limits and the Acworth city limits.
My son goes to a Primrose school. We are also very happy with it. He has a great teacher, the same one my daughter had when she was 4. They have a great structured day that makes it more school and less daycare. A lot of learning activities.

Did you like one of the other? I've heard great things about Big Shanty...and Bullard. Not so much about Kennesaw Elementary, but this is good news.

I checked into the Primrose school. Wow. The administration is a bit different than what I'm used to, but the school seems like a great place. A bit pricey, but we will definitely stop by to check it out. Thank you!

[Butterfli_Bleu]

Originally Posted by HParr

What part of Florida are you moving here from? This Summer I will be moving down there to Florida in St. Johns County.

We've been in Florida almost 1/2 of my life...from Winter Park (near Orlando), Tallahassee to South Florida (Boca/Delray Beach area). We'll be moving from South Florida making our way up Memorial Day Weekend.

[HParr]

Oh good luck to you Butterfli_Bleu! I know that after you get adjusted to the move you are going to love Kennesaw and Acworth. Acworth is growing in a great direction, the old part of Acworth has some nice little cozy places to eat. And Kennesaw, well it will be home to me forever, even though we don't have a home there anymore. Myself (now 44 yoa), and my brother and sister all went to Big Shanty Elementary, my daughter went to Kennesaw Elementary in Kindergarten and the first grade. Her teacher was Ms. Woodham, she's a wonderful teacher (she moved with her Kindergarten class to the first grade). They used to have a different principal, he's not there anymore, and I'm not sure about the current principal. Kennesaw has Town Center Mall, it has all of the major retail stores and all of the other non-mall stores are on Barrett Parkway, the road right in front of the mall, along with many restaurants and the movies, putt-putt, etc. I saw that you mentioned Kennesaw First Baptist Church, that church is on main street in Kennesaw, I went there myself for Kindergarten, I can picture eating a snowcone there one day and on another day I remember getting my mouth washed out with soap for saying... I think it was "commode"! Jeeze I mmust be old and boy have times changed!

[bmay]

A really great pre-k (that is not a daycare) is Summitt Baptist Church off of Moon Station Road. My oldest son went there and now my youngest will be in Pre-K in the Fall. Let me know if you need contact information and I can forward it to you.

[bmay]

Oh -by the way- it is on Moon Station Rd. in Kennesaw!

[momof2kids]

Originally Posted by Butterfli_Bleu

Did you like one of the other? I've heard great things about Big Shanty...and Bullard. Not so much about Kennesaw Elementary, but this is good news.

I checked into the Primrose school. Wow. The administration is a bit different than what I'm used to, but the school seems like a great place. A bit pricey, but we will definitely stop by to check it out. Thank you!

When we moved here we heard great things about Kennesaw Elementary and not so great things about Big Shanty. I was very worried about the move to Big Shanty because Kennesaw Elementary was so great. They have a great teaching staff and a lot of parent involvement.
We have been pleasantly surprised that Big Shanty has also been a good school.
I don't think I can pick one over the other.

I have a couple of friends that teach at Bullard. It is a good school. We would like to move into that district before middle school.

Yes, the Primrose staff is different than other places. My son is 4.5 years younger than my daughter and he has had some of the same teachers as my daughter. I love that they don't have a high turn over of teachers.

Good luck and I hope this has helped.

[Butterfli_Bleu]

Originally Posted by HParr

Oh good luck to you Butterfli_Bleu! I know that after you get adjusted to the move you are going to love Kennesaw and Acworth. Acworth is growing in a great direction, the old part of Acworth has some nice little cozy places to eat. And Kennesaw, well it will be home to me forever, even though we don't have a home there anymore. Myself (now 44 yoa), and my brother and sister all went to Big Shanty Elementary, my daughter went to Kennesaw Elementary in Kindergarten and the first grade. Her teacher was Ms. Woodham, she's a wonderful teacher (she moved with her Kindergarten class to the first grade). They used to have a different principal, he's not there anymore, and I'm not sure about the current principal. Kennesaw has Town Center Mall, it has all of the major retail stores and all of the other non-mall stores are on Barrett Parkway, the road right in front of the mall, along with many restaurants and the movies, putt-putt, etc. I saw that you mentioned Kennesaw First Baptist Church, that church is on main street in Kennesaw, I went there myself for Kindergarten, I can picture eating a snowcone there one day and on another day I remember getting my mouth washed out with soap for saying... I think it was "commode"! Jeeze I mmust be old and boy have times changed!

We are under contract for a house in Legacy Park, so it definitely looks like Kennesaw Elementary and Big Shanty will be our daughter's schools. I will look up Ms. Woodham. I think it's great when someone speaks so highly of a teacher.

We DO love Kennesaw and are settling in quite nicely. A church is on the horizon~

Thank you for all of your help!

[Saintmarks]

Once you have lived in this part of Cobb County, you might nit pick the area and find some neighborhoods better than others, but you really can't go wrong in the area as a whole. The actual city of Kennesaw is great in most areas, there are some older 60s and 70s type neighborhoods that seem a little worn, but you will find that all over Atlanta Metro.

Pine Tree Country Club is adjacent to KSU but not in Kennesaw city limits, very nice area, to the east are nice neighborhoods with a Marietta mailing address but are 5 - 10 minutes from KSU. West of US 41 you will find newer subdivisions with a little more rural feeling (disappearing fast tho),

My brother and family have lived in the Town Lake area of Woodstock, not to far to the norh in Cherokee County and swear by it. You are blessed to be at KSU as it would be difficult to find a neighborhood and school that would really be considered bad. Of course, people have their own opinions and like one area better than another, but by my experience, you can't go bad in that part of Cobb/Cherokee or even into Bartow or Paulding.

All the best in your decision.......