Inman middle vs Shamrock Jr High (Atlanta, Decatur: sales, house, neighborhoods)

[Atlanta-bound]

Moving from Florida and not sure which school is best. Our child is honors student at small private school. We could afford private but want to look at public schools first. What do you know about either school? How about Grady HS vs. Druid Hills?

[lastminutemom]

Shamrock middle is now called Druid hills Middle.

I would pick Inman, though both school systems are in their fair share of trouble at the moment, Atlanta has far more $ resources than DeKalb. In addition, though what happens in Atlanta is far more public, what is happening in DeKalb is far deeper and more symptomatic of long term problems.

Go over to Great Schools and look at the data on academics. While I am not a huge fan of great schools' parent reviews, because of how easily they can be manipulated, I think you should look at the academic data. On Great Schools, Shamrock is still referenced as Shamrock, the name change was just this year.

[arjay57]

We've got a grandchild at Inman Middle. He's a bright kid, and he loves it and is thriving. It's a beautiful facility right in the middle of the neighborhood.

I hear good things about Shamrock (Druid Hills Middle) as well. We've got other grandchildren who will be going there in a couple of years and their parents have been checking it out in some detail.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

Shamrock middle is now called Druid hills Middle.

I would pick Inman, though both school systems are in their fair share of trouble at the moment, Atlanta has far more $ resources than DeKalb. In addition, though what happens in Atlanta is far more public, what is happening in DeKalb is far deeper and more symptomatic of long term problems.

Go over to Great Schools and look at the data on academics. While I am not a huge fan of great schools' parent reviews, because of how easily they can be manipulated, I think you should look at the academic data. On Great Schools, Shamrock is still referenced as Shamrock, the name change was just this year.

I wish they had just kept the name Shamrock Middle. Sigh.

There was no need to rename it Druid Hills Middle.

[lastminutemom]

I think they thought that changing the name would change the perception of the school. Double sigh.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Who doesn't like Shamrocks? Duh....

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

I think they thought that changing the name would change the perception of the school. Double sigh.

Double sigh, indeed.


It's important that a school connects to the surrounding community and history--it is the former Shamrock High and the area/immediate neighborhood is informally (maybe even formally) connected to the Shamrock name. Triple sigh.

[roxyrn]

Make sure you visit the schools in the areas you are interested in. There is nothing better than just walking through the school (on a tour) to give you an idea if it is a good fit for you and your family. Often the adjustment from small private to large public can be severe.

[plessthanpointohfive]

OK, so, my previous post and it's expression of exasperation aside...both Shamrock (ie, Druid Hills Middle) and Inman Middle are good schools. One feeds into Druid Hills High and the other into Grady (Grady's football team beat the freakin tar outta Druid hills this year). Both high schools also have a lot to offer.

For what it's worth, we have a son on track to go to Grady. He's a bit removed yet, only a 4th grader. But I have no qualms about sending him there. When we moved here I also considered the Druid Hills cluster. We just ended up in the Grady cluster because we found our house there. So, for you, I'd say you should consider the two on equal ground, find a neighborhood in either you like, and settle in. You'll be okay.

[IntownHomes247]

I actually went to Shamrock (back in the olden days when it was a high school), but I'd probably give preference to Inman of those 2 schools. However, either should be able to provide your child with a decent education. In case you decide to go private, you might want to look at Paideia ( Paideia School ), which is in the same part of town.

There are significant differences in the neighborhoods that feed into Shamrock and Inman so you'll probably want to look at multiple factors (in addition to the school) before you really start narrowing down your target areas. The government is different (City of Atlanta versus DeKalb County -- or City of Decatur if you expand your geographic area a little), including the level of services, property taxes (and sales taxes for that matter). The housing market is different (the Inman neighborhoods are among the more expensive of the intown neighborhoods, whereas Shamrock has many more "value-priced" options). There's also a significant difference in proximity to amenities. If it's important to be able to walk to shops and restaurants (or parks) or if you plan to frequent major arts venues, for example, then the Inman neighborhoods might appeal to you more. However, if you prefer a more suburban vibe with larger lots and neighborhood swim/tennis clubs, then the Shamrock area might suit you better.