Sandy Springs, East Cobb and Roswell schools feedback (Alpharetta, Dunwoody: rent, houses)

[Sandyspringsmom27]

Hello all,

My husband and I have recently relocated to GA for work and we are renting in the Sandy Springs area. We are ready to purchase but are torn between locations East cobb, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Roswell. Sandy springs is great but Heards Ferry seems to be the only decent elementary school and the homes are very old. We have 2 young children that will start pre K next year so a good public school is key. Can you all provide feedback on the areas and schools? We have found a home we would love to purchase in the Roswell north elementary school district. How is this school honestly? Also, any feed back on the new Dunwoody elementary school? I hear Vanderlyn and Austin are great but overcrowded. I know the great reputation of East Cobb schools but I am not sold on the area. I would like to know if we would really be sacrificing a quality education if we went outside of East Cobb. Any insight on these locations would be extremely helpful!

Thanks in advance.

[westau]

I don't know about a lot of those school specifics but the Dekalb County School system is still going through major problems and I wouldn't consider living there with kids personally.

[john3052]

We are looking into homes in the Roswell/Alpharetta area and I have been seeking feedback on the schools. I have heard fabulous reviews on Roswell North from two families that have children there. They said the principal is fabulous, the interior of the school is newer than the outside of the building would suggest, the curriculum is challenging and there is a ton of parent involvement, even a Dads Club. They also said Crabapple Middle is good. I get the impression it may be one of those schools where the test scores don't tell the whole story.

[Cedar_ATL]

SS, EC, or Roswell, in strategic school districts, are good choices. Dunwoody is in the mess that is DeKalb, so I would avoid that until we see how things shake out (it appears that after one scandal is resolved/dies down, another one pops up in that county). If you want to live in the Heards Ferry district, look at the older renovated houses or tear down new builds sandwiched between the river to the west, Sandy Springs Circle/Roswell Rd to the East, Abernathy/Johnson Ferry to the North, and Heards Ferry Rd to the south. That is the most affordable (if there is such a thing) housing area in the Heards Ferry district. I also like East Cobb, but the commute is really backed up as there is no direct access to an interstate and Johnson Ferry is stop and go for miles at rush hour. Roswell can be a bit of a commute as well, depending on where exactly you are, and you have to pass through kind of sketchy areas with low rent aparments and their inhabitants jaywalking, harassing you at gas stations, etc.