Atlanta Newcomer Questions (Sandy Springs, Roswell, Marietta: crime, hotel, houses)

[DeaconJ]

We all know that those "apartment dwellers" are nothing but trouble!

I'm pretty sure that girl catfights are very common among 6th/7th/8th graders, so I wouldn't rate the school based on how nice the girls are to each other.

[CMMom]

DeaconJ,

Please don't misconstrue what I was saying. I was not making any kind of judgment value about anyone in the schools. All I was doing was reporting a fact; many of the apartments along Roswell Rd. have been moved from Dunwoody Springs Elementary to Ison Rd. Elementary. That is a fact, not an insult or prejudice on my part. In addition, I stated that I do not have first-hand knowledge about the girlfight issue. I was told that by a teacher. It's up to the OP to decide whether that would be an appropriate environment for his/her child. So please don't put words in my mouth.

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by CMMom

DeaconJ,

Please don't misconstrue what I was saying. I was not making any kind of judgment value about anyone in the schools. All I was doing was reporting a fact; many of the apartments along Roswell Rd. have been moved from Dunwoody Springs Elementary to Ison Rd. Elementary. That is a fact, not an insult or prejudice on my part. In addition, I stated that I do not have first-hand knowledge about the girlfight issue. I was told that by a teacher. It's up to the OP to decide whether that would be an appropriate environment for his/her child. So please don't put words in my mouth.

I'm pretty sure I didn't put any words in your mouth...I only commented about your bashing of apartment dwellers and the commonality of middle-schools catfights. I know a few middle school teachers, and they say that 12-13-14 year old girls are the devil's spawn.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I really like the Vinings area, but I know little about the public school situation there.

Most of Vinings appears to be zoned for Campbell H.S. in Cobb County (Smyrna). That school seems to do well on the infamous Newsweek Top Public High Schools List (was ranked #3 in Georgia, #216 nationally in 2009), I think largely because of their excellent IB program (or so I've been told by others).

Looking at the maps for 2009-2010, it looks like most of Vinings is zoned for Teasley Elementary and Campbell Middle school.

Attendance Zone Maps

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

I'm pretty sure I didn't put any words in your mouth...I only commented about your bashing of apartment dwellers and the commonality of middle-schools catfights. I know a few middle school teachers, and they say that 12-13-14 year old girls are the devil's spawn.

I don't think that it was an indictment of ALL apartment dwellers, Deacon. The truth is that many of the apartment complexes along SS's Roswell Rd corridor have indeed declined with age, and it's just a fact of Atlanta life that with such a decline comes a drop in rents and...well, we all know the story.
Even the city of Sandy Springs acknowledges the problem in the 'corridor'...changing this situation was one of the reasons that they established cityhood; offering incentives to developers that will come in and redevelop some of these old complexes is just part of the plan.

[BeyondInfinity]

Originally Posted by CToGA

Thanks to everyone that chimed in! I'm going to spend a week down here next month so I have the following places on my itinerary. I'm also listing the schools I hope to visit so please feel free to add in additional suggestions.

1. Dunwoody (Dunwoody High)
2. East Cobb (most likely focusing on southern part for commute so Walton, Wheeler, Pope HS)
3. Sandy Springs, Roswell (North Fulton) (North Springs, Roswell HS)
4. Buckhead (Smith, Jackson, Brandon elementary)
5. Morningside (Morningside ES, Grady HS)

I don't really mind living in either a "liberal" or "conservative" area. The area we're coming from is very Republican by registration (in CT we have to declare a party when we register) but went for Obama in the last election. So, I'm hoping people down in Atlanta aren't so partisan that they are up in arms when a neighbor isn't as passionate about an issue as they are.

Believe it or not, but the Atlanta area is pretty liberal. Sandy Springs has a great mix of liberal and conservative individuals so you should have nothing to worry about.

[jimd2009]

I lived in northern NJ for several years and am familiar with Greenwich.
I have also lived in the Atlanta area for about 10 years. I cannot think of a part of Atlanta that would remind me of Greenwich.
1. Buckhead - if it is not too busy and you can find something within your range
2. Alpharetta - if you are willing to sacrifice some "age", there are several very nice neighborhoods. Personally, my first choice would be Alpharetta.
3. Dunwoody - I would consider Dunwoody if Alpharetta was too far

[kaday]

Originally Posted by jimd2009

I lived in northern NJ for several years and am familiar with Greenwich.
I have also lived in the Atlanta area for about 10 years. I cannot think of a part of Atlanta that would remind me of Greenwich.
1. Buckhead - if it is not too busy and you can find something within your range
2. Alpharetta - if you are willing to sacrifice some "age", there are several very nice neighborhoods. Personally, my first choice would be Alpharetta.
3. Dunwoody - I would consider Dunwoody if Alpharetta was too far

I agree. You won't find anything like Greenwich here. If you come with that expectation you'll be disappointed. My advice would be to pick one priority (for me it was school systems) and then narrow it down to the best commute within that parameter. You can find all kinds of people here from all over. You will fit in fine.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

I know a few middle school teachers, and they say that 12-13-14 year old girls are the devil's spawn.

I have a 15 year-old daughter who passed through middle school in recent years. Certainly, not everyone finds middle school aged children easy to like. It's pretty obvious, even to a parent picking up the clues at second hand, that some teachers have good rapport with the students because they actually like young people in this age bracket, while other teachers are just going through the motions and really can't stand their students. I wish the latter group would find themselves some other careers. Both they and their students would be so much happier!

I don't think "catfights" are an inevitable behavior of 12-14 year old girls. I suspect this has more to do with the girls' home lives, community mores and school discipline.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

I'm pretty sure that girl catfights are very common among 6th/7th/8th graders, so I wouldn't rate the school based on how nice the girls are to each other.

Wow, DeaconJ, that just floors me. I wouldn't want my child near that kind of environment.