House hunting starting - Alpharetta, Milton, Suwanne - help! (Suwanee: neighborhoods, school districts)

[kbgack]

We are relocating to the Alpharetta area - I'll be working on Old Milton Pkwy. Too many homes to see - can somone help narrow it down by subdivisions to check out and to stay away from? Our focus is the Milton, Alpharetta, and Suwannee (South Forsyth) area's.

We are looking in the $450-$525 range, we have 3 kids so quality schools are very important.

Thanks for the help.

[Mattie]

There are no bad areas of Milton, but you would need to go to the upper levels of your budget, and do a little searching to find something in that range. A couple of years ago it would have been impossible, but now I think it can be done. Alpharetta sub-divisions in that price range will be fine.

I don't see any benefit to Suwanee if you will be working on Old Milton, as the commute will be tougher.

Schools in Milton and Alpharetta are excellent.

[kbgack]

Only reason for Suwannee - homes/prop tax may to be slightly cheaper, and in the future my job could move to Nocross. How bad would the communte be from Milton to Nocross? Not sure - never did the drive.

We like Alpharetta, but would try and find something in the Milton school district, due to the schools.

Thanks.

[kbgack]

sorry, tried to type while holding a 10-month old - Norcross...

[jln69]

What about Johns Creek. Northview and Chattahoochee are great school districts and not any further than Milton schools. I wouldn't overlook that area because there schools are a little better than Milton. There are also some great schools that are in the Alpharetta cluster which would put you the closest to Old Milton. Also, the school zoning is done by county and they do shift assignments around.

For neighborhoods try Park Bridge, Park Brooke, Tuxford, Cambridge, Dunmoor, Seven Oaks, Crooked Creek, Sugar Mill, Windward and too many more too list. All of these except for Crooked Creek are in Johns Creek or Alpharetta. Not that familiar with the Milton neighborhoods except for White Columns but that is above your stated price range.

As schools are very importants as you stated I would choose any of the Alpharetta, Milton or Johns Creek neighborhoods over South Forsyth. The schools are better.

One last thing. Is your job East or West of 400 on Old Milton. If on the East side, some of the outer parts of Milton would be more of a drive for you.

[kbgack]

Thanks - sorry but not famiilar enough to determine if it's east or west yet... but it's right off of 400, does that help?

Do you have a good website to review the schools? - a few of the South forsyth schools were rated very high on a site I was using - South Forsyth Middle and High school. I was using the Georgia Public Policy foundation (report card for patents) site.

Any subdivisions in Alpahretta you would stay away from?

[movinginatl]

In Alpharetta - I think Parsons Run and Lake Windward are great communities in your price range. Johns Creek has an additional property tax on top of the regular Fulton County taxes - fyi.

[jln69]

I visit the county website and view the test scores. I also pay attention to the SAT scores for the particular high schools as well. I like to find a district that has strong schools all across the board. That's just me.

For Fulton County: Fulton Facts (http://www.fultonschools.org/fultonfacts_testscores.asp - broken link)

For Forsyth County: Forsyth County Schools | Academics and Accountability (http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/129410616212035640/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=97397 - broken link)

[Mattie]

Hmmm, I don't think either Northview or Chattahoochee are better than Milton HS. I know of two families that have pulled their kids out of Northview and enrolled them in Milton. At the very least, they are comparable. Milton was the only Blue Ribbon winner this past year.

Milton is a bit of a different vibe than either John's Creek or Alpharetta. It is still very much a "small town". Rural, but close to everything you could need.

[jln69]

[quote=Mattie;11344075]Hmmm, I don't think either Northview or Chattahoochee are better than Milton HS. I know of two families that have pulled their kids out of Northview and enrolled them in Milton. At the very least, they are comparable. Milton was the only Blue Ribbon winner this past year.

QUOTE]
Hmmmm.. Don't think so.

2009 SAT Scores:

Northview - 1722
Alpharetta - 1686
Chattahoochee - 1678
Milton - 1657

2008 SAT Scores:

Northview - 1691
Chattahoochee - 1667
Milton - 1667
Alpharetta - 1658

2007 SAT Scores

Northview - 1702
Chattahoochee - 1654
Alpharetta - 1647
Milton - 1641

2006 SAT Scores

Northview - 1670
Chattahoochee - 1666
Milton - 1641
Alpharetta - 1596

2005 SAT Scores

Northview - 1145
Chattahoochee - 1120
Milton - 1114
Alpharetta - 1045

Of the four high schools, Northview has the highest scores for the past five years. Milton has been third 3x and fourth 2x. Also Walton High in East Cobb is the best in the area I think and Northview is the only school has has beaten, tied or come close to Walton's SAT scores.

Also according to last years scores, Northview was #2 in state tied with Walton and Milton came in at #12. Top 25 Georgia high schools by average SAT scores *| ajc.com