Originally Posted by
Trip7
Agreed, terrible is overboard. Mediocre is a better description. As more income moves into the area I could see it improving to the levels currently in some pockets of Smyrna ie Teasley Elementary. My neighborhood almost everyone sends their kids to private schools as the elementary, middle and High School(South Cobb HS) are all either a 4 or 5(out of 10) on Great Schools rankings
Yeah it looks like you live in south Smyrna, so I can see why many opt for private. Many of the northern Smyrna schools are better fwiw.
One thing to remember in Cobb County, is that you are allowed to send your kids to any school you choose in the Cobb district.
I highly encourage everyone to really do research wrt schools. Talking with the school’s teachers, with neighbors, etc is a much better way to go about it. Great schools is extremely flawed in their rankings. Ask any teacher and they will explain. .
For example, a school who’s low income students (regardless of how many are at the school) score lower on testing than upper income students, will have their “score” lowered significantly as they see that as a deficiency in teaching. Many of their metrics are flawed and should be taken with a massive grain of salt. Not saying it’s completely wrong, but when my wife was teaching in another district, her school was ranked 4/10 on the site but was regarded as the best in the area, including many higher ranked schools. Locals knew it, but if you weren’t from the area, you’d have no clue.
Great schools is the Zillow of schools. A place to start, but I wouldn’t make decisions based solely on it. Just something to consider.