BubbleChog

Hello
In Atlanta here. Congrats on your impending wedding

I have friends in around Duluth they are happy with their little kids education in the area. There's not going to be much point in trying to email schools now because they've already broken up for the summer. They'll be back 2nd week of August ish.

We are seriously considering sending SmallChog to the Waldorf School but the fees are pretty steep

JP1975

Duluth GA.
I did check out the ratings site, thanks.
Its always nice to get an insight from people that have experience of places on a personal level, as these ratings sites can sometimes leave out the finer details. Also, some sites can contradict each other so from an outsider point of view, its diffcult to know whats accurate.

katzgar

than pick a website that fits your specific prejudices.

JP1975

or ask people of their personal experiences.

katzgar

not a numbers person are you.

JP1975

Ah thanks Bubble.

Im glad you mentioned the school thing, saved me wasting my time.

Any recommendations of what to see or do while we are there? I keep reading about Atlanta's traffic being terrible.
Is it easy enough to get into in the evenings or weekends, or would you suggest a train, if available?

Bob

Well the site is a starting point on looking at schools, but the OP is asking for personal experiences, which is fair enough.

We all know how these results are skewed in our own neck of the woods which the OP doesn't. It's naive to think they numbers aren't massaged.

Bob

Kind of irrelevant that.

Way's they skew the numbers, whether the district counts the school results if they have a certain percentage of English as not a first language, whether the schools are all inclusive or whether they have special needs classes and count those in the results, whether the district has a school dedicated to special needs and thus discounts all those results.

Makes the difference between a fairly decent school look pretty poor, whilst a mediocre school looking great.

Expensive towns, where higher property taxes are is usually a good indicator that the schools will be better, or if nothing else, that they will have nicer sports facilities and offer more out of school activities.

celticgrid

On the school / age / progress matter...

When we started here a few years ago in PA (no idea of situation in GA) we were concerned about our 5-year old being bored at school. The PA system had a process for her to be tested and for subsequent conversations about a 'best fit'. In the end she went into a year ahead of her age peers. There's a few threads on this on BE, with varying opinions as to whether such a move is a good or bad thing!

You may want to check if this approach is an option where you will be living.

katzgar

true but it is also paranoid to think they are. the truth is in the middle.

Pulaski

No it's not, it is well known that the numbers are "managed". Either the numbers are fair and accurate, or they're not. The numbers can't be partly fair and accurate.

katzgar

Absolutely they can be partly true have you ever heard of a teacher giving a kid a see you when they should have got a C+ it's the same concept thinking that somebody is going to be honest enough to admit to you that they picked the wrong car or pick the wrong school is also naive

Pulaski

"Heard of" it? I don't even know what it means!

SynandAck

Long-time lurker, I registered just to respond to you.

I've been in Atlanta for nearly 17 years. While you're in town, we have the ENGvRUS Euro opener Saturday 11 June. Consider this your formal invitation, (along with any other Atl expats reading), to come watch with us at our lovely little pub, Brewhouse Cafe. It's owned and run by expats, caters to expats, and is the official bar for the Arsenal in Atlanta. You'll be able to meet myself and a few other Brits, Irish, Kiwi, and assorted other flavours who are always pleased to meet others and share our experience. Please, let us buy you and your partner a round. :-)

Our public transport (MARTA) is shit for getting around in-town. It doesn't go anywhere you need without a train, 2-3 buses, and a walk. The car trip that takes 15 minutes often takes an hour on MARTA. Uber is your best solution for getting around. I Uber everywhere so I never have to worry about traffic, parking, or having too many pints. Most things in central Atlanta are a $6-$12 Uber ride away, which is often what you'd pay for parking alone.

If you've any questions about Atlanta as your trip approaches, please ask! Hope to see you soon.

Bob

It's only paranoid if it isn't the case. The fact that it is, means it's not paranoia, but a fact....