Many people have chosen Atlanta as the place to live and raise their families because of the city’s educational opportunities, a new report from Niche.com reveals. With the new school year underway, the data company named Buford City Schools, Forsyth County Schools and Fayette County Schools as Atlanta’s best districts.
Niche ranked school districts across the city based on graduation and enrollment rates, test performance, data from the U.S Department of Education and reviews from students, parents and teachers.
“Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make,” said Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche. “Our K-12 rankings bring together rigorous data and real experiences from students, parents and educators. This gives families the clarity to choose schools where their children can succeed academically, thrive socially and build a strong foundation for their future.”
Here’s a look at the highest-ranking districts in the area:
Buford City Schools
The Buford City Schools district took the No. 1 spot thanks to its academics and extracurricular activities. Niche gave the district an A+ for academics, teachers, administration, college prep, sports and facilities. The district has 5,946 students in grades PK, K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. State test scores show that 70% of students are at least proficient in math and 65% show proficiency in reading.
Forsyth County Schools
Forsyth County Schools ranked second in the city and received A+ distinctions in academics and college prep. Plus, the district scored A ratings for teachers and administration. These schools serve 54,984 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1. Sixty-seven percent of students are at least proficient in math, while 63% were proficient in reading according to standardized state testing.
Fayette County Schools
Fayette County Schools took third place in the city-wide rankings. Niche gave the district an A for academics, diversity, college prep and extra-curricular activities. Rankings for teachers and administrations never dipped lower than A-. The district has 19,869 students in grades PK, K-12. The student-teacher ratio is 16 to 1. According to state test scores, 59% of students are at least proficient in math and 62% show proficiency in reading.