Schools in the Milton area... (Northwestern MS, Hopewell MS, Milton HS, Cambridge HS) (Alpharetta: middle-class)

[GACLT]

We are considering a move to the Milton area. I was hoping to get some feedback from other parents in the area regarding schools. We have 5th graders and will be making the move to middle school this next school year.

Other parents keep telling us that middle school can be a difficult time for kids, of course our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible. We're debating whether or not to move a month or two before this school year ends to give them an opportunity to meet some classmates in Elementary school, or to hold off and move over the summer and start fresh in Middle school.

We've been focusing our attention on which Middle school zone we'd prefer to purchase a home in - Northwest or Hopewell. Any insight would be greatly appreciated, the reviews we've read are very mixed, and most were from several years ago.

From what I've been told, Milton HS and Cambridge HS are both great options, but I haven't been able to determine the main differences/advantages to either High school. Any insight regarding the High schools would be appreciated as well.

I realize that the schools in the area are so good that rankings likely don't mean much, the average child would receive a great education regardless of the school they attend. We're more curious about whether one school is much more socially competitive than others, has more of an ultra competitive high anxiety academic environment, has higher levels of bullying, isn't as welcoming to newcomers, etc...

[DoubleZ OTP]

Originally Posted by GACLT

We are considering a move to the Milton area. I was hoping to get some feedback from other parents in the area regarding schools. We have 5th graders and will be making the move to middle school this next school year.

Other parents keep telling us that middle school can be a difficult time for kids, of course our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible. We're debating whether or not to move a month or two before this school year ends to give them an opportunity to meet some classmates in Elementary school, or to hold off and move over the summer and start fresh in Middle school.

We've been focusing our attention on which Middle school zone we'd prefer to purchase a home in - Northwest or Hopewell. Any insight would be greatly appreciated, the reviews we've read are very mixed, and most were from several years ago.

From what I've been told, Milton HS and Cambridge HS are both great options, but I haven't been able to determine the main differences/advantages to either High school. Any insight regarding the High schools would be appreciated as well.

I realize that the schools in the area are so good that rankings likely don't mean much, the average child would receive a great education regardless of the school they attend. We're more curious about whether one school is much more socially competitive than others, has more of an ultra competitive high anxiety academic environment, has higher levels of bullying, isn't as welcoming to newcomers, etc...

I cannot comment on the middle schools.

As for the high schools: I did not attend either of Milton or Cambridge (I graduated from nearby Lambert in Forsyth County in 2017), but I had a few friends who went to both of those schools, and I interacted with students from both schools at social gatherings and for high school sports competitions.

I found the Cambridge kids, for the most part, to be spoiled and completely out of touch with reality. The kids got what they want when they wanted it, usually. They had little understanding of middle-class, working-class, or low-income American life. Major fraternity/sorority vibes (socially competitive). Everyone wore the same clothes (fraternity/sorority-style apparel) and drove the same cars (new Jeeps seemed to be popular among the Cambridge kids). There are only 2 or 3 "normal" neighborhoods in the Cambridge attendance zone, so it kind of makes sense that Cambridge kids live in a "bubble".

When I was in school, apparently sports teams at Cambridge had access to IV fluid hydration for use before games/at halftime/etc. because apparently a football parent owned a medical supply company or something. That baffled me.

I found the Milton kids to be somewhat more "normal" than the Cambridge kids, but many still suffered from the same "out of touch" mentality. This makes sense as there are quite a few "normal" neighborhoods in the Milton attendance zone. The absolute wealthiest neighborhoods in Milton (The Manor, White Columns, etc.) are zoned for Cambridge.

I say all of this as someone from a working-class family who attended a nearby high school in the mid-2010s (Lambert) with many of the same characteristics at that time (almost no working-class/low-income students, out of touch mentality, exclusive behavior, spoiled kids, etc.) and I found Cambridge to be at least one level worse in that regard.

As for academics: Students living in the Milton and Cambridge zones also have to option to attend the new Innovation Academy in Downtown Alpharetta if they so desire.

Take everything I've said with a grain of salt, as it may not apply in 2022 (though I doubt much has changed). And besides, I'm just one person with one opinion.

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by GACLT

From what I've been told, Milton HS and Cambridge HS are both great options, but I haven't been able to determine the main differences/advantages to either High school. Any insight regarding the High schools would be appreciated as well.

I realize that the schools in the area are so good that rankings likely don't mean much, the average child would receive a great education regardless of the school they attend. We're more curious about whether one school is much more socially competitive than others, has more of an ultra competitive high anxiety academic environment, has higher levels of bullying, isn't as welcoming to newcomers, etc...

Both schools ARE great options. I wouldn't worry about the things you mentioned, but would focus more on the tangible differences. Milton is well known for it's theater program, Cambridge for it's veterinary and farming extracurriculars. My kids went to Milton, before Cambridge was built to relieve the overcrowding. So all those kids from places like The Manor and White Columns were their classmates. There's plenty of money everywhere in Milton, but the vast majority of kids are well raised and well behaved. The dual enrollment options are wonderful, one of my sons graduated Milton as a 2nd semester college sophomore. He dual enrolled at GA Tech, I'm not sure that choice still exists, but other colleges are available. Find a home you love, and rest easy in your choice.