Need info ASAP on Marietta, WellStar, Cobb County schools! Please help!!!! (Atlanta: apartment, rental)

[akme109]

I currently live in the midwest and am travelling a week from now to Marietta to interview with WellStar. Does anyone know much about WellStar as a company? Do they treat their patients and RNs well? Competitive pay?

Also, this is our one chance to check out Marietta to determine if we want to move. We (my husband and I) have 2 kids (ages 4 & 6) and are looking to rent a decent 4 BR house for $800-$1000/month. We're not at all 'uppity', but don't want to live in the ghetto either. We're looking for safety and other families in similar lifestyles to live near.

We're also looking to try out a contemporary church the Sunday we are down there. Any suggestions?

What about Cobb County elementary schools? Any ones to avoid or to try to get into? What about preschools?

Finally, what should we go see or do that will really give us a glimpse of life in Marietta? (Not just touristy stuff)

Please help! I don't know what else to do to prepare myself for the trip down there.

Many thanks!

[ecurtis]

The section of Cobb County referred to as East Cobb has the best schools, probably in the entire state of Georgia. There are three high schools that are considered the cream of the crop: Walton, Pope and Lassiter.

As far as the churches go, there are so many to choose from, that is if you are flexible with your religious beliefs. I am Catholic and ended up at a Presbyterian church simply because we liked the youth group there, it was the best fit for our kids.

Soccer is really big in Marietta, there are tons of soccer fields (and they are beautiful) where you can just drive in and check out a game going on, that is where you can get a feel for the area.

[BobKovacs]

The biggest challenge you'll have is your rental budget- $800-1,000/month won't get you a decent apartment in any of the good school districts, so it's definitely not going to get you a 4-bedroom house.

[Vlias]

Curious to know how everything turned out for you?

[dolphinswim]

perhaps you never got the job, so I don't want to spend a lot of time on answering this, but I think your budget is so low for a 4 bdr. house in safe areas of Marietta (or the metro area in general), that it doesn't matter what info we give here. You're going to be limited to what you can find for that price. I've said it before, but feelings of safety are a personal matter. I know people who are afraid to go to downtown Atlanta, and I know people (like me) who think that's absurd.