Elementary school education in the USA

[Gem13]

Ok, so it's a long way off but thinking longer term impact of us moving to Atlanta I'm interested in how the elementary school system works.

I appreciate it's probably different state to state but my first question is does your child have to attend the nearest school?

Second question - while in this country I'd like to think I would ignore the league tables (prefering to go on local knowledge, gut feeling, other children's happiness, etc.) - what should I be looking at in comparing schools?

Where are you planning on living in Atlanta? Do you have a preference yet? My aunt and cousin-in-law teach in Peachtree City, but in different schools. It tends to be that the wealthier areas have the best schools, because much of the time the school system is funded by property taxes.

Typically your child will attend the nearest school and they have catchment areas. There are also cheap religious private schools (Lutheran and Catholic) if you want that.

I don't have any real knowledge of the school system (well, my knowledge is nearly 30 years old so isn't current) as we left the US when my son was 2.

Here is info on Atlanta City schools. My aunt and cil work in this school district.

We have just been staying with friends in Marietta, and they say that they chose to live where they do as the schools in Cobb County are really good. But it seems quite a posh area, and I think house prices are pretty high.

I expect it does vary state to state but it also varies within state - for example the town where I live in NJ you have to attend the nearest school, whereas another town about 10 miles away has a "magnet" system where kids are bussed to schools that suit them, ie some are more art/drama oriented, some are for "gifted and talented" others are more practical! Seems quite wierd to me, to make such choices at elementary level, but it does mean that the schools aren't ghettoised iykwim - everyone has the chance at the most supposedly suitable school for them.