Sable Pointe is a reasonable neighborhood in Milton/Alpharetta area. There are several in Crabapple and Johns Creek areas, too. Really the zip codes in, around, and bordering Alpharetta are 30022, 30004, 30005, 30009, 30076. If you stay in those zips you should be fine. Stingray Allstars Johns Creek (really it is in Alpharetta) is great for cheer, tumbling, and trampoline....all levels. My son was a cheerleader there and he really enjoyed it.

The Davidson Academy is a good school, too. Whenever you are in town you should stop by the schools and take tours. I think that is the best way to really feel what a school is like and if it is a good fit for your family.

I would say that the school culture is best described as positive, inclusive, safe, and collaborative with high expectations and goals. The board, administration, parents, and even students have a voice in decision making and work to make it the best learning environment possible. The school is secular, which is kind of unusual for a private school in our area. I think that we pretty much have all major religions and even the lack thereof represented. We are committed as a community to teaching our students to respect each others differences, regardless of culture, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, or really any other factor that you can think of. We use the Second Step curriculum for character education to promote such values and characteristics as empathy, kindness, consideration, respect, integrity, responsibility, etc. It is part of our mission for our students to become positive role models and leaders and we take it seriously. High expectations and academic rigor are well know hallmarks of our program. The school works to challenge students, while still finding ways to engage our students and promote a love of learning. Our academic teams and after school clubs have a lot to do with this. We have young children with extraordinary intellectual abilities, so we have to really work hard to find the correct balance for each student that does not burn them out, supports them at their maturity level, and moves them forward academically at a pace and rigor level appropriate to them. We understand that each of our students is unique and the school is flexible in determining what their individual educational path may look like. Continuous improvement is another big part of our culture. Our administration is always looking for areas to improve. The attitude is 'What got us here will not get us there, so what is next?' Our school, faculty, and students are really successful, so it is nice that the culture promotes always reaching for the next bar or goal instead of staying in the same place and just applauding. Look for opportunities and you can find solutions or a better way to accomplish the goals. NO BULLYING is tolerated in ANY form. We protect the learning environment and do not want anything to inhibit a student's desire to attend school or their love of learning. Any issue or concern that arises is addressed quickly. However, we have very few disciplinary type of issues of any kind. I think that has a lot to do with our high level of parent involvement. There is really no division between home and school. Parents and faculty work as partners for student success. Parents KNOW what is going on each and every day. Small class sizes and a very involved, hands on staff have a lot to do with it, too. Rarely, do you find a school community so connected. We love to play, serve, and work together. Dads and faculty play sports together on Saturdays. Moms and faculty have dinners, teas, and book clubs. We all participate in community service projects together. We look for opportunities to have fun together and we just genuinely like each other. I could go on since school culture encompasses many different things, but it would take hours. If I haven't addressed a specific aspect of the culture, then please feel free to ask any questions.

I am on the Board of Fulton Science Academy and one my children formerly went to Fulton Science Academy. The school is designed for advanced and gifted students. A student's grade level and/or course level placement has more to do with their academic ability and knowledge base, than their age. We absolutely do not inhibit the forward progression of a student, because of their age. For example, there is a 7th grader taking Calculus. All AP classes are offered and students take an hour of foreign language each day. Students take a MAP entrance test for science, ELA, and math level placement. It is truly a very connected and welcoming school community that celebrates diversity and teaches its students to respect each others abilities and differences. Usually, we have a very hard time getting students to leave...they just like being at school. Even on most Saturdays the school looks like it is in session, because so many events are going on. The school offers many summer camps including a BioStem camp run by GA Tech. If you have any questions about the school, I will be more than happy to answer them. I have another child that currently home schools. My older child participated in dual enrollment and will enter college next year as a Sophomore. Students in Georgia can participate in college or technical school classes as early as 9th grade and earn up to 15 credit hours per semester free of charge, provided that they meet the entrance requirements for the college or technical school. Students are allowed to take summer classes as well. Books are covered, too. Typically, students in Alpharetta or Milton will take dual enrollment classes at Georgia State, GA Perimeter College, Gwinnett Technical School, or Lanier Technical School. GT and Emory will transfer the credits earned from Georgia Tech and GA Perimeter. The technical schools are a little trickier, but sometimes can be transferred as elective credits. GT will not transfer online college credits. 400 is no longer a toll road, so commuting isn't as difficult as it used to be. If I need to go into Atlanta, I generally leave by 6:00am or after 9:00am and it is no big deal. I either leave Atlanta by 3:00pm or after 7:00pm to return home. I will admit that from 6:30am to 8:30am or between 4:00pm and 6:30pm is pretty miserable on ALL the highways surrounding Atlanta, 75, 575, 85, 400,285, 20, etc.. It is best to arrange your day to miss the major commute times, but I would think that is the same in all cities. I live in the Milton/Alpharetta area. Milton and Alpharetta are expensive areas, but there are reasonable neighborhoods, too. It is clean, safe, and has a lot to offer. I prefer Milton, because it has a more rural setting with lots of horse farms, but we are 5 miles from the heart of Alpharetta. I am exactly 17 minutes from Fulton Science Academy. If this is the area where you choose to relocate, I am more than happy to point you in the direction of reasonably priced neighborhoods, too.