Living In Midtown, Atlanta

Midtown is one of the most famous parts of Georgia's capitol city, situated between Downtown and Buckhead. Move north from downtown and cross Ponce De Leon Avenue and you enter the vibrant and diverse Atlanta Midtown.

This community is defined by the City of Atlanta to include the business district along Peachtree Street as well as the residential area surrounding Piedmont Park. The Midtown Alliance defines Midtown as a larger area of approximately four square miles that, in addition to the city's definition, also includes the neighborhoods of Ansley Park, Sherwood Forest, Atlantic Station, Home Park and Loring Heights.

Midtown Atlanta is the second largest business district in the city, with a resident population of roughly 30,000, with an additional 20,000 students. And each Monday through Friday, a workforce of over 68,000 swells Midtown's population even more.

Just 170 years ago, one could not fathom the original area would become the metropolitan district is currently. It was covered with a forest of pine trees. The landowner, Richard Peters, used the forest to fuel his downtown flourmill. Once felled of forest timber, the land was subdivided and a residential community grew up, replacing what had been dense stands of pine. Peter's original home, Ivy Hall, was restored by the Savannah College of Art and Design and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

By the 1890s, streetcar lines reached the area and neighborhood development began. Commercial shopping districts followed. Growth accelerated in the 1950s when the Downtown Connector freeway opened. The construction of the Ansley Mall in 1964 propelled Midtown into commercial importance. In 1973, large-scale development was launched with Colony Square, the first mixed-use development in the Southeast.

Midtown's business power and skyline rivals that of downtown, but an edgier lifestyle thrives in Midtown. Midtown is celebrated for its diversity of homes and culture, which range from the High Museum of Art, to the Fox Theatre. The preppie Georgia Tech campus shares life with the mansion-dwellers in Ansley Park and all of it lies next door to the clubbing nightlife scene, led by the iconic Fox Theater.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA

Exploring life in Midtown Atlanta is a good decision, and here are fun things to know:

-ATLANTA ARTS FESTIVAL - is an annual event that takes place in Piedmont Park on the 2nd weekend after Labor Day. It is a multi-day, outdoor festival with an emphasis on the visual arts. The festival fills the fall time art festival void in the City of Atlanta. Bringing together outstanding artists from all over the country with the large and enthusiastic art buying community of the Atlanta area, the Festival features 200 of the country's finest painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craftsmen, glass blowers and more! The Festival will also offer visitors the opportunity to view artist demonstrations, enjoy live entertainment, participate in hands on arts activities, and enjoy festival foods and beverages.

*ATLANTA BALLET - Founded in 1929, the dance company is the nation's longest continuously performing ballet company, and is also the State Ballet of Georgia. The company employs twenty professional dancers and six apprentices. Recent performances included: Moulin Rouge: The Ballet, Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker, Nutty Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Fusion: Lambarena (as a world premier), and Ignition: New Choreographic Voices.

*ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS- A 30-acre botanical garden located adjacent to Piedmont Park in Midtown. Incorporated in 1976, the garden's mission is to "develop and maintain plant collections for the purposes of display, education, conservation, research and enjoyment."

*ATLANTA DOGWOOD FESTIVAL - The beautiful spring event is held each April in Piedmont Park. Arts and Crafts draw thousands during the time when native dogwood trees are in spectacular bloom.

*THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Founded in 1945, "ASO" is a part of the Woodruff Arts Center. Its main performing venue is Atlanta Symphony Hall. Including the 12,000-seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, and its activities at Atlanta Symphony Hall and Chastain Park, the ASO expects to present more than 300 performances annually. With a budget expected to increase to $50 million with the completion of its new Amphitheatre, the ASO has become one of the six highest funded orchestras in America.

*CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS - is a unique Midtown cultural treasure - a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened and entertained. Since 1978, the Center has introduced millions of visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry and has touched the lives of many through enchanting performances, curriculum-based workshops and the hands-on Museum, as well as distance learning and outreach programs. It is the nation's largest organization dedicated to the art form of puppetry.

*CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS - in midtown include Coca-Cola, Invesco, Earthlink and Equifax.

*FOXTHEATER-The historic Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta’s premiere venues for live entertainment. The Fox’s 4,678-seat theatre is booked for more than 300 performances a year, ranging from Broadway, to rock, to comedy, to movies. In December 2009, Billboard Magazineranked the Fox as "The #1 non-residency venue worldwide for the decade".

The Fox Theatre is located on Peachtree Street in the middle of the city. Not only is it on the National Historic Register, it is one of the most beloved landmarks in the city - because it is a real memory maker. The Fox has endeared itself to many Atlantans; they are have come here to see their first performance, or Broadway show, and some had their first date here, and maybe even their first kiss in the balcony.

*GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - is located in Midtown. It is a major, public research university founded in 1885, with its main campus occupying a large part of Midtown Atlanta, bordered by 10th Street to the north and by North Avenue to the south, placing it well in sight of the Atlanta skyline.

Georgia Tech is organized into six colleges and contains about 31 departments/units, with a strong emphasis on science and technology. It is well recognized for its degree programs in engineering, computing, management, the sciences, architecture, and liberal arts. Tech is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 public universities in the nation and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.

*HIGH MUSEUM OF ART - Part of the Woodruff Arts Center, The High Museum holds more than 11,000 works of art and is one of the most visited museums in the world. With its renowned collection of classic and contemporary art and award-winning architecture, the High Museum of Art has grown from its origins in a stately home on Peachtree Street, to become the leading art museum in the southeastern United States. "The High" places special emphasis on Southern self-taught artists, and is now a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate.

*MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE -The historic structure was the home of author Margaret Mitchell, and the place where she wrote the bulk of her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gone with the Wind. The novel was adapted for the cinema and debuted in 1939 as an Oscar-winning movie starring Clark gable and Vivian Leigh.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operated by the Atlanta History Center, the Margaret Mitchell House is a turn-of-the century, three-story, Tudor Revival building. The house officially opened to the public on May 17, 1997 and has since become one of Atlanta’s most treasured landmarks, literary centers, special events venue, and tourist attraction. It is owned and operated by the Atlanta History Center.

*MUSEUM OF DESIGN ATLANTA - is the only museum in the Southeast devoted exclusively to the study and celebration of all things design. The Museum examines how design affects people's daily lives through exhibitions, K-12 educational outreach, and adult programming. MODA regularly features exhibitions on architecture, industrial and product design, interiors and furniture, graphics, fashion and more. The museum is located on Peachtree Street, across from the High Museum of Art, in Midtown.

*PIEDMONT PARK - Atlanta’s 189-acre, urban park “Common Ground", located approximately 2 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The Park runs along 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue in midtown Atlanta and features a host of outdoor activities beloved to Atlantans. Tennis courts, picnic shelters, fishing on the lake, softball and soccer fields, a bathhouse and swimming center - and even a dog park - are some of the amenities. The Park is home to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Music Midtown and Festival Peachtree Atlanta. Notable is that the oldest football rivalry in the Deep South began here, when Auburn University met the University of Georgia in 1892 (Auburn won 10-0).

The park is open daily from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm.

*MUSIC MIDTOWN - is a large, one-day music festival held in Midtown's Piedmont Park. Over 40,000 people attend. Tickets are $55.

*FESTIVAL PEACHTREE LATINO - is an ethnic festival that celebrates Hispanic-American culture. Held each August in Piedmont Park, the Festival is the largest multicultural event in the Southeast. It features hundreds of exhibitions, family activities, sporting events, parades, arts & crafts ethnic foods and renowned international musicians. The best part is that the Festival is absolutely free.

*WOODRUFF ART CENTER - The Woodruff Arts Center is the heartbeat of Atlanta's arts community. Located in midtown, the Center offers Atlanta a bold variety of performing and visual arts - both traditional and avant-garde. For 40 years, Woodruff Center has set the arts standard for Atlanta and the Southeast. The center houses four arts divisions in one campus and not-for-profit organization. Opened in 1968, the Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art, Young Audiences and the 14th Street Playhouse.

*PEACHTREE ROAD RACE - is an annual, 10-kilometer road race held on the 4th of July, beginning in Piedmont Park. The race has become a citywide tradition in which over 70,000 amateur and professional runners try to register for one of the limited 60,000 spots. The event also includes a wheelchair race, which precedes the footrace. In recent years the race also has a special divisions for soldiers stationed in the Middle East.

THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA

It has become almost routine for Midtown Atlanta to be praised as a wonderful place to live in Georgia. Residents' testimonials, articles and various organizations bestow glowing reviews and accolades about living here. With these superlatives publicized for so long, the Metro Atlanta area's fame as a great place to live has been a magnet attracting people, like you, to explore and relocate to Midtown Atlanta.

This sense of the Midtown Atlanta good life is expressed on the website of the Midtown Alliance, www.midtownalliance.org.

"Located in the heart of Atlanta, Midtown is a cosmopolitan center where people, business and culture have converged to create an authentic live-work-play community with a personality all its own. We provide a quality of life virtually unmatched in the Southeast. Midtown is a place to call home, a corporate address of choice, and a cultural destination."

-MIDTOWN ALLIANCE website

Of course, the economy also plays a significant part in any new move, and Midtown Atlanta is no exception. If you would like to explore the business or employment environment in Midtown Atlanta, excellent resources are available from the organizations below:

MIDTOWN ATLANTA ALLIANCE
www.midtownalliance.org

MIDTOWN NEIGHBORS' ASSOCIATION
www.midtownatlanta.org

CITY OF ATLANTA
404-330-6000
www.atlanta.gov

FULTON COUNTY
404-612-4000
www.fultoncounty.gov

METRO ATLANTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
404-880-9000
www.metroatlantachamber.com

WHY MOVE TO MIDTOWN ATLANTA?
Midtown Atlanta and her neighboring communities share several common benefits. The first great reason to live in the Greater Metro Atlanta area is the wonderful climate. Spring and summer are filled with a bouquet of blossoms that flood the visual and olfactory senses. Parks and beautiful homes treat citizens and visitors alike with colors as if from the palette of a great landscape painter. The fall blazes with glorious colors so awesome that it almost takes your breath away. The winters are mild, and every now and then, the students get a day off for a light snow. It rarely gets below freezing. How could anyone not like the weather and climate in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia?

The second reason to live in Midtown Atlanta is that it is a great place to buy a home. Midtown Atlanta real estate is affordable. Newcomers can choose between well-established homes for sale or new homes in outstanding new home communities. You can choose a lot and build a custom home. Simply select a homebuilder from the many in Greater Metro Atlanta. A qualified REALTORÒ, real estate agent, mortgage broker or loan officer can assist in the home purchase process and can guide you through the process of finding and buying real estate in Midtown Atlanta.

Schools are another reason Greater Metro Atlanta is a wonderful place to live. Oh yeah - families especially love the schools in Midtown Atlanta. In fact, some of the best schools in Greater Metro Atlanta are found in Midtown Atlanta. Atlanta Public Schools, frequentlycited for several outstanding programs, services Midtown Atlanta. Midtown Atlanta schools are considered safe places for students.

Learn more about each of Midtown's neighborhoods:

*ATLANTIC STATION - www.atlanticstation.com

*ANSLEY PARK - www.ansleypark.org

*HOME PARK - www.homepark.org

*MIDTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD - www.midtownatlanta.org

*SHERWOOD FOREST - www.sherwoodforestatlanta.org

MIDTOWN ATLANTA'S NEIGHBORS, TRAVEL DISTANCES AND TIMES There are 28 counties in the Greater Metro Atlanta region; 43 counties when including areas into which the Metro is rapidly expanding. Midtown Atlanta is one of 110 sister communities in the region.

The chart below lists Metro Atlanta's neighboring communities, and the mileage and travel time from downtown Atlanta.County seats are denoted by *. The handy list will help in your Metro Atlanta home search:

CITY COUNTY CENSUS TO ATLANTA DOWNTOWN

MIDTOWN Fulton 64,618 3 miles 8 minutes

ACWORTH Cobb 20,245 32 miles 44 minutes

ALPHARETTA Fulton 57,551 28 miles 36 minutes

ANSLEY PARK Fulton 24,884 5 miles 11 minutes

ATHENS* Clarke 115,542 70 miles 1 hr-33 minutes

AUBURN Barrow 6,887 42 miles 56 minutes

AUSTELL Cobb 6,581 17 miles 28 minutes

BARNESVILLE* Lamar 6,755 60 miles 1hr-5 minutes

BLAIRSVILLE* Union 652 99 miles 1hr-56 minutes

BLUE RIDGE* Fannin 1,209 93 miles 1hr-38 minutes

BRASELTON Barrow 7,511 49 miles 59 minutes

BREMEN Haralson 6,227 47 miles 58 minutes
BROOKHAVEN Fulton 40,456 11 miles 19 minutes

BUCHANAN* Haralson 6,218 55 miles 1 hr-8 minutes

BUCKHEAD Fulton 78,676 9 miles 16 minutes

BUFORD Gwinnett 12,255 39 miles 59 minutes

CANTON* Cherokee 22,958 40 miles 47 minutes

CARROLLTON* Carroll 24,388 50 miles 1hr-4 minutes

CARTERSVILLE* Bartow 19,731 42 miles 54 minutes

CHAMBLEE DeKalb 9,892 14 miles 23 minutes
CHASTAIN PARKFulton 53,367 10 miles 19 minutes

CLARKESVILLE* Habersham1,733 85 miles 1hr-34 minutes

CLARKSTON DeKalb 7,554 11 miles 23 minutes

CLAYTON* Rabun 2,047 108 miles 1hr-57 minutes

CLEVELAND* White 3,410 78 miles 1hr-30 minutes

COLLEGE PARK Fulton 13,942 11 miles 18 minutes

COMMERCE Jackson 6,544 69 miles 1hr-18 minutes

CONYERS* Rockdale 15,195 24 miles 35 minutes

COVINGTON* Newton 13,118 35 miles 46 minutes

CUMMING* Forsyth 5,430 39 miles 46 minutes

DACULA Gwinnett 4,804 37 miles 49 minutes

DAHLONEGA* Lumpkin 5,242 66 miles 1hr-13 minutes

DALLAS* Paulding 11,544 32 miles 49 minutes

DAWSONVILLE* Dawson 2,536 57 miles 1hr-6 minutes

DECATUR* DeKalb 19,335 6 miles 15 minutes

DORAVILLE DeKalb 8,330 14 miles 24 minutes

DOUGLASVILLE Douglas 30,961 22 miles 32 minutes

DRUID HILLS DeKalb 14,568 5 miles 11 minutes

DULUTH Gwinnett 26,600 26 miles 36 minutes

DUNWOODY DeKalb 46,267 17 miles 23 minutes

EAST COBB Cobb 169,756 19 miles 34 minutes

EAST POINT Fulton 33,712 8 miles 15 minutes

ELLIJAY* Gilmer 1,619 18 miles 1hr-24 minutes

FAIRBURN Fulton 12,950 21 miles 28 minutes

FAYETTEVILLE* Fayette 15,945 21 miles 28 minutes

FLOWERY BRANCH Hall 5,679 46 miles 53 minutes

FOREST PARK Clayton 18,468 46 miles 53 minutes

FORSYTH* Monroe 3,788 62 miles 1hr-9 minutes

FRANKLIN* Heard 898 59 miles 1hr-17 minutes

GAINESVILLE* Hall 33,804 54 miles 1hr-2 minutes

GRANT PARK Fulton 26,996 2 miles 5 minutes

GREENVILLE Meriwether1,019 68 miles 1hr-19 minutes

GRIFFIN Spalding 23,643 40 miles 53 minutes

HAMPTON Henry 6,987 29 miles 43 minutes

HAPEVILLE Fulton 6,373 9 miles 14 minutes

HIAWASSEE* Towns 810 109 miles 2hrs-12 minutes

HOSCHTON Jackson 1,377 50 miles 58 minutes

HOLLY SPRINGS Cherokee 9,189 37 miles 42 minutes

INMAN PARK Fulton 21,644 2 miles 7 minutes

JACKSON* Butts 3,994 48 miles 59 minutes

JASPER* Pickens 3,684 61 miles 1hr-5 minutes

JEFFERSON* Jackson 9,432 62 miles 1hr-10 minutes

JOHNS CREEK Fulton 76,728 27 miles 40 minutes

JONESBORO* Clayton 4,724 18 miles 29 minutes

KENNESAW Cobb 29,783 27 miles 35 minutes

KIRKWOOD DeKalb 16,643 4 miles 10 minutes

LAGRANGE Troup 29,588 68 miles 1hr-17 minutes

LAKE LANIER Hall/Forsyth 49 miles 1hr-4 minutes

LAWRENCEVILLEGwinnett 28,546 32 miles 42 minutes

LILBURN Gwinnett 11,596 23 miles 34 minutes

LOCUST GROVE Henry 5,402 38 miles 48 minutes

LOGANVILLE Walton 10,963 32 miles 45 minutes

MARIETTA* Cobb 56,579 20 miles 30 minutes

MCDONOUGH* Henry 22,084 31 miles 42 minutes

MILTON Fulton 32,661 32 miles 44 minutes

MONROE* Walton 13,324 44 miles 58 minutes

MONTICELLO* Jasper 2,428 63 miles 1hr-22 minutes

MORNINGSIDE Fulton 28,152 5 miles 12 minutes

NEWNAN* Coweta 33,039 39 miles 49 minutes

NORCROSS Gwinnett 9,116 20 miles 38 minutes

PALMETTO Coweta 4,488 28 miles 38 minutes

PEACHTREE CITYFayette 34,524 32 miles 48 minutes

POWDER SPRINGS Cobb 13,940 22 miles 35 minutes

RIVERDALE Clayton 12,478 16 miles 24 minutes

ROSWELL Fulton 88,346 22 miles 29 minutes

SANDY SPRINGSFulton 93,853 16 miles 19 minutes

SENOIA Coweta 3,307 39 miles 59 minutes

SHARPSBURG Coweta 316 39 miles 54 minutes

SMYRNA Cobb 51,271 16 miles 25 minutes

SNELLVILLE Gwinnett 18,242 25 miles 36 minutes

SOCIAL CIRCLE Walton 4,262 45 miles 57 minutes

STOCKBRIDGE Henry 25,636 20 miles 36 minutes

STONE MOUNTAIN DeKalb 5,802 14 miles 30 minutes

SUGAR HILL Gwinnett 18,522 39 miles 51 minutes

SUWANEE Gwinnett 15,355 32 miles 41 minutes

TOCCOA* Stephens 8,491 94 miles 1 hr-43 minutes

TOWNE LAKE Cherokee 4,435 32 miles 38 minutes

TUCKER DeKalb 27,581 14 miles 26 minutes

TYRONE Fayette 6,879 27 miles 39 minutes

UNION CITY Fulton 19,456 19 miles 27 minutes

VILLA RICA Carroll 13,956 33 miles 45 minutes

VININGS Cobb 9,734 12 miles 19 minutes

VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND Fulton 5,565 4 miles 10 minutes

WATKINSVILLE* Oconee 2,832 69 miles 1 hr-27 minutes

WEST COBB Cobb 19 miles 34 minutes

WINDER* Barrow 12,451 55 miles 1 hr-5 minutes

WOODSTOCK Cherokee 23,896 30 miles 36 minutes

ZEBULON* Pike 1,181 49 miles 1 hr-1 minute

COMMUNITY DATA FOR MIDTOWN ATLANTA, GEORGIA

MIDTOWN ATLANTA POPULATION: 64,618
metro population: 5,268,860
state population: 9,687,653
national population: 308,745,538

MIDTOWN ATLANTA HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $46,610

average national household income: $51,660

MIDTOWN ATLANTA COST OF LIVING INDEX: 91

average national cost of living: 100

MIDTOWN ATLANTA MEDIAN HOME PRICE: $133,300

median national home price: $183,450

MIDTOWN ATLANTA PROPERTY TAX RATE: $11.23
per $1,000 of Midtown Atlanta assessed home value

average national property tax rate: $11.20

MIDTOWN ATLANTA CRIME RATE: 9

average national Crime Rate: 4 ranked 1-10, best to worst

So here you are. You have made your choice to move to Georgia, specifically to the Greater Metro Atlanta area. Good choice! Many people have decided that living here will provide the very best lifestyle available, including buying a home in Midtown Atlanta, landing the best employment and even finding the best schools and/or higher education.

Thousands of people have made the decision to relocate to Metro Atlanta, just like you. A newcomer will find why Metro Atlanta has ranked as one of the best regions in America to live or work, to buy the best real estate, to start a business, to raise a family, or even to retire.

CONNECT UTILITIES IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA BY CONTACTING:

POWER:
Georgia Power
888-660-5890
www.georgiapower.com

WATER & SEWER:
City of Atlanta
404-658-6500
www.atlantaga.gov

GAS:
Gas South
877-332-5442
www.gas-south.com

TRASH & RECYCLING:
City of Atlanta
404-330-6333
www.atlantaga.gov

PUBLIC EDUCATION

To better help you select the best Midtown Atlanta school for your children, read what Atlanta Public Schools says on its website, www.atlanta.k12.ga.us

"Atlanta Public Schools is educating today's students for tomorrow's world. We are committed to ensuring that all students graduate from our schools ready for success in college and life."

-ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS website

TESTING

To understand the testing of public school students in Georgia, parents will need to know at least two terms:

EOCT- "End of Course Tests" are required at the end of each school year, grades 9-12. These tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives and competency measurements specified by Georgia. See www.doe.k12.ga.us

AYP- "Adequate Yearly Progress" is a measurement of how every public k-12 school and district in the country meets the No Child Left Behind standards. AYP “sets the bar” for school performance by groups of students, and schools and districts can either clear the bar or miss it. Districts need to meet every single performance target set for them. Targets are set for Midtown Atlanta student attendance, cohort graduation rates, and for student performance on the Georgia standardized tests in reading and mathematics.

CHARTER SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA
Georgia charter schools are independent public schools that exist to offer Midtown Atlanta students, parents and educators choices in teaching, learning methods and environments. An emphasis is placed on innovation and accountability with improved student achievement the common goal.

Charter schools provide parents a choice in the education of their children - and it is a public choice. Charter Schools are tuition free. Public tax dollars are the primary funding sources for charter schools. Local, state, and federal dollars follow the child to a charter school. The schools have open enrollment with no discrimination, no religious associations, and no tuition.

Parents must contact each individual charter school to see if they have openings. If charter schools have more applicants than available slots, an open lottery must be instituted to fill the remaining spots. For a list of Georgia charter schools and their locations, please visit the Georgia Department of Education at www.doe.k12.ga.us, or the Georgia Charter Schools Association: www.gachaters.org

Nationwide, there are now approximately 5,600 public charter schools in 41 states and the District of Columbia, educating more than 2 million public charter school students. Georgia public charter schools are intended to improve the state's traditional public school system. Presently, there are 177 charter schools in Georgia, serving over 72,000 students.

Any Georgia charter school, while independently operated, must meet four requirements, like any other state public school:
*Tuition-free and open to every student who wishes to enroll;
*Non-sectarian, and do not discriminate on any basis;
*Funded by local, state & federal tax dollars like other public schools;
*Held accountable to state and federal academic standards;
*Georgia charter schools must take the state mandated tests.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA

Private schools, also known as independent schools or non-state schools, are independent, nonprofit schools with carefully defined missions, governed by boards of trustees, and supported by tuition payments, charitable contributions and endowment revenue. Private schools are not administered by Midtown Atlanta, or by Georgia, or by the Federal government; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students tuition, rather than relying on public funding.

Many Midtown Atlanta students can qualify for financial aid to a private school, such as a sport scholarship, an art, or an academic scholarship. You can find more information about non-public, independent school accreditation in Georgia by consulting the Georgia Private School Accreditation Council: www.gapsac.org

HOMESCHOOLING IN GEORGIA

Georgia welcomes and helps parents who want to educate their children in a non-public school. The state has many resources to help parents and suggests the following approach in deciding on homeschooling as an education option in Midtown Atlanta:

First you need to decide if home education is the right choice for you and your family. It is never too early to start this step. To learn about homeschooling, talk to experienced homeschoolers, attend classes, and read. Reading is always a good way to learn about homeschooling. As you read, your philosophy of education will develop. You need to invest some time in reading good books on the subject.

Home school definitions and requirements vary by state, so it is a good idea to know the basics that apply in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Education publishes its requirements, among which are:

1. Parent or guardian must annually submit to the superintendent of the local school district a Declaration of Intent to Utilize a Home Study Program by September 1, or within 30 days after a program is established. The local school superintendent will provide a form upon request for this purpose to be returned to that office.

2. The Declaration must include the names and ages of the students, the address where the program is located, and the dates of the school year.

3. Parents or guardians may teach only their own children in the home study program, provided the teaching parent or guardian possesses at least a high school diploma or a general educational development (GED) equivalency diploma, but the parents or guardians may employ a tutor who holds at least a high school diploma or a general education diploma to teach such children.

3. The home study program must include, but is not limited to, instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.

4. The school year must include the equivalent of 180 days of at least four and 1/2 hours of instruction per day, unless the child is physically unable to comply with this requirement.

5. Monthly attendance reports must be sent to the local superintendent at the end of each month. The local school superintendent will, upon request, provide the reporting forms.

See: www.doe.k12.ga.us/External-Affairs-and-Policy, or The Georgia Home Education Association: www.ghea.org

CHILD CARE IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA

Currently, about 70% of parents place their young children in some type of daily care. Identifying the best facility can be confusing, but the outcome is important. As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child is safe and happy in a child care environment that is fun, educational, and nurturing. Fortunately, significant help is available from both the federal government and from Georgia as well.

Federal law requires that states have policies in place to protect the health and safety of children in child care in three areas:
*the prevention and control of infectious diseases;
*the building and physical premise safety;
*health and safety training appropriate to the program setting.

Because these federal requirements are general, the standards that states set for licensing child care centers and family childcare homes vary greatly. The rules on who must obtain a license, what training they need to have, how many children they can care for, and what kind of environment they must provide differ state by state.

The Georgia Office of Residential Child Care monitors, inspects and licenses Child Caring Institutions, Child Placing Agencies, Outdoor Child Caring Programs, Children's transitional Care Centers and Maternity Homes. Learn more at http://orcc.dhs.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS-ORCC

The Georgia Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies provide a wide array of services to families in our communities. Services consist of referrals and education to assist parents in their search for quality child care, parent education classes, newsletters, and community resources.

To find a licensed child care facility in the Midtown Atlanta, please contact: www.gaccrra.org / 877-255-5437

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES IN AND NEAR MIDTOWN ATLANTA
Higher education in the Greater Metro Atlanta region is another stellar reason to live in Midtown Atlanta. The local colleges and universities contribute more than just classrooms. Institutions of higher learning also bring the best in sports and cultural offerings to the Metro Atlanta communities at large. If your life calls for upper level learning, choose from the following list of universities, colleges and community colleges:

AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE, in Decatur
www.agnesscott.edu

ATHENS TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in Athens
www.athenstech.edu

ATLANTA METROPOLITAN COLLEGE, in City of Atlanta
www.atlm.edu

ATLANTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in City of Atlanta
www.atlantatech.edu

ATLANTA'S JOHN MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW, in City of Atlanta
www.johnmarshall.edu

BEULAH HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY, in City of Atlanta
www.beulah.org

BRENAU UNIVERSITY, in Gainesville
www.brenau.edu

CHATTAHOOCHEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in Marietta
www.chattahoocheetech.edu

CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF GEORGIA, in Statham
www.ccofga.org

CLARK ATLANTA COLLEGE, in City of Atlanta
www.cau.edu

CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY, in Morrow
www.clayton.edu

COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, in Decatur
www.ctsnet.edu

EMORY UNIVERSITY, in City of Atlanta
www.emory.edu

GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE, in Lawrenceville
www.ggc.edu

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Georgia Tech), City of Atlanta
www.gatech.edu

GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE, in Decatur
www.gpc.edu

GEORGIA PIDEMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in Clarkston
www.gptc.edu

GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, in City of Atlanta
www.gsu.edu

GORDON COLLEGE, in Barnesville
www.gdn.edu

GWINNETT COLLEGE, in Lilburn
www.gwinnettcollege.edu

GWINNETT TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in Lawrenceville
www.gwinnetttechnicalcollege.com

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY, in Kennesaw
www.gwinnetttechnicalcollege.com

LAGRANGE COLLEGE, in LaGrange

www.lagrange.edu

LANIER TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in Lanier
www.laniertech.edu

LIFE UNIVERSITY, in Marietta
www.life.edu

LUTHER RICE SEMINARY AND UNIVERSITY, in Lithonia
www.lru.edu

MERCER UNIVERSITY, in City of Atlanta
www.mercer.edu

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, in City of Atlanta
www.morehouse.edu

MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, in City of Atlanta
www.msm.edu

MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE, in City of Atlanta
www.morrisbrown.edu

NORTH GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in Clarkesville
www.northgatech.edu

OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY, in City of Atlanta
www.oglethorpe.edu

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, in Suwanee
www.pcom.edu

POINT UNIVERSITY, in West Point
www.point.edu

PIEDMONT COLLEGE, in Athens
www.piedmont.edu

REINHARDT UNIVERSITY, in Waleska
www.reinhardt.edu

SALVATION ARMY EVANGELINE BOOTH COLLEGE, City of Atlanta
www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss_ebc.nsf

SAVANNAH SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN, in City of Atlanta
www.scad.edu

SOUTHERN CRESCENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in Griffin
www.sctech.edu

SOUTHERN POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, in Marietta
www.spsu.edu

SPELMAN COLLEGE, in City of Atlanta
www.spelman.edu

TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE, in Toccoa
www.tfc.edu

TRUETT-MCCONNELL COLLEGE, in Cleveland
www.truett.edu

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (UGA), in Athens
www.uga.edu

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA, in Dahlonega
www.northgeorgia.edu

UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA, in Carrollton
www.westga.edu

WEST GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, in Waco
www.westgatech.edu

EDUCATION DIRECTORY: ALL PUBLIC & PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Oh yes, lest we forget... if you are bringing kids to Midtown Atlanta, you can get a head start on getting them into what you determine to be the best schools.

New Movers Magazine and App provides a full listing of the schools inthe Greater Metro Atlanta region: all public schools, most private schools and all institutions of higher learning. You can review each school's website, enrollment figures and phone numbers. But that's not all. You can save a ton of time because New Movers has already done the digging for you. Those hard to find school test scores and safety data are at your fingertips for each Midtown Atlanta public school. The facts are the most current available. It's now fast and easy to compare schools and even school systems.

Need to find the right school and then the right home in a specific Midtown Atlanta schools district? New Movers Magazine and App can help you find homes for sale in the attendance zone of any Midtown Atlanta public school, or even private schools by desired distance from your potential new Midtown Atlanta home. This specialized home search is free, with no obligation. Your name and information is private and secure.

Finding just the right home in Midtown Atlanta can actually be a pleasure, because New Movers Magazine and App helps you learn so much about the Midtown Atlanta history, lifestyle and community amenities. Of course, the basic stability of the Metro Atlanta real estate industry adds to peace of mind. The area has been growing for so long that the real estate industry has developed a deep professionalism that also adds to your home search confidence. Accompanying the qualified real estate sales agents is an industry of support, such as qualified mortgage lenders and loan officers who can assist in the Midtown Atlanta home purchase process.

While the rest of the country has suffered with high unemployment and depressed income levels, Midtown Atlanta has kept its employment figures in good shape. This means that finding a new home in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, is a financially reliable proposition.

But it is not just a quality of life, affordable prices, good schools, amenities and accolades that make Midtown Atlanta a great real estate market. It is also the attitude of optimism and forward thinking of long standing residents and newcomers that lends living in Midtown Atlanta such a satisfying choice.

The bottom line is not why you should move to Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, but with all these great attributes and benefits, why would you not?

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA, GEORGIA