The Rutledge Plan in Johnson Crossing by Smith Douglas Homes
Cartersville, GA 30121

I have two graduates. One that did well because she wanted to, not because she had help through school leadership, and one that was never encouraged through teachers to do better than they wanted. I encouraged and pushed all the way to the end. I thought sending to Cartersville was the best for my kids. Not necessarily so. To be fair, I should have kept in closer contact and been more proactive to make sure my child was getting what he needed from the school. Not the Cartersville High School of the past. Only known, currently, for sports.

This school has some positive qualities, including several teachers who are kind, supportive, and genuinely care about their students. However, there are also ongoing issues that make the school environment stressful and frustrating for many students.The amount of work assigned is extremely heavy and often overwhelming. High expectations are understandable, but the workload frequently feels excessive and leaves students under constant pressure. When students struggle, concerns are sometimes acknowledged, but support does not always feel sufficient or effective.The school does offer counseling, which is appreciated, but it often feels limited. While the resource exists, it does not always result in meaningful support, follow-up, or changes to help students manage stress in a realistic way. Mental health support could be much stronger and more impactful.The student environment can also feel unwelcoming. There is a noticeable social divide, and students who do not fit a certain look — often associated with being white and blonde — can feel excluded or judged. Hispanic students, in particular, may feel less accepted, and this is something the school should address more intentionally.The dress code, especially the leggings rule, is enforced far too often and feels unreasonable. Students are required to wear very long shirts that must completely cover their butt at all times — even when raising their hand. At that point, it feels less like a shirt requirement and more like being expected to wear a dress. This level of enforcement is excessive, especially considering that students are not wearing inappropriate clothing. Everything worn is normal and appropriate for a school setting. The constant focus on this rule is unnecessary and distracting from more important priorities like learning and student well-being.While some teachers are understanding and supportive, others are very strict and less empathetic toward students’ needs. Overall, the school would benefit from balancing expectations with empathy, improving mental health support, addressing social inclusivity, and reconsidering overly strict dress code policies. Glad I got out of this school.

Facuilty unwilling to work in best intrest of child. The school has a systemic problem they ignore. As long as this continues is not in the best interest of the child to be placed in this school system without supervision, nor are they getting the education they deserve.

This school is all about department of children service and Money for everything. Children are not treated as equal it's a who knows who parent for special treatment.