Withmere

I went when the school just got remodeled after COVID, and it felt like a private school. The school is great; good teachers, good building, and the resources available are in high quality. The school is great and close to the village neighborhoods so many kids can walk home quickly and safely. The staff is also great and they seem to like their jobs, and interact with the students in a friendly manner. The school is pretty clean for how big it is and every kid who went to middle or high school misses Austin.

We have a kindergartner in Kingsley. She's gotten to go on 3 field trips, attended movie nights in the cafeteria, book club, trunk or treat, Night of the Arts, field day, Derby day, and tons of other fun activities. Most staff there seems to know her name in spite of only being there a year, because it's such a nice small school. We've felt very engaged with the PTO, who are quite active and give many opportunities for parents to engage. The building is a little old, but many of the schools in Dunwoody are. I wish more would be done to maintain our buildings.

This is our second year at Chestnut, and unfortunately it has been the worst. Students are being taught reading foundations primarily on Chromebooks, with little insight into instruction. Communication from our child’s teacher is extremely limited unless supplies or snacks are needed. Grades are often posted months late, sometimes after the quarter ends, making it impossible to know what our child is learning or struggling with. Despite concerns raised by multiple parents, no meaningful changes have been made, and we are now halfway through the year. Our child began the year above average and is now testing below average on the MAP exam, which is very concerning. The lack of transparency and timely feedback makes it difficult for parents to support their children. Additionally, the school facilities need renovation, and there are minimal enrichment activities such as programs or plays. We are considering transferring to give our child a better opportunity to succeed.

My children are in 1st and 4th grade and have nothing bad to say about their experience. They have each liked certain teachers over others, which is very common, but have not had any issues with any teacher at all. As a parent, I am thankful that we have teachers that are invested in our children. My daughter struggles with severe ADHD, and her teachers have been fundamental in helping us get her the support she needs to thrive. Kids will be kids, and managing all of the emotions and personalities is hard, so thank you to the DES teachers and all you do for our children! The school is very secure and the staff is diligent about the safety of our students, which is the number one most important thing to my family. Thank you!

This is, without question, one of the worst schools I have ever encountered. I am a mother of two, with my oldest child graduating from college soon, and I have never experienced such gross negligence, lack of accountability, and disregard for a child’s well-being.My younger son is on the autism spectrum—Level 2 for social communication and Level 3 for repetitive behaviors. He struggles with sensory overload, large crowds, and social interaction, yet he is an exceptionally bright, kind, and academically gifted child. Despite his clearly documented needs, this school repeatedly failed him at every level.From the start, there was significant resistance and pushback regarding his evaluation, even though a private evaluation had already been completed. Teachers, administrators, and staff directly responsible for my son showed a dismissive, unconcerned attitude toward his challenges and needs. It was evident that supporting a neurodivergent child was viewed as an inconvenience rather than a responsibility.My son was bullied at this school. He came home with visible scratches on his hands and face caused by another student. He was targeted in the cafeteria, mocked, and had his lunch knocked out of his hands. These incidents were either minimized or inadequately addressed, leaving my child unsafe and unprotected in what should have been a nurturing environment.When it became clear that my son was not receiving appropriate services or protection, I hired an educational advocate. Instead of correcting their failures, the school became increasingly resistant once they were held accountable by someone knowledgeable about the system. My son continued to be denied necessary supports and accommodations.As a result of these ongoing failures, I filed a formal complaint with the state. An investigation was conducted, and the school was found liable for multiple gaps and violations in their systems and services. Ultimately, I was forced to withdraw my son to protect his emotional, physical, and developmental well-being.I would never recommend this school to any family—especially those with children who have disabilities or require specialized support. The treatment my son received was unacceptable, inhumane, and deeply disturbing. This school failed not only my child, but its fundamental duty to care for and protect vulnerable students.

Unbelievably good experience. Lots of opportunities for children. Plenty of fun parent activities after school. Lots of positive reinforcement programs.