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Magazine profiles 3 Fayette schools as ‘best’

By J. FRANK LYNCH
jflynch@theCitizenNews.com

The editors at Atlanta magazine have high regard for education in Fayette County, ranking three local schools — Fayette County, McIntosh and Starr’s Mill — among the best high schools, either public or private, in the 13-county metro area.

Landmark Christian School in Fairburn and Woodward Academy in College Park are also recognized in the special report, appearing on the cover of the magazine’s January issue. No other schools south of I-20 were included.

All total, 21 public schools and 19 private schools were profiled by the magazine, which also names its Top 10 in five categories —  Language Arts, Science/Math, Sports, Arts, and All-Around, which consists of schools achieving in all four areas.

Fayette High made the grade in Arts, McIntosh excelled at both Math/Science and Athletics, and Starr’s Mill was included on the All-Around list.

Fulton County led in number of schools recognized with six, while Cobb County was second with five. Next came Fayette.

The state’s two largest school systems, Gwinnett and DeKalb, each had just two schools make the grade, while Atlanta City, Decatur City and Rockdale County each had one.

To select the 40 schools on the list, the magazine analyzed SAT scores, magnet program/International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement offerings, special facilities, clubs and extracurricular activities, and recent state and national awards.

Within the individual school profiles, the magazine writes that at Fayette High “musicians perform on an international stage,” while at McIntosh, “this past semester, enough students were interested to make up four sections of AP statistics.”

About Starr’s Mill, recognized in the All-Around category, the magazine says, “This Fayette County school’s impressive list of honors includes various writing and reporting awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association” and concludes with, “the Panthers are always on the prowl for sports championships.”

The January issue also includes an overview of each of the 11 systems in the immediate metro area, and provides an exhausting listing of the independent schools in the region as well.

In summarizing the district overall, the report by Mary Jo Dilonardo with Amanda K. Brown said Fayette “has a history of high test scores and strong parental and community involvement” and recognizes the Evening High School as one example of an “innovative program.”