Smith Elementary School in Atlanta | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	8/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Georgia Milestones End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment data from Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement, and using 2025 Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade (EOG) Assessment data from Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement.
Student Growth	5/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement.

Posted: August 19, 2026

They lie about everything no one in here is good at treating people right after school programs are disorganized and very rude to people they hire

Posted: June 24, 2026

Weve had an outstanding experience at Sarah Smith Elementary. The teachers are caring, engaged, and genuinely invested in helping every child succeed, not just academically but socially and emotionally as well.

What stands out most is the sense of community. Parents are incredibly involved, the PTO is active, and there is a real feeling that everyone is working together to make the school even better. Communication has been excellent, and weve always felt welcomed and heard.

Academically, weve been very impressed. Our children have been challenged, supported, and encouraged to develop a genuine love of learning. There are great enrichment opportunities, and the school does an excellent job setting high expectations while creating a warm, supportive environment.

Were also excited about where the school is headed. Strong leadership, a fantastic new principal, and the significant investment planned for the campus make it feel like Sarah Smiths best days are still ahead.

No school is perfect, but we would wholeheartedly recommend Sarah Smith to any family looking for an excellent elementary school with dedicated teachers, engaged families, and a community that truly cares.

Posted: June 24, 2026

Sarah Smith has been an incredible school community for our family. We have had multiple children come through the school, and I continue to be impressed by the teachers, the academic expectations, and the way the community shows up for students and families. The IB framework, strong parent involvement, and caring staff make it feel like a place where children are known, challenged, and supported.

No school is perfect, but Sarah Smith is truly special. The teachers work so hard, the families are engaged, and there is a real sense of pride in the school. My children have grown academically and socially here, and we are very grateful to be part of this community. 10/10 recommend.

Posted: November 26, 2025

they were okay, when i was in 2nd grade in the 2018-2019 school year i was part of the dual language immersion program therefore i had a spanish and english teacher, both were equally as bad, although the spanish teacher pushed me to do better, which i now appreciate, but the english teacher once told me and i quote youre gonna end up with a baby your mom is gonna take care of apart from that all the teachers i had were great

Posted: November 13, 2025

Sarah Smith Elementary is an outstanding school with strong academics, caring teachers, excellent communication, and a safe, welcoming environment. The schools IB program, focus on the science of reading, and small-group instruction truly support students at every level. Teachers know their students well and help them grow both academically and socially.

The parent community is incredibly supportive, and there are many opportunities to get involved. My child feels happy, challenged, and supported every day. We recommend Sarah Smith for families looking for a diverse school with high expectations, a positive culture, and a strong sense of community.

Posted: November 5, 2025

Sarah Smith has been a great experience for our family. My children have made friends with classmates from a variety of backgrounds, and the schools diversity has made them more thoughtful, curious, and open-minded. As neighborhood parents, were grateful we chose our local school its been a great decision for our family and our values. There have been leadership changes and the school is now in a strong place under the new experienced leadership of Mrs. Perot and the International Baccalaureate program continues to set a high bar. My kids are challenged through accelerated class work and enjoy a full day each week in their dedicated gifted class (new in 2025-2026). There are many enrichment opportunities debate club, math club, academic bowl, reading bowl, chorus, etc. The after-school program is a lifesaver for working parents, and weve made dear friends as a family.

Posted: June 7, 2025

Our son went to kindergarten for the 2023/24 school year. I wanted to try it first since it was the local neighborhood school before we made a decision on private. Overall, it was very average. There is definitely a strong culture at the school to make learning exciting- I feel like it comes mainly from a group of highly involved parents who donate their time. The administration is okay- there is regular communication about events going on, etc. and I think theyre vested in fostering a strong school community. The teachers are so/so- your classroom experience depends on which one you get. My child was not in the dual emersion language program, and looking back I think I made a mistake not enrolling him. It appeared the students in that program did not experience some of the behavioral issues that were in the general ed classrooms. I cant speak to the intermediate school, but the primary school facilities are old and past their prime. My overall take is that this school was once a great school that enrolled neighborhood kids. It is now an average school at best.

Posted: April 29, 2025

Our 4th Grader was assaulted and battered by another student at Sarah Smith Elementary leading to a diagnosed moderate concussion. Current administrators at the intermediate campus attempted to sweep it under the rug and deemed it a mutual fight. Unfortunately, we had to visit the doctor, have a meeting with the superintendent Mr. Douglas, contact the juvenile district attorney, visit downtown Atlanta, as well as submit an open records request. We have been so dissatisfied with the administration at Sarah Smith. We learned of other incidents involving other students. Parents have been coming forward. Unfortunately two weeks after the attack, our son was hit again at recess by another student. The bullying continued after the assault, and the administration only offered a (no contact order) after they learned about the concussion. The student who gave our son a concussion was put in proximity to our son two days after the attack. Sarah Smith administration is relaxed on bullying and physical violence. They will not suspend or expel a student for serious infractions. We have always been huge supporters of the school, but physical violence is occurring too often! there should be a NO tolerance policy for physical violence.

Posted: April 13, 2023

My child is in 1st grade at Smith and it is everything I hoped it would be. There is a community culture that fosters family relationships and the learning culture is beyond the classroom. Also, there is diversity and Smith does a good job of celebrating it. My daughter comes home often telling me about other cultures and their customs. There has been some turnover in administration in the past 2 years but honestly, it does not seem to have had a negative impact. I am pretty involved with the school and am very pleased.

Posted: February 4, 2023

My kid never felt welcomed in this school and he refuse to go to school every single days. I should have known that this is not the right school during the registration process, the staffs are rude and not helpful at all. My kid was bullied and discriminated and we constantly received negative comments, which is totally not what he usually behaved. I have reached out and show our concern and none of them much cared about this matter, especially if you are colored or minority.

Posted: January 16, 2023

We have a 1st grader at Sarah Smith and have had a fabulous experience. Both our kindergarten and 1st grade teachers have been amazing and have taken the time to go above and beyond for our son. We also were able to take advantage of free Saturday tutoring and have really enjoyed getting to know the other parents at the school.

Posted: March 6, 2021

If your child has a learning disability, it is very challenging to get help at this overcrowded school. The support teachers were really helpful and nurturing but the actual teacher, was not. Teaching seemed more like a job for her rather than a passion. Like maybe she got a degree in education but she doesn't really like children.

Overall, this school was very disorganized and I had to constantly follow up to keep things on track. The principal sent tons of emails and liked to make announcements about the PTA but when it came down to resolving issues, she passed the responsibility to other teachers. In other words, you can forget about receiving a callback from her. The PTA was always asking for money and honestly that seemed to be the focus of this school...raising money for the PTA. While the PTA is a great asset to have, I wish they would focus more on the quality of the education. Yes, it's nice to have an iPad for each student but if the teachers are not great, then all of the fancy gadgets don't mean much.

In conclusion, just because this school is in Buckhead doesn't mean its better. Don't be fooled and make the same mistake I did.

Posted: March 6, 2021