Griffin Middle School in Smyrna | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	7/10	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: March 30, 2026

genuinely people are so rude here, the teacher were pretty nice but the ladies in the front office are so rude, the consolers have favorites, literally they do not help at all, i had a 6th grade bullying experience they did not help me at all nor punish them that's how lazy they are. if you want your child not to have a bad middle school experience please dont pick this middle school.

Posted: October 30, 2025

My son is new to this school as a 6th grader this year. I had heard a few bad things about it, and was nervous at first. The things I had heard and that other negative reviews have mentioned have not been our experience.

Communication from administration is great. Teachers care about the kids and also communicate with parents. I get a response same-day when I have a question.

My son has reported no negative experiences with peers, and has not seen anything bad happening. This is a great middle school with positive-spirited teachers and leadership.

Theres a lot of parent involvement and opportunities to volunteer. There are also plenty of teacher / staff appreciation events to support those educating our children.

Posted: October 1, 2025

Avoid this school at all costs. 2 months in and my daughter was physically assaulted by 3 boys. School did nothing. I had to seek help and take my child out of the school. The admins said they couldnt guarantee my childs safety. The admins are overwhelmed with issues like drugs , gangs and vaping. You would think in a quaint community like Smyrna with so much diversity where the home values are skyrocketing wouldnt see such an influx of internal issues. Recently I spoke to a dad whose daughter was punched in the face by a boy and the admin said it was a TikTok trend. Its like they took all of the inept administrations and teachers, and told them to be in one school. This middle school should be banned. They are lucky I didnt press criminal charges and a civil suit on the school district. We are counting the days to when we can exit Smyrna. The schools are terrible.

Posted: August 22, 2025

These ladies at the front office are rude and dont help out . Theyre very rude and dont understand some parents arent the best with computers they can sit there and eat their entire breakfast but cant help a parent in need .

Posted: May 1, 2024

I was a student in this school but recently moved this school was not in any way a good school! I was stressed and always felt like i wasn't good enough please find a better school that gives better learning and better teaching skills!

Posted: October 30, 2023

Griffin Middle School is the best school to go too

Posted: September 8, 2022

i Have noticed a very high amount of people rating thiis school have not been thinking clearly i can unterstand i would not reccoment this school i was a student there myself the teachers are great counslers are always there to help it had its ups and downs but i would reccoment not going i got bothered couldnt focus on learning i ended up droping out the last two months of 8th grade im happy in high school now but if your in ac classes(advanced content) it goes pretty well i was in for most of the duration of myy stay until middle of 8th

Posted: May 6, 2022

This school is terrible my child had got beaten up and I was not notified about anything.

Posted: April 30, 2020

There was a boy with an IEP plan and his AC teacher refused to acknowledge his IEP saying that he was in AC classes and that he should learn to deal with it.

Posted: April 30, 2020

Students get in many fights and many people are picked on (especially of race minority). To add to it teachers are ether oblivious to whats going on or they also bully students.

Posted: April 30, 2020

In all this school has been ok would I ever send my child to it no, but I have made enjoyed a few teachers who have really impacted my learning growth.

Posted: April 30, 2020

from 6th grade to 7th to 8th grade the homework tripples without warning!

Posted: April 30, 2020

Being in an ac class yiu kinda teach yourself.

Posted: April 30, 2020

Students talk back to teachers, get in many fights, and constanly get in trouble after being told not to.

Posted: April 30, 2020

After the change pricipals there has been an uprise of fights and drugs...they do disapline but they disapline grade wide (even to students who haven't done anything) and they school hand book for disapline.

Posted: May 20, 2019

The experience had been great. They have great experienced teachers. My child was recommended for clubs, awards and classes due to academic performance. T

Posted: May 20, 2019

Posted: February 7, 2019

My daughter was bullied by a substitute and her teacher because of her accent.

Posted: February 7, 2019

Teachers don't like to communicate with the parents about the students learning. Or if they have a problem understanding.

Posted: February 7, 2019

This school needs a better management and new policy. Students should not be bullied by an adult because of her accent. Yet the principal and administrators blame the child because she doesn't know how to pronounce some words. Teachers should not laugh at her.

Posted: February 7, 2019

No they are not. My daughter was in advance classes and just because she didn't have much communication with the teacher but finished all her work. She was removed from that class without any notice or call to the parent.

Posted: February 7, 2019

Posted: October 19, 2018

Personally, I believe these traits must be instilled at home. But certainly, they are underscored at Griffin.

Posted: October 19, 2018

Paul Gillihan, the current principal, is passionate and caring about every student and the mission of this school. He is transparent and nearly always accessible and responsive to concerns.

Posted: October 19, 2018

Assignments are relevant, but not excessive. Great balance.

Posted: October 19, 2018

I meet with every one of my childs teachers. In three years, I have been extremely impressed with their commitment to teaching (most for 20 years or more) and clear devotion to their responsibilities and their students.

Posted: October 19, 2018

Extremely satisfied. We are an affluent household (about $200k/year) and quite a few of our neighbors elect to send their kids to private school once they begin sixth grade. And yet, they know nothing about Griffin other than the rumors typically associated with a school that has a significant number of minority and lower-income students. Nor do they bother taking a tour or talking to school administrators and current parents. They dont learn about the Advanced Content classes or the awesome clubs.That is most unfortunate, because I believe their kids are missing out on precisely what makes Smyrna so greatdiversity! If your child comes from a household that has instilled a love of learning and responsible behavior, then they will do just fine. In fact, they will excel. People focus far too much on test scores, when the reality is that these scores are clearly impacted by certain populations far more than others. So if your focus is on your child doing well and you get involved in the school, that enriches our entire community. But if you prefer to sit back and do nothing, by all means uproot your household to the hinterlands of East Cobb or pay Whitefield $20k a year. Griffin is great! We are very pleased.

Posted: July 28, 2017

Very positive. The schools leadership has brought great progress in a short time. The attitudes in the administration and teachers are greatly impacting the attitudes of the students; and ultimately the parents. This has created a strong community encompassing the school and the community as a whole.

Posted: July 28, 2017

Posted: April 24, 2017

Great school for my daughter! They have several academic programs.

Posted: April 24, 2017

Posted: April 17, 2017

My son is very advanced in some areas and on grade level in others. He has been given the ability to take classes at his level, even when it meant accommodations had to be made by administrators and teachers.

Posted: April 17, 2017

Griffin's diversity is it's greatest strength. The ability to interact with students from all socioeconomic, racial and religious backgrounds has led to an increase in compassion and empathy in my son.

Posted: April 17, 2017

My son has been at Griffin for a year now and loves it. He is in gifted classes and gets to learn in ways that help him reach his potential. He is surrounded by all kinds of people and is in daily contact with children from all over the world. I value that he is able to succeed and be in an environment that truly reflects all of society. Griffin is working towards STEM certification and has a variety of after school programs geared towards students interested in such topics. They have partnered with the Atlanta Braves to offer a design challenge program, they have a group headed to Washington DC because of their participation in GA Tech's INVENTURE Challenge, they participate in Future City (a city planning contest), along with Science Olympiad, and Math Bee.

Posted: March 29, 2016

My oldest daughter is in 6th grade and is having a wonderful experience at Griffin! From the open houses when she was a 5th grader and the orientation camp last summer, her enthusiasm for this school has only grown. We are very happy with the teachers and the parent engagement is really making a difference. Principal Gillihan is a great administrator, and handled the only "issue" we've had quickly and with common sense and compassion. My daughter participates in after school clubs, enjoys intramurals before school, and is involved in every possible chorus experience available to her (Ms. Rabun, 2015-16 TOTY is AMAZING). I've been impressed with the creative assignments that she gets and believe that her teachers are balancing classwork, homework, and projects in a way that is making school both manageable and actually interesting to her. She struggled in the past with some of her more advanced classes. We would love to see the community see how much these kids are thriving at Griffin - the spring musical, fall talent show, International Night, open houses, the Haunted House fundraiser, and so many other events offer opportunities for future parents and community leaders to get a real view of the school.

Posted: March 27, 2016

I cannot say enough good about the teachers at Griffin. They truly care about all of the kids and want to see them succeed in life. Some of the hardest working people I have ever seen!

Posted: March 27, 2016

The middle schools schedule is rough in general. The kids do not get out until 4:15 and so by the time they get home, it is usually around 5 pm. There is some homework, but not so much that they cannot still participate in an afterschool club, or other activity and still get homework done in time for a decent bedtime. As part of the public school system in Cobb, parents can check on their school work and homework regularly online.

Posted: March 27, 2016

I believe that the teachers and administration at Griffin role model those characteristics in their everyday behavior which in turn sets a great example for our kids. I have seen teachers take money out of their own pockets to ensure that all students at Griffin get opportunities to some events that perhaps they either forgot to bring their own money or they cannot afford. Their compassion and love that they have for all the kids is heartwarming!

Posted: March 27, 2016

I have had two children graduate from Griffin Middle School and both had incredible experiences there. My oldest son was in all gifted classes and he more than excelled there academically and socially. He was constantly challenged by his teachers and he made such great friendships there. He is now a senior in the IB program at Campbell High School. The caliber of teachers at Griffin is very high. My son still remains close to many of the teachers there. My second son was not in gifted classes when he started at Griffin, however by the time he graduated, he was in all advance classes. Those teachers truly inspired him academically. He is now a sophomore in the IB program at Campbell High School. Griffin's teachers do an amazing job preparing the students for the rigor of the IB program and many of its graduates enter magnet programs around the county. In fact, Griffin has one of the highest acceptance rates to magnets in the county.
I now have a daughter attending Griffin and she also was not in gifted classes when she first began at Griffn. She was not in Target at the elementary school either and she has a slight learning disability, yet, she now she is in 7th grade and has been able to get into all advance classes. Again, I attribute this to the amazing teachers and administration at Griffin that TRULY care about our kids. The school also has a robust, dedicated PTSA and an equally committed Foundation. I highly recommend anyone zoned for Griffin to visit the school, meet the Principal, attend some functions. You will not be sorry and you will save tons of money by not choosing private!

Posted: January 6, 2016

Griffin has a wonderful administration! They are committed to the learning process. There have an energy that is contagious.

Posted: December 9, 2015

The administration emphasizes that children should be given a manageable load of homework. Our children are able to participate in demanding extra curricular activities while maintaining their class assignments.

Posted: December 9, 2015

Students are encouraged to excel to the best of their potential, regardless of learning style or background. The school does an excellent job of addressing the needs of all of their students, and the kids are given multiple opportunities to nurture their passions through a variety of clubs-a number of which are dedicated to civil service. The staff is engaged and there is a very active and involved group of parents dedicated to the continued growth of Griffin!

Posted: December 9, 2015

GMS adminstration and teachers treat all students fairly and the messaging to the students is open and honest. GMS leads by example and has high expectations of all of its students! Honesty in leadership promotes honesty in the students.

Posted: December 9, 2015

So far at Griffin Middle School I have become involved in the PTA, the GMS Foundation, and my son has become involved in many clubs. We are very pleased with the accessibility to both the teachers and adminstration and really love the "can do" attitude that promotes positivity at the school! With leadership from Mr. Gillihan, GMS is moving forward to continually improve itself and expand the offerings to the students as well as finding new ways to empower and reward teachers! It's a great environment and has been very welcoming. We are happy to be in a public school with so much to offer.

Posted: December 8, 2015

My daughter has been in AC and non AC classes over the past two years. She has excelled in both arenas. The consistent theme has been the overwhelming support of the teachers I.e, offering after hour future sessions and

Posted: December 8, 2015

GMS is one the first CCSD county wide initiative positive behavior initiative system. Staff focuses on positive reinforcement to encourage kids to make good decisions. The PTSA supports this effort with funds and volunteerism.

Posted: December 8, 2015

GMS is diverse and has a lot to offer students of all walks of life.

Posted: November 18, 2015

Our family is new to GMS. Having come from a top-ranked ES and seeing many other parents in this area opting to go private, it was a bit unsettling to go this path. However, we have been VERY impressed with the administration (Mr. Gillihan is AWESOME!) and faculty. Our child is in nearly all AC classes and one advanced class. The teachers definitely ease them (and nervous parents!) into the middle school system as well as maintaining high expectations. The PTSA and Foundation arms are very active and do a wonderful job augmenting the school's efforts. The School motto is simple yet so effective - Be Great. Be Griffin. The variety of after and before school activities is phenomenal with something for EVERYONE! Athletes, Creatives, Academics. In addition, the school does outreach to the local Latino population and celebrating diversity of the school population. One improvement Id like to see is incoming 6th graders be allowed to take a foreign language as our global economy continues to evolve and language borders shrink.

Posted: April 14, 2015

Like most parents I was worried about my child starting middle school. I held my breath the morning I watched my daughter walk through the doors of GMS. Since that day I have watched her excel academically and socially. She gained confidence and maturity through the great clubs offered at Griffin. I love all of her teachers and how involved the parents are. Griffin has a great PTSA!! I couldn't be happier. Five star excellent school!!!

Posted: February 11, 2015

I have taught at several different schools across Paulding and Cobb Counties and Griffin, by far, has been the best experience so far. Griffin is committed to meeting all students where their needs lie, whether that be through accelerating or remediating. Staff are dedicated to making sure that each student receives what they need. Administration is dedicated to making Griffin a safe and educational environment where all students' basic needs are met so that they can be free to learn.

Posted: January 3, 2015

I currently have two children at Griffin and could not be more pleased with the school. They are both being academically challenged and have also made great friends. They are involved in clubs and extra curricular activities which give them a healthy balance. The teachers are fantastic and are very responsive to any questions or concerns that I may have. The parent involvement is outstanding. There is a very active PTSA and Foundation which work together to help provide necessary resources to the teachers, staff and students not otherwise funded by the county. The music program is quite large and have produced some outstanding musicians. Griffin's Got Talent in the Fall and the Spring Musical are two performances that are not to be missed. I would not hesitate sending your child to this school!

Posted: December 10, 2014

Griffin Middle has highly qualified, motivated teachers, who really care about their students. As an 8th grade teacher, my focus is on engagement, rigor, and preparation for the future.

Posted: December 10, 2014

Griffin Middle School is on the cutting edge of education. We pave the way for the newest and and best strategies for student learning and achievement. The teachers and staff are dedicated to the success of every student by going the extra mile for students. Students notice that teachers care about their success.

Posted: November 24, 2014

Griffin has been a great choice for my daughter who has excelled all the CRT testing, this is all thanks to the great staff who make sure you have all the tools needed for the child to succeed like books, websites from the Liaison from Griffin, to the Principal who tries within his power to make sure kids are on time, and follow instructional classes in a respectful way, to staff who are always friendly and ready to help out when is needed to the awesome teachers who put up long hours making sure students are getting the best education there is in Cobb. As I will always say this is a three way partnership where Parents,Teachers and Students make it happened. Griffin Middle School is your choice when it comes to Middle School ,as a great community has decided to come together and give it a chance to a school who I can say now is worth to take the "risk" no risk at all, do your research as I did and I just have positive comments.

Posted: November 23, 2014

Griffin is an amazing school. The DRAW (Discuss/Read/Analyze/Write) initiative focuses on student literacy across the 4 core content disciplines and has made a remarkable difference for our kids. Test scores are up across the board and student progress and growth place Griffin with the top schools in east Cobb. Griffin has developed a partnership with Kennesaw State University which provides additional resources for both students and staff. There are many clubs for students to join which include our Academic Bowl Team, Math Team, Science/Robotics Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Drama to name a few. The Builders Club participates in community service and has raised and donated money for local entities in Smyrna. The school offers parent tours the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Come and see for yourselves what great things are happening. You will not be disappointed.

Posted: November 6, 2014

Griffin's principal, administrative staff and teachers are extremely dedicated to making Griffin a top school in Cobb County and it is well on its way. The accelerated program is top-notch and competitive with East Cobb schools. The school has a solid discipline policy which provides a safe and secure learning environment. There are many extracurricular programs available and the Fine Arts program is excellent.

Posted: May 21, 2014

My special needs child graduated from Griffin Middle School Haven program this year. He had an AWESOME EXPERIENCE. His teacher Mrs. Hampton taught with excellence and she and her team worked very hard taking my child to the next skill levels each year from 6-8th grade. My child wanted to go to school every morning and would even get up on Saturdays and ask to go to school. I pray he gets the same Attention, Love and Care from Osborne High School.

Posted: May 3, 2014

Great 1st year at GMS. We could not be more pleased with our experience. Accelerated class content offerings is outstanding; so much that the school certified more teachers last summer to meet the needs of students coming into the school. The CCRPI results were just released a few weeks ago and GMS had the highest improvement over any middle school in the county. This is a lagging indicator; therefore we expect this number to continue to go up each year as students matriculate up thru excellent feeder schools including Nickajack Elementary and King Springs Elementary. We have been extremely pleased with the arts/music programs available thru the school - band, art club, advanced chorus/chorus, orchestra and extra curricular drama/musical programs and step team. The opportunity for our school is better communication to parents on all activities taking place at the school - we get newsletter, phone tree calls, social posts, teacher blogs but there are still areas for improvement to ensure everyone is informed. There are great things happening all the time at GMS, but we don't get consolidated information always. Overall, very pleased in our first year at GMS. Go Wildcats!

Posted: April 29, 2014

This is my fifth year with children in GMS and we (parents and children) are very happy. The teachers and staff are wonderful. I come from a family of educators and I truly believe in our public schools. Schools, as well as the education a child receives, are going to be what you make of it. The public schools in this area make it easy to get involved and stay connected. Years ago when my children started at King Springs Elementary an involved dad told me to not believe the rumor mill . I have never heard anything bad about the local Smyrna Schools from people who are actually involved in them. Any bad press the local schools receive always starts with, well I heard... Strong Schools create strong communities and the public schools in Smyrna are strong. If people would spend half the amount of energy on getting involved in the schools as they do seeking alternatives we would be the best public school system in GA.

Posted: September 22, 2013

After almost two months at Griffin Middle School, we could not be more pleased. The teachers we have met make a very favorable impression, the administrators are professional and responsive, and the principal is a true leader. As a parent, what more could you ask for? I'll tell you what we want: We want happy students getting off the bus in the afternoon, and that is exactly what we have! Is there room for improvement at Griffin? Of course there is. There is no such thing as a perfect school, but in our opinion, Griffin Middle School comes pretty close.

Posted: September 22, 2013

When you review middle schools in Smyrna area on this website, you realize very quickly that there are few constructive reviews. I'm sure all parents have opinions about the middle school their children attend. Why not share those views with the community for the benefit of other parents. This website is a great resource. I am pleased to say that Griffin Middle School is truly a Great School. We had heard some things that were not so good, but clearly that proved to be a thing of the past. If you are trying to decide between a private school, charter school, or Griffin Middle School, make an appointment and meet the administrative staff. Get to know some of the teachers. Learn about the advanced classes. Meet some parents whose children attend Griffin. I think you'll be favorably impressed.

Posted: August 22, 2013

My son attended Griffin from 2010-2013. His classes were challenging. His teachers were excellent. The band directors are awesome. He worked hard and was accepted to 2 of the Cobb County Magnet Programs. Many of his friends were also accepted to multiple magnet programs. This is the result of the rigorous curriculum, excellent teachers, and dedicated students and their families.

Posted: August 21, 2013

This is my 5th year having a child at Griffin. My children have both done very well at Griffin. I am very glad they go to school with the kids they have grown up with in the community. Griffin is a great school.

Posted: July 26, 2013

So far my child has enjoyed to be at griffin. She has had great teachers for the past two years (6th and 7th). Teachers do their job, and worry about students. Great staff, dedicated and caring. Teachers are pushers for success. I am pro education. As parents you need a lot of involvement with teachers and your child need to love to study and do homework! There is a lot of work to take home, specially on the advance content program!

#	Name	Type	City	State	Overall Rating	Distance
1	Garden Hills	Condominium/Townhouse	Atlanta	GA		8.2 mi
2	Heritage Farms	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Marietta	GA		13 mi

Base	Distance
Dobbins ARB	4.1 mi.
Fort Gillem	19.6 mi.

Griffin Middle School

Smyrna, GA 30082

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Griffin Middle School

Smyrna, GA 30082

School Ratings

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