About Progress 2016
The titles and rankings seem to come in droves each year.
From health and wealth to education and youth, most Forsyth residents know the county is at the forefront of north Georgia and the state in various factors that help shape quality of life.
These factors — which residents embrace and have come to expect — carry their share of numbers. Indeed, politicians and others are fond of touting such statistics.
With that in mind, the staff of the Forsyth County News contacted government and school officials, business owners and public safety personnel to compile some interesting and easy-to-read figures from the past year.
New FCS teachers by the numbers
319 – New educators for 2015-16 school year
16 – States those educators came from
5 – Married couples who are new educators
48 – Recent college graduates among new educators
43 – New educators coming from other school systems in Georgia
4,517 – FCS employees
To read the entire Progress 2016 edition, click here.
All 22 elementary schools in Forsyth County are among the top 100 in recent rankings released by Niche.
The website produces insight into neighborhoods, school districts and colleges to help families make decisions on where to live. The rankings included best public schools and districts in Georgia.
While Buford is home to the best elementary school in Georgia, according to the study, and the next top five are in Decatur, seven from Forsyth are in the top 20 and 14 are in the top 50. They are all in the top 100, with the lowest being ranked 62.
Following are the rankings for elementary schools:
* Cumming: 7
* Whitlow: 8
* Johns Creek: 11
* Daves Creek: 12
* Shiloh Point: 14
* Settles Bridge: 17
* Midway: 20
* Mashburn: 21
* Sawnee: 22
* Chestatee: 23
* Chattahoochee: 25
* Big Creek: 28
* Coal Mountain: 32
* Brookwood: 46
* Silver City: 55
* Kelly Mill: 58
* Vickery Creek: 59
* Sharon: 60
* Matt: 61
* Haw Creek: 62
All nine middle schools in Forsyth County were ranked between 3 and 28 as follows:
* Otwell: 3
* Piney Grove: 4
* Little Mill: 5
* Lakeside: 7
* Liberty: 15
* Riverwatch: 17
* South Forsyth: 18
* Vickery Creek: 19
* North Forsyth: 28
Four of the five public high schools were placed in the top 100, with the fifth coming in at 136. Their rankings:
* Lambert: 4
* South Forsyth: 8
* West Forsyth: 49
* Forsyth Central: 79
* North Forsyth: 136
Grades for school-level rankings took into account factors such as the strength of academics, quality of teachers, diversity and overall quality of the school district.
Officials and those involved in the local school system have said on numerous previous occasions that it is one of the best in the country.
As a system, Forsyth County Schools was named the fifth best district in Georgia, behind Buford City, Decatur City, Oconee County and Calhoun City.
District rankings were based on the same factors as the schools were graded on, as well as student and parent reviews.