Louise Scoggins' Blog: Cobb County

On Wednesday, Cobb County School Board voted 4-3 to implement a more balanced calendar for students starting in 2010. The new calendar adopts a shorter summer, but gives a 1-week vacation in September, February, and April (in addition to usual Winter Break). School will start the first week of August and end just before Memorial Day.

Parents in opposition of the new calendar cited reasons of this hurting the ability for a student to find a summer job. Others said athletes wouldn’t have as much time to practice. But I think students will like the new calendar. I grew up on a “year-round” school system, and it was perfect. You would go to school for a 2 months, then have a week off, and still have a generous summer break. It is definitely more balanced,…

With the recent catastrophic floods in the Atlanta area, many residents have been left wondering what to do with their severely damaged homes. Facing major repairs and no flood insurance, what options do you have? I recently heard of a couple that had just spent their life savings renovating their home in East Cobb. Sadly, the home was destroyed in the floods. Without flood insurance and not having any money in the bank, they feared their only option was to let the home go into foreclosure. What a devastating realization! Not only to lose your home and all of your possessions, but to be forced into foreclosure. It’s a terribly sad thing to think about, yet alone to be faced with.

Hearing about this sparked my thinking into the hundreds of homes that were…

Adorable 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom East Cobb ranch now available for rent – only $900 / month! This cozy home features a large kitchen with eat-in dining area, as well as a spacious family room and open floorplan. The Master Suite features a private bathroom, and the secondary bedroom has a hall bathroom that can be shared for guests. There is even a doggie-door from the kitchen leading into the backyard. There is also a1-car carport with laundry room, and a flagstone patio off the carport. Large, wooded lot is super low maintenance and has a fully fenced backyard. Parking pad makes for an easy turn around or additional guest parking. Awesome schools! Kincaid Elementary, Simpson Middle, and Sprayberry High. Perfect for a young family or roommates. Rent of…

Earlier this week, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue voted for teachers and other state employees to take 3 unpaid furlough days before the end of the year in an attempt to cope with the state’s growing budget shortfall. The cries of “No Fair!” could be heard state wide as the news spread of teacher’s already small salaries being docked by another 3 days. I have been following this story through news articles and seeing the response of not only teachers but the community as well. Seemingly, the general consensus is that teacher’s salaries should be the last one’s touched. Teachers are overworked, underpaid enough already, and in charge of educating the future of our country. Can’t the cuts come from somewhere else? Why does the education department have to…

Instant Equity!! Amazing new listing in Smyrna, GA listed for just $500,000. This gorgeous Craftsman style home is Earthcraft certified, and features 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The main floor features a great floorplan for entertaining with formal living room, large formal dining room, and open kitchen and family room. The kitchen boasts gorgeous stained cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, decorator tile backsplash, pantry, and eat-in breakfast area. Large center island doubles as a breakfast bar. Spacious family room features custom built-in cabinets and TV niche, as well as recessed spot lights. Hardwood floors flank the entire main level, and you can also find a powder room and study on this level as well. Double doors lead off…

Last month, Newsweek Magazine put out their annual list of “Top 1,500 Public Schools”, outlining the best public schooling institutions across America. Remarkably, 12 out of 17 Cobb County High Schools ranked in the list! That’s amazing. The highest ranking Cobb County school was George Walton High School, coming in at an impressive 91.

Overall, 54 Georgia high schools made the list. It astounds me that nearly a quarter of those were schools right here in Cobb County. Now, this solidifies the fact that when I have buyers looking for nice homes in an excellent school district that Cobb County is one of the first places I direct them to. It’s no wonder that Cobb County Real Estate is some of the most in-demand real estate!

So if schools are important to…

Beautiful Cobb County is part of Metropolitan Atlanta, sitting just north and slightly west of Downtown Atlanta across the Chattahoochee River. Cobb County consists of several cities: Marietta (the largest city and county seat), Kennesaw, Acworth, Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Austell, and Powder Springs. The 2008 population estimate for Cobb County per the US Census Bureau is 698,158. Cobb County consistently ranks among the top 100 wealthiest counties across the US, and has one of the lowest crime rates in the state.

One of the biggest draws for people to come to Cobb County is the superior school districts. Cobb is home to some of the state’s best schools, and ranks as Georgia’s most educated county. In fact, the schools are so good here in Cobb that it…