Forsyth County, GA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Forsyth County

Forsyth County Schools is a large, rapidly growing district in northern Georgia that spans from Cumming and Suwanee to areas near Ball Ground and Gainesville. The enrollment encompasses the full preschool through 12th grade range, with substantial cohorts at each level and a wide geographic footprint reflected in the housing markets across its service area. The county itself is experiencing considerable growth; home values and rental costs vary meaningfully across the district's towns, with areas like Milton and Alpharetta commanding premium prices while outlying areas around Cumming and Gainesville remain more modestly valued.

Academic performance in Forsyth County Schools shows mixed results across subjects and grades. In mathematics, proficiency rates are generally above the midpoint. Elementary students in grades 3 through 5 show solid performance, with proficiency rates in the high 60s to mid 70s. Middle school math proficiency stays in the upper 60s to low 70s through grade 8. English language arts proficiency is notably lower and more uneven. Third graders show a proficiency rate around 54 percent, which climbs to the low 60s by grades 4 through 8. Science data is incomplete for the district; grade 5 proficiency sits around 63 percent, but grade 8 science results are severely depressed at just under 4 percent, a signal that warrants direct conversation with the district about testing administration, curriculum alignment, or data reporting issues in that subject and grade level. Social studies results for grade 8 stand at 66 percent proficiency. The district does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch data, special education enrollment, or English learner counts, which limits transparency on how the district serves its most vulnerable populations.

The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. White students comprise roughly 44 percent of enrollment. Asian students represent a substantial share, just over 32 percent, reflecting significant immigrant and second-generation Asian populations in the county. Hispanic students account for roughly 14 percent of the district, and Black students about 4 percent. This diversity is a structural fact of the community; parents moving to Forsyth will find a peer environment that is distinctly multiracial, particularly with one of the state's larger Asian American populations.

Housing and cost of living are central to who can move to this district. The district-wide weighted home value is substantial and sits above both state and national benchmarks. Within the county, Milton commands the highest median prices, followed by Alpharetta, with the Cumming area slightly lower but still high. Rental costs are similarly elevated across most of the district. Monthly mortgage payments for a typical home are significant, and rent as a share of household income is high, around 31 percent. The district's approval of HB 717, a homestead exemption that caps annual taxable value increases at a modest single-digit percentage for school property taxes and is in effect through a specified future year, is a major financial relief for homeowners in a market where home values surged between 2022 and 2024. This measure provides long-term predictability on one of the largest recurring costs for families and was approved by voter referendum with no opt-out option. It took effect January 1, 2025.

Voters also approved ESPLOST VII in a November 2025 special election, continuing a education sales tax that is expected to generate a substantial sum over a multi-year period for capital projects including new schools, expansions, safety upgrades, technology, and transportation. This directly addresses whether the district can absorb rapid enrollment growth without overwhelming reliance on property taxes, a consideration central to housing affordability for parents settling here.

The district approved a distraction-free education policy effective August 5, 2025, that bans student use of cell phones, smart watches, and tablets during the school day in all grades, with a high school lunchtime exception. This is more restrictive than Georgia's state law, which covers only K-8, and represents a substantive shift in daily classroom environment that some parents may view as beneficial to focus and some may see as a constraint on student autonomy.

The district operates an extensive roster of schools across elementary, middle, and high school levels, including multiple options in each category, which provides some choice within the public system. State testing data was available only for grades 3 through 8 and specific high school outcomes; no graduation rate or high school exit exam data were provided. Parents looking at this district should view the English language arts results, particularly in elementary grades, and the anomalous science result in grade 8 as items worth investigating further with the district, since the data raises questions about whether students are receiving consistent preparation in those areas. The strong mathematics performance and substantial home value support from property tax relief are genuine strengths anchoring family decisions in a competitive housing market.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

54,984

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 14%

Black 4%

White 44%

Asian 33%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

42 schools are officially reported under this district.

Chattahoochee Elementary School

North Forsyth High School

Otwell Middle School

Midway Elementary School

Big Creek Elementary School

Mashburn Elementary School

Forsyth Central High School

Cumming Elementary School

Daves Creek Elementary School

Coal Mountain Elementary School

South Forsyth High School

Vickery Creek Elementary School

Sawnee Elementary School

North Forsyth Middle School

Vickery Creek Middle School

South Forsyth Middle School

Settles Bridge Elementary School

Matt Elementary School

Liberty Middle School

Sharon Elementary School

Chestatee Elementary

Riverwatch Middle School

Shiloh Point Elementary

West Forsyth High School

Little Mill Middle School

Silver City Elementary School

Piney Grove Middle School

Johns Creek Elementary

Haw Creek Elementary

George W. Whitlow Elementary

Lakeside Middle School

Brookwood Elementary

Lambert High School

Kelly Mill Elementary

DeSana Middle School

Brandywine Elementary School

Denmark High School

Alliance Academy for Innovation

Poole's Mill Elementary

Hendricks Middle School

East Forsyth High School

New Hope Elementary School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

69%

Grade 3

74%

Grade 4

74%

Grade 5

67%

Grade 6

70%

Grade 7

74%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

54%

Grade 3

61%

Grade 4

65%

Grade 5

65%

Grade 6

65%

Grade 7

60%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

63%

Grade 5

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

66%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$590,803

Year-over-year change-2.0%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$439K to $771K

vs. state typical1.77x

vs. national typical1.60x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
30041	Cumming	$640K	-2.4%	26.6%
30040	Cumming	$600K	-2.6%	25.1%
30028	Cumming	$550K	-2.4%	20.6%
30506	Gainesville	$448K	-1.3%	9.7%
30024	Suwanee	$617K	-2.4%	5.9%
30004	Milton	$765K	+0.3%	4.1%
30534	Dawsonville	$439K	-0.1%	2.9%
30107	Ball Ground	$488K	+1.4%	2.2%
30005	Alpharetta	$771K	-0.6%	2.1%
30097	Duluth	$724K	-0.3%	0.8%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,178/mo

Year-over-year change+1.3%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$1,852 to $2,366/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
30041	Cumming	$2,122	+2.3%	26.6%
30040	Cumming	$2,289	+0.2%	25.1%
30028	Cumming	$2,366	+2.3%	20.6%
30506	Gainesville	$1,962	+1.4%	9.7%
30024	Suwanee	$1,922	-2.0%	5.9%
30004	Milton	$2,022	+1.4%	4.1%
30534	Dawsonville	$2,132	+3.7%	2.9%
30107	Ball Ground	$2,139	—	2.2%
30005	Alpharetta	$1,952	-1.8%	2.1%
30097	Duluth	$1,852	-0.7%	0.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,981/mo

Home price / national median income7.1x

Annual rent / national median income31.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$804/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$333,559 (-1.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.