Best Schools in Cumming, Georgia
40 schools · 20 Elementary · 10 Middle · 5 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Cumming?
Use this page to compare every school in Cumming by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Coal Mountain Elementary School
Elementary · Forsyth County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Cumming Elementary School
Elementary · Forsyth County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Poole's Mill Elementary
Elementary · Forsyth County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Cumming for 2026 are Coal Mountain Elementary School (8.4/10), Cumming Elementary School (8.3/10), and Poole's Mill Elementary (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 30 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
40
30 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$475,433
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
40
30 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$475,433
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.4/10 despite 33% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Cumming schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Cumming schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Cumming
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 30 rated schools; 40 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coal Mountain Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Cumming Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Poole's Mill Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | South Forsyth High School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Sawnee Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Vickery Creek Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Alliance Academy for Innovation | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Mashburn Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | South Forsyth Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Piney Grove Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $135,807
- Median home value
- $475,433
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 53%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 86%
46% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Cumming compares
Georgia rank
#79 of 243
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Georgia avg (6.3)
Median household income
$136k
194% of Georgia median
Schools in this city
39
Forsyth County runs Cumming's public schools
30 public schools. Forsyth County is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Cumming is a Forsyth County school (30 of 30).
Among 30 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.3 to 8.4 — the spread is inside Cumming, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Cumming, Georgia
Cumming, Georgia offers parents a public school landscape worth examining closely before committing to a neighborhood. The city has 30 ranked public schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels, with an average score of 5.5 out of 10. That midrange average tells only part of the story — performance varies meaningfully across schools, and where a family lives within Cumming determines which options are available by default.
The top end of that range is genuinely strong. Alliance Academy for Innovation leads all Cumming public schools with an 8.2 out of 10, making it the clear standout at the high school level. At the elementary level, Poole's Mill Elementary and Matt Elementary both score 7.1 or higher, and Chattahoochee Elementary earns a 6.9. Hendricks Middle School scores 7.3, giving families a solid option at the middle school stage as well. Across all 30 ranked schools, only 4 — or 13% — score 7 or above, which means high-performing schools are a real but limited segment of what Cumming offers.
That 13% figure is the most practical data point for parents. The majority of Cumming's public schools fall below the 7-point threshold, clustering around the citywide average. Families who prioritize academic performance should map their prospective neighborhoods against specific school assignments before finalizing a move or rental. Proximity to Alliance Academy for Innovation, Poole's Mill, or Hendricks Middle could meaningfully shape a child's educational experience compared to a school with a score closer to 5.5.
Parents researching Cumming should treat the 5.5 average as a baseline, not a ceiling. The city has pockets of strong public school performance, but they require deliberate navigation. Checking individual school scores against attendance zone boundaries is the fastest way to assess whether a specific address aligns with the stronger options. For families with elementary-aged children in particular, the gap between the top schools and the citywide average is wide enough to matter.
Elementary Schools
20 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 760 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
| 2 | 948 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 3 | 1,197 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 1,831 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 5 | 1,118 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 6 | 1,096 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 7 | 1,069 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 8 | 855 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 9 | 1,052 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 10 | 837 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
Show all 20 elementary schools in Cumming
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,395 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 | ||
| 2 | 1,054 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 1,027 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 | ||
| 4 | 1,078 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 | ||
| 5 | 1,213 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 | ||
| 6 | 1,170 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 | ||
| 7 | 1,383 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 | ||
| 8 | 1,526 students · 6th–8th | 5.6 | ||
| 9 | 895 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Anvil AcademyPrivate 102 students · 6th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,508 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 1,116 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 2,464 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 2,080 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 5 | 2,387 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 |
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornerstone SchoolsPrivate 144 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Pinecrest AcademyPrivate 473 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 3 | Fideles Christian SchoolPrivate 449 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 4 | Covenant Christian AcademyPrivate 205 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 5 | Horizon Christian AcademyPrivate 365 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Cumming
Cumming, Georgia · 40 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$135,807
Median Home Value
$475,433
Median Rent
$1,949/mo
Population
191,371
College Educated
53%
Homeownership
86%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Community Profile
Cumming has a median household income of $135,807. It is a well-educated community where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $475,433, with a median rent of $1,949/month. The local poverty rate of 4.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Georgia
- Elementary
- 20
- Middle
- 10
- High
- 5
- Other
- 5
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Georgia
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Cumming, Georgia
How many schools are in Cumming, Georgia?
Cumming has 40 schools, including 30 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Cumming, Georgia?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Cumming is 6.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Cumming, Georgia?
The top-ranked school in Cumming on MySchoolScout is Coal Mountain Elementary School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Cumming, Georgia?
The top-ranked elementary school in Cumming on MySchoolScout is Coal Mountain Elementary School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Cumming, Georgia?
The top-ranked middle school in Cumming on MySchoolScout is South Forsyth Middle School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best high school in Cumming, Georgia?
The top-ranked high school in Cumming on MySchoolScout is South Forsyth High School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
How many school districts serve Cumming, Georgia?
Cumming is served by 1 school district: Forsyth County.
What is the education level in Cumming, Georgia?
According to Census data, 53% of adults in Cumming have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Cumming, Georgia?
The median household income in Cumming is approximately $135,807 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Cumming, Georgia?
Yes, Cumming has 10 private schools alongside 30 public schools. The top-rated private school is Cornerstone Schools with a score of 7.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cumming, Georgia?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Cumming is 14.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Cumming, Georgia?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- The $1,700 Loophole: How the New Federal School Choice Tax Credit Lowers Private Tuition Billsschool choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Georgia Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.