Introduction
Forsyth County has quietly become one of the most watched school districts in Georgia — and for good reason. Nestled north of Atlanta in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, Forsyth County Schools consistently ranks among the top-performing districts in the state, with a collection of elementary, middle, and high schools that compete with the best in the Southeast. Whether families are relocating from out of state or simply moving across town, school performance is often the deciding factor — and in Forsyth County, the numbers tend to impress.
What makes Forsyth County particularly interesting isn't just that it has a few standout schools. It's that strong academic performance appears across multiple cities and grade levels, from early elementary through high school graduation. Communities like Cumming, Suwanee, and Alpharetta each feed into schools that are scoring in the top percentiles nationally, giving families throughout the county meaningful options regardless of where they plant roots.
The Districts That Stand Out
Forsyth County Schools — Cumming
Cumming is home to the county seat and serves as the educational hub for Forsyth County Schools, which operates as a unified county district rather than a patchwork of municipal systems. Several of Cumming's schools rank at the very top of Georgia's academic performance charts.
Daves Creek Elementary School is the headliner — scoring in the 100th percentile in English, Math, and Science, with an overall ranking in the 100th percentile. That means Daves Creek is performing better than virtually every other elementary school in the state. Brookwood Elementary adds further depth to Cumming's elementary landscape, scoring in the 93rd percentile in English, 98th in Math, and 95th in Science for an overall rank of 96th percentile.
At the middle school level, Piney Grove Middle School and South Forsyth Middle School both serve the Cumming area and are putting up remarkable numbers. Piney Grove earns a 99th percentile overall ranking, with 98th percentile English scores and 95th percentile Math scores. South Forsyth Middle follows closely with a 97th percentile overall rank, led by a standout 99th percentile English score.
Then there's Alliance Academy for Innovation, a Cumming-based high school that matches Daves Creek's sweep — 100th percentile in English, Math, and Science, with a perfect 100th percentile overall ranking. For families prioritizing academic rigor at the high school level, Alliance Academy is a school worth examining closely.
Forsyth County Schools — Suwanee
Suwanee sits along the county's southern edge and feeds into some of Forsyth County's most consistently high-performing schools. Johns Creek Elementary, Sharon Elementary, and Settles Bridge Elementary all serve the Suwanee area, and all three land at the 97th percentile overall.
Johns Creek Elementary scores in the 98th percentile in English and 99th in Math, making it one of the strongest math-focused elementary programs in the district. Sharon Elementary and Settles Bridge Elementary are nearly identical in their profiles — both posting 96th percentile English scores, 97th percentile Math scores, and 97th percentile Science scores. For families zoned into either school, the performance data suggests a strong academic foundation regardless of which campus their child attends.
Riverwatch Middle School and Lambert High School round out Suwanee's academic story. Riverwatch earns a 94th percentile overall score, headlined by a perfect 100th percentile English score — one of the highest in the district at any grade level. Lambert High School is widely regarded as one of the top high schools in Georgia, and the data backs that up: 98th percentile in English, 96th in Math, and 98th in Science for a 99th percentile overall ranking.
Forsyth County Schools — Alpharetta
Alpharetta's connection to Forsyth County is sometimes overlooked, since much of the city sits in Fulton County. But Denmark High School, zoned within Forsyth County's Alpharetta boundary, serves families in this pocket of the district and scores in the 92nd percentile overall — with 96th percentile English scores and a solid 94th percentile in Science.
Schools Worth Knowing About
Alliance Academy for Innovation (Cumming)
This one earns a dedicated mention. A 100th percentile sweep across English, Math, and Science isn't something seen often — at any grade level, in any county. Alliance Academy for Innovation is not a traditional high school. It's a project-based learning environment with a focus on technology, design, and innovation, drawing students from across Forsyth County. For families who want rigorous academics wrapped in a non-traditional structure, this school is genuinely worth exploring.
Piney Grove Middle School (Cumming)
Middle school rankings often get less attention than elementary or high school lists, but Piney Grove's 99th percentile overall score puts it among the most elite middle schools in the state. The school's balance of high English and Math scores — 98th and 95th percentile, respectively — suggests well-rounded academic strength rather than performance driven by a single subject area.
Riverwatch Middle School (Suwanee)
Riverwatch is an interesting case. Its 100th percentile English score is the highest English mark of any middle school in the district, yet its Math score sits at the 76th percentile — a wider gap than most schools on this list. That profile might suit some families perfectly, particularly those with strong readers or aspiring writers. It's a reminder that looking beyond overall rankings to individual subject scores can reveal a school's true character.
South Forsyth High School (Cumming)
South Forsyth High doesn't always get top billing next to Lambert or Alliance Academy, but a 99th percentile Science score is genuinely exceptional. With a 97th percentile English score and a 96th percentile overall ranking, South Forsyth High is a school that punches well above average — especially for students with an interest in STEM.
How We Rank Schools
Rankings on The School Advocate are built on three academic subjects: English, Math, and Science. English and Math each account for 40% of a school's overall score, while Science makes up the remaining 20%. Scores are calculated using state assessment data and weighted to give more emphasis to recent years, so schools that are improving will rise in the rankings over time. The goal is a ranking that reflects where a school is headed, not just where it's been.
Compare Schools Yourself
Numbers tell part of the story, but every family's priorities are different. The School Advocate's comparison tool at /compare lets families place schools side by side across every subject, grade level, and percentile ranking — so the decision can be based on what matters most to each household. Whether it's Math scores, Science performance, or overall consistency, the data is there to dig into.
Top Elementary Schools
| Rank | School | District | City | English | Math | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daves Creek Elementary School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| 2 | Johns Creek Elementary | Forsyth County | Suwanee | 98 | 99 | 97 |
| 3 | Sharon Elementary School | Forsyth County | Suwanee | 96 | 97 | 97 |
| 4 | Settles Bridge Elementary School | Forsyth County | Suwanee | 96 | 97 | 97 |
| 5 | Brookwood Elementary | Forsyth County | Cumming | 93 | 98 | 96 |
| 6 | Big Creek Elementary School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 96 | 97 | 96 |
| 7 | New Hope Elementary School | Forsyth County | Comming | 93 | 95 | 95 |
| 8 | Haw Creek Elementary | Forsyth County | Cumming | 91 | 95 | 94 |
| 9 | Midway Elementary School | Forsyth County | Alpharetta | 92 | 94 | 93 |
| 10 | Shiloh Point Elementary | Forsyth County | Cumming | 92 | 95 | 92 |
Top Middle Schools
| Rank | School | District | City | English | Math | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piney Grove Middle School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 98 | 95 | 99 |
| 2 | South Forsyth Middle School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 99 | 89 | 97 |
| 3 | Vickery Creek Middle School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 94 | 93 | 96 |
| 4 | Riverwatch Middle School | Forsyth County | Suwanee | 100 | 76 | 94 |
| 5 | Hendricks Middle School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 90 | 86 | 92 |
| 6 | Lakeside Middle School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 94 | 74 | 89 |
| 7 | DeSana Middle School | Forsyth County | Alpharetta | 92 | 65 | 85 |
| 8 | Little Mill Middle School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 61 | 75 | 72 |
| 9 | Liberty Middle School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 82 | 47 | 67 |
| 10 | Otwell Middle School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 66 | 52 | 61 |
Top High Schools
| Rank | School | District | City | English | Math | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alliance Academy for Innovation | Forsyth County | Cumming | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| 2 | Lambert High School | Forsyth County | Suwanee | 98 | 96 | 99 |
| 3 | South Forsyth High School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 97 | 90 | 96 |
| 4 | Denmark High School | Forsyth County | Alpharetta | 96 | 85 | 92 |
| 5 | North Forsyth High School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 88 | 70 | 83 |
| 6 | West Forsyth High School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 94 | 61 | 82 |
| 7 | East Forsyth High School | Forsyth County | Gainesville | 83 | 53 | 73 |
| 8 | Forsyth Central High School | Forsyth County | Cumming | 84 | 42 | 69 |