McGarity Elementary School opened in 1987 to serve a newly growing community in the Hiram area of Paulding County. There has always been a strong sense of community and family at McGarity. Through the years, teachers have instructed the children of their former students. Whole families have educated their youngsters at McGarity and the older children who are now in middle or high school and college still enjoy visiting McGarity and their "old" teachers during special evening programs and during holiday times. Despite this wonderful sense of family, the McGarity community has changed in part due to economic reasons. McGarity is a feeder school for East Paulding High School. Each May, the McGarity teacher of the year walks with the faculty of East Paulding High School in the commencement ceremonies. This brings closure for teachers who get to see their students graduate from high school and it makes the K-12 initiative all the more meaningful. The community at this time has a lot of families new to the area who do not have ties to Paulding or to McGarity and do not look at the school with nostalgia, but look at the school for the services it can provide. Many of these families include parents who commute long distances to work and are unable to take part in activities at the school, either during the day or after school.

262 Rakestraw Mill Road

Hiram, GA 30141

Administration

Principal: Karla Dodgen

Assistant Principal: Jacob Griffith

Front Office: 770-445-9007

Fax: 770-445-6691