5 metro Atlanta schools among Georgia's most 'family friendly'

The Georgia Department of Education recently named six schools as the most family friendly in the state.

Five of the winners are in metro Atlanta — including four from Gwinnett County and one in DeKalb.

Each year, the state DOE honors a handful of schools with the "Georgia Family-Friendly Partnership School Award," acknowledging them for creating "inviting, easily navigable environments where helpful, courteous staff members are eager to assist students and their families."

"Through these efforts," officials said in a news release, "the schools are building partnerships with faminlies to improve student achievement."

The 2016 winners include:

Three other Georgia schools were among the finalists but not selected as winners. They were Gwinnett's Sweetwater Middle School, Atlanta's KIPP Vision Primary School and Bibb County's Heard Elementary School.

Each winning school will receive a plaque and welcome mat commemorating the honor, officials said.