Empty nest
Sponsored section ►►PAGE 27
Group: Save Seven Branches 53 acres in need of savior ►►PAGE 31
Tech Center opens doors New startup incubator ►►PAGE 25
&
Avalon fall preview Fashion, food and more this season ►►PAGES 17 - 24
Alpharetta-Roswell
REVUE NEWS
August 27, 2015 | revueandnews.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 33, No. 35
GET opens season with ‘Calendar Girls’ London’s box office-busting comedy makes Southern debut By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
BREEANNE CLOWDUS PHOTOGRAPHY
“Calendar Girls,” from left, Jennifer Levison, Courtenay Collins and Meg Gillentine pose for Queen and Country and to raise money to fight cancer.
ROSWELL, Ga. – There is absolutely nothing funny about cancer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t laugh in its face. And that is exactly what Georgia Ensemble Theatre is doing after snagging first American production rights to “Calendar Girls.” The play is based on the true story of nine women who begin an incredible journey together for the sake of one of their own. When it includes
the decision to make a daring calendar – and draws more attention than they ever dreamed – it stretches friendships to the limit. GET’s “Calendar” journey began in 2009, when the annual GET tour of London’s theaters included the Tim Firth smash comedy, which is based on his movie screenplay. As they were walking out of the theater, Anita Farley, half of GET, grabbed Robert Farley, the other half, and said, “We
See GET, Page 30
3 North Fulton schools make list of Top 500 high schools in U.S. Annual Newsweek rankings include Milton, Alpharetta and Chattahoochee By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com Three North Fulton high schools are among the seven Georgia schools that cracked the Top 500 public high schools, as ranked by Newsweek magazine. Alpharetta, Milton and Chattahoochee high schools were among the nation’s topperforming high schools on the 2015 list, as determined by academic achievement of students on state assessments and how well the schools prepare their students for college. Newsweek ranked Milton at
431, down from 320 last year. Alpharetta came in at 486 and Chattahoochee at 499. Neither school was on the 2014 list. The only other metro schools on the 2015 list are DeKalb School of Arts (368) and Lambert High (Forsyth County) at 421. “The Newsweek list brings some well-deserved recognition to our schools, but in truth, all of our high schools are pushing harder each year to make sure every student is successful,” said Kenneth Zeff, interim superintendent. “Increasing our students’ college readiness is one of our district’s key stra-
tegic goals, and this acknowledgement by Newsweek is a validation of the work of our teachers and students.” Newsweek looked at data from over 16,200 high schools across the country to compile the rankings. The top-performing 30 percent were selected, then further evaluated to rank the top 500. Schools were graded on a 100-point scale in six areas: college enrollment rates (25 percent), high school graduation rates (20 percent), a composite AP/IB/dual enrollment score (17.5 percent), composite SAT/ACT score (17.5 percent), counselor/student ratio (10 percent), and changes in 9thgrade to 12th-grade enrollment rates (10 percent).
The Newsweek list brings some welldeserved recognition to our schools, but in truth, all of our high schools are pushing harder each year to make sure every student is successful.” KENNETH ZEFF interim superintendent
The results are subject to some scrutiny. In releasing the methodology, researchers caution that “rankings are dependent on self-reported data … [There] are circumstances in which the variables may not have been reported consistently.” In addition, not all schools in the country responded to
surveys sent out by Newsweek and were therefore not considered in the rankings. The Newsweek high school rankings have been compiled for more than a decade, but recently moved to two lists to better address the impact of
See SCHOOL, Page 37
Pre-Screened Local Tree services. We do all the homework, so you don’t have to. You’re never more than 2 clicks away on your smart phone, tablet or desktop. Every time you use 770Tree.com to request an estimate, Appen-Rated makes a donation to North Fulton Community Charities or The Drake House. Do good & get great tree work too!