EDUCATION

This year as a new feature, we included data from the U.S. News & World Report Rankings. The U.S. News & World Report K-12 directory encompasses 102,449 preschools, elementary, middle school and high schools that you can search based on the state, district or city near you. The data on student diversity, teachers, counselors, test scores and district spending can help you find the right school for your child. Middle and elementary schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation rate and how well they prepare their students for high school.

The rankings use the same methodology for all included grade levels. For each state, schools were assessed on their shares of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. Half the formula was the results themselves; the other half was the results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. In other words, the top-ranked schools are all high achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students. The overall ranking score is out of 100.

Georgia high school students must earn at least 23 credits in various subjects to graduate. Students are assessed in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies using the Georgia Milestones Assessment System. More information is available through the Georgia Department of Education at www.gadoe.org

In a 2022 education ranking issue published by U.S. News & World Report, Cobb County high schools made the top 20 list of the best high schools in Georgia, and earned a place among the top 500 high schools in the nation. This is pretty impressive given that the U.S. News & World Report rankings include data on more than 24,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia and over 414 high schools in Georgia. These 24,000 high schools were ranked on six factors based on performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. Visit www.us.news.com/education/best-high-schools/georgia to learn more about this ranking and the methodology.

To understand how all of these rankings are compiled, visit: https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

COBB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT (CCSD):

The Cobb County School District (CCSD) is the second largest school system in Georgia and the 25th largest in the nation. It serves 107,379 students with 112 schools, including 66 elementary schools, 26 middle schools, 17 high schools, one charter school, one special education center and one adult education center. Our mission is One Team, One Goal: Student Success. Our vision is a school district of excellence where all students succeed.

• 22 National Blue Ribbon Schools

• 56 Georgia Schools of Excellence

• Largest employer in Cobb County with 17, 881 employees

• $106,000,000 in scholarship money awarded to the class of 2021

• #1 in metro Atlanta on 2022 Milestones

• Graduation Rate is 87.2% comparing to 85% nationally and 83.7% in Georgia.

• SAT score is 1,150 comparing 1,038 nationally and 1,077 in Georgia

• ACT score is 24.3 comparing 20.3 nationally and 22.6 in Georgia

• AAA Credit Rating

• 99.12% average health inspection score employing 135 school nurses

• 65% teachers with advanced degrees

• 36 new and replacement schools have been built since 1998 due to funding providing by Ed-SPLOST

• CCSD employs 70 police officers dedicated to the safety of each student and school in the district.

• 1,048 buses

Marietta City School District

Marietta City Schools (MCS) became one of Georgia’s first Charter Systems in June 2008. The MCS charter system includes twelve schools: one early learning center, seven K-5 elementary schools, one sixth grade academy, one middle school, one high school, and one grades 3-5 elementary magnet school (Marietta Center for Advanced Academics).

MCS Charter innovations include:

• 8th to 9th grade transition academy,

• Addition of new career pathways at the high school level,

• Digital student portfolios,

• Enhanced classroom experiences and authentic assessments,

• Expansion of the role of School Governance Teams—converting advisory local school councils into “highly trained and high performing” governing bodies,

• Exploration of horticulture, ecology, teacher preparation, and other emerging career pathways,

• Financial incentives for teaching in areas of critical need,

• Graduate Marietta Student Success Center

• Increased individualization through differentiation,

• Internships and early college pathways,

• Looping cohorts,

• Small learning communities,

• Teacher innovation grants and performance incentives,

• Teacher leadership academy,

• Use of career inventories in upper elementary and middle grades,

• Web-based learning and assessment.

Marietta Public Schools

Marietta High School

1171 Whitlock Avenue, S.W., Marietta GA 30064 (770) 428-2631

Principal: Marco Holland

Cobb County Public Schools

Allatoona High School

High School

Harrison High School

Hillgrove High School

4165 Luther Ward Road, Powder Springs, GA 30127 (678) 331-3961

Principal: Angela Stewart