Smyrna-Vinings School News to Use

Following summer testing, nine additional Cobb County schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) including Sprayberry and Wheeler high schools, but not .

The Georgia Department of Education provides updated AYP status and information for schools after CRCT retests (for elementary and middle) and summer graduates (for high school) are factored in. The addition of the nine schools means that 90 of 110 Cobb schools met the sharply increased targets required for AYP.

For the first time since the inception of No Child Left Behind, the Cobb County School District met all indicators for academic proficiency in 2011. Despite that accomplishment, the District did not meet increased graduation requirements for Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners, leaving Cobb just short of making AYP as a district.

Eighty-eight (88) percent of Cobb elementary schools (60 of 68) met standards for adequate progress; 76 percent of middle schools (19 of 25) made AYP. Graduation rates for specific student groups are also the primary reason five of Cobb’s 16 high schools did not make AYP, including Campbell, McEachern, Osborne, Pebblebrook and South Cobb. Overall, seven of 110 Cobb schools remain in 'Needs Improvement' status.

The state Department of Education will show a different total for AYP schools in Cobb County because the state requires four schools not under Cobb County School District management to be included with CCSD’s AYP results. The Imagine International Academy of Smyrna did not make AYP. Three other schools, Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy, the Devereaux Center and Imagine International Academy of Mableton, did make AYP. – Courtesy the Cobb County School District

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Don’t forget, filming continues later Thursday at Campbell High for the Hollywood film, Neighborhood Watch. As has been reported, Catrett Locke Casting is seeking extras to fill the stadium stands tonight from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Each participating extra has the opportunity to earn $7.50 for his or her designated school Parent Teacher Student Association.

Everyone must sign a release form to participate. In order to obtain the release form, send an email request to chsthewatch@gmail.com or see here.

A form will be returned to you by email. Complete the form and bring it with you, and note that if you do not bring the form with you, there will be long lines for sign up to participate.

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Tonight at the cafeteria, members of the Nickajack Elementary and Kindness and Compassion Clubs will be holding a Kindness Pep Rally from 6-7 p.m.

The clubs will be sharing examples of how they promote kindness in their schools and how they support the community through service project initiatives.

The event is in preparation for the Celebration of Service and Kindness at the Georgia Dome to be held on Nov. 11.

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The online sign up period for the Second Annual Spartan Sprint 5K Road Race has been extended until Nov. 10. The Nov. 12 race is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier and will begin at 8 a.m. at the football stadium. Registration forms can be completed online and the fee is $25. Registration the day of the race is $30. Proceeds from the Sprint benefit Campbell High School athletics.

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And as a reminder, the Cobb County Board of Education discussed and approved its list of Legislative Priorities for 2012 during the Oct. 27 meeting. These will serve as focal points of conversations with community and state legislative delegates:

Create Alternatives to Current Quality Basic Education Funding
- Restore state funding ratio from 45% in FY11 to the 55% level experienced in FY01 State Budget
- Reinstate funding for Technical College Dual Enrollment
- Allow local SPLOSTs to collect
"up to 1 percent" of every dollar

Restrict Rising Costs from the State such as a Cap on Local Fair Share
-  Employee Benefit Costs
- Authority over Local Funds

No Unfunded Mandates
- State Mandated Testing/Assessment
- Constitutional Authority of Local School Boards

The Board is scheduled to meet with Cobb legislative delegates on Monday, Nov. 14 at Chattahoochee Technical College. The meeting is open to the public.