STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:
Cobb Students Perform Well
On End-Of-Course Tests
Recently released End-Of-Course Test results show Cobb students outperformed state averages by a wide margin in all subject areas except one. The number of students meeting or exceeding standards in Geometry was 17 percentage points higher than the state average. This margin was followed closely by ninth grade Literature/Composition (13 points), US History (12 points) and Economics (12 points). The only area where Cobb students fell below the state average was Physical Science (2 points below).

These results are inclusive of the 10 Cobb high schools that use block scheduling. Kell, Lassiter, Pebblebrook and Walton high schools, which use traditional scheduling, will administer the EOCT later in spring.

Full breakdowns of the EOCT results are available on the District's Office of Accountability web page.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:
Tritt Elementary Named 2006
Georgia School of Excellence
Tritt Elementary School has been named a 2006 Georgia School of Excellence by the Georgia Department of Education. Located in northeast Cobb, Tritt is one of only 20 schools statewide to receive the prestigious designation this year.

Tritt was selected based on being in the top 10 percent in student achievement in language arts/reading and math for Congressional District 6. The award also makes the school eligible for a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Award nomination.

Tritt is celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout this school year. Congratulations to principal Dr. Rebecca Rutledge and the staff and students at Tritt for raising another School of Excellence flag in Cobb!

FREE SAT COURSE:
FREE Online SAT Prep Course
Available for Cobb Students
Cobb high school students have an invaluable tool at their fingertips to help prepare for the SAT. The College Board's Official SAT Prep Course Online is available at no cost to all high school students in Georgia.  Announced at Sprayberry High School last summer by Governor Sonny Perdue, the course is the only online module developed by the test maker.

Students can access the online course
24-hours a day at www.satonlinecourseschool.com

The College Board's Official SAT Prep Course Online includes:
· 18 lessons featuring interactive activities and multimedia content;
· Three full-length, official SAT practice tests;
· Over 600 practice questions, which follow SAT specifications;
· Explanations of answers to all questions;
· Automated essay scoring; and
· Personalized score reports for students; detailed student, class, school, and district level reports for educators.

Online course student registration cards have been distributed to all of the state's public high schools. Visit your school's web site for the individual school registration number. Students can also receive help with registering for the course from their school's guidance office.

DISTRICT NEWS:
2005 Annual Report Among A Variety
of Updates to District Web Site

The District's 2005 Annual Report is now available on our web site. Released online for the fourth consecutive year, the Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of District operations, financial results, testing data, and school-specific information from the past year.

In addition to the 2005 Annual Report posting, the site has been reorganized for easier access to commonly requested information. The expanded ‘About the District’ section now features school maps and feeder patterns, while new buttons on the site’s home page direct visitors to some of the most frequently visited sections, such as calendars, immunization information, and Picasso.

SPLOST UPDATE:
Attendance Zone Process Resumes
This August three new schools – Hillgrove High School, and McClure and Lovinggood middle schools – will open their doors. These facilities are part of the nine new schools and more than 1,000 new classrooms approved in 2003 when Cobb voters extended the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for schools.

After a temporary delay during which the Legislature approved a new Cobb County law that changes the District’s redistricting procedure, the process of setting attendance zones for these three new schools is back on track. The Board of Education has carefully followed the process outlined in the new state law and referenced in its own policy.
· On March 7, 2006 at Kennesaw Mountain High School, the Board of Education held a public forum prior to developing a proposed plan.
· On March 21, 2006, the Board presented to the public at least two proposed plans establishing attendance zones at each of the new schools.
· On March 23, 2006, the Board held the first public hearing on the new proposals at Roswell Street Baptist Church. The second public hearing will take place at Smitha Middle School on Tuesday, March 28, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The current proposals reflect input from the public and comply with provisions of the new state law. The School Board appreciates the public input that has been an important part of this process to date and the additional input that will come as the Board moves toward approving the attendance zones. The maps and supporting data are available on the District web site at www.cobbk12.org.

The good news story of SPLOST continues for Cobb County taxpayers. In February 2006, the School Board approved:

• Using SPLOST funds to purchase a Unisys mainframe server to serve as emergency backup for the District's mission critical, legacy applications, including; Human Resources, Payroll, Financial Resource Management (Budget), Food Services Management, Field Trip Management, Password Management, Textbook Management, Student Information System (OSIRIS) Archives, and Student Record Micro Film Archives.
• Using SPLOST funds to replace the outdated coolers and freezers in the kitchens at Brumby, Bryant, Due West, Hollydale, Mount Bethel, and Tritt elementary schools, and at South Cobb and Sprayberry high schools.
• Contracts to install heating and cooling units in the covered play areas at the following schools: Davis, Dowell, Frey, Garrison, Green Acres, Hayes, Keheley, Kemp, and Kennesaw elementary schools.