Cobb County’s senior class of 2007 scored significantly higher than their state and national peers on the SAT test for college readiness. Despite a drop of four points in the District average, this year’s graduating class in Cobb had an overall average score (Reading, Math, Writing) of 1534 and beat the state average by 62 points and the national average by 23 points.

Nationally, scores declined in all three areas tested. The national average for Reading fell from 503 to 502, in Math from 518 to 515, and in Writing from 497 to 494. The state average stayed the same in Reading at 494, but dropped in Math from 496 to 495, and in Writing from 487 to 483. Cobb’s average in Reading fell from 517 to 515, stayed the same in Math at 517, and dropped in Writing from 504 to 502. This is the second year students have been tested in the Writing category, and Cobb students topped the state average by 19 points and the national average by 8 points.

Seven of Cobb’s 14 high schools had combined totals higher than the national average of 1511. Scores for Lassiter, Pope, and Walton high schools were more than 100 points higher than the national average. Particularly noteworthy were the performances of students at Campbell High School and Osborne High School. These schools showed significant increases in their average scores. Campbell’s combined Reading and Math total jumped from 953 in 2006 to 987 this year. Osborne had similar results, climbing from 835 in 2006 to 860 this year.

Read the full release with individual school results on the District Web site.

Cobb Students Show Improvement on ACT;

ACT scores for the class of 2007 indicate that Cobb graduates are well prepared for success in their first year of college. Cobb students topped the state and national averages in the Composite area, and in all subject areas. In addition, Cobb students’ average scores showed significant improvement over last year in all categories.

The 2007 seniors posted an average composite score of 21.9 (out of a possible 36), 1.6 points higher than their statewide peers and 0.7 points higher than their nationwide peers. Across the subject areas tested, Cobb students topped the national averages in English (+0.9), Math (+0.9), Reading (+0.7), and Science Reasoning (+0.5).

Read the full release with individual school results on the District Web site.

SPLOST UPDATE:
The good news story of SPLOST continues for Cobb County taxpayers. In July and August 2007, the school board:

• Awarded a Request For Proposal for a 21st Century Classroom initiative to three vendors. 21st Century Classrooms will be installed in 400-500 classrooms throughout the District, including seven schools that will demonstrate and evaluate the initiative. The 21st Century Classroom consists of an electronic whiteboard, projection screen, electromagnetic digital pad, projector, speakers, amplifier, TV/cable tuner, wall mounted controller, DVD/VCR, student response system, wireless microphone, document camera, installation, and training. The contract amount is $2,225,728.50, plus an estimated $1.5 million for estimated growth and replacement expenditures. The contract will be divided among three vendors, Computrac, Logical Choice and Multi Media Services. A plan for the implementation of the 21st Century Classroom initiative will be developed by the District, evaluated by the Facilities and Technology Review Committee, and authorized by the Board of Education following public feedback.

• Set the FY2008 school district millage rate at 18.90, which represents a 1.0 mil reduction from FY2007. The property tax rate reduction includes the elimination of the .9 mil bond rate. In February 2007, the school board used $184 million in SPLOST funds to pay off the last remaining debt from school construction bonds that had been issued in 1995. By paying off the long-term bond debt with SPLOST funds, the school board was able to eliminate the bond millage and lower the property tax rate. The rate reduction will result in a savings of $65 for the owner of a house assessed at $165,000 (Cobb County average).

• Awarded a bid for the refreshment of the District’s network infrastructure switches. The bid for Cisco switches and related equipment was awarded to Coleman Technologies, Inc., in the annual amount of $3,668,356.43.

• Approved the transfer of funds among SPLOST II budgets. The transfer will move $106,273 from Copier/Duplicator Refresh initiative to SPLOST Contingency. Then, $604,023 from SPLOST Contingency to the Computer Device for Every Teacher initiative in order to fund 500 additional computing devices needed for teachers.

• Approved the final project closeout for Lost Mountain Middle School. By certifying that all accounts for labor, materials and services for the project’s construction have been paid in full and that there are no claims of any nature outstanding, either liquidated or disputed, the District will be eligible to receive $82,224.20 in State Capitol Outlay Funds allocated for the project.

These projects were part of the SPLOST II program approved in 2003. To view the agenda items for the projects, click here.

DISTRICT NEWS:

2007-2008 School Year
Starts Smoothly

Buses were on the road before sunrise Aug. 13, picking up students for the beginning of the 2007-08 school year in the Cobb County School District. 8,678 teachers and more than 105,000 students arrived to the District’s 113 schools and facilities during the first week.

Several schools including Murdock Elementary celebrated the completion of new facility construction on their campuses during the first week of school. These SPLOST-funded buildings are providing much-needed classroom space and allowed for the removal of six portable classrooms at Murdock.

Thanks to all of Cobb's students, parents, teachers and staff members for a smooth start to a new year of learning and student achievement.

More first week coverage is available on the District's CobbCast news blog.

2007-2008 Teachers of the Year Announced For Each Academic Level

With more than 9,000 outstanding educators in the District, it has become an annual tradition to recognize a Teacher of the Year for each academic level and to give the district-wide honor to one of those three unique teachers. The District is proud to announce Mrs. Gina Coss of Sedalia Park Elementary School, Mr. Bob Hague of Lovinggood Middle School and Mrs. Beverly Titlow of Walton High School as the 2007-2008 Cobb County Teachers of the Year.

Read more about these three outstanding educators on the District Web site.

District Joins We Can! Campaign To Enhance Student Activity

The District's Health and Physical Education department has joined in with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's We Can! initiative. We Can! is a national push to combat childhood obesity by encouraging kids to get active and stay healthy.

The District will be incorporating We Can! into classroom and after-school activities throughout the 2007-08 school year and beyond. For more information, visit the We Can! Web site.

Bus Radio Goes On Air In Cobb School Buses Beginning In September

Following a successful pilot program, the District has partnered with Bus Radio to provide entertaining and informative radio programming to Cobb students riding the school bus. During the pilot, bus drivers reported a significant improvement in student behavior and a reduction in the number of discipline problems.

Bus Radio's exclusive programming is tailored individually for elementary, middle and high school bus routes. The station features nearly an hour of age-appropriate news, music and public service announcements. Additionally, the District is allowed to monitor content from the channel. The system, valued at $2 million, is provided by Bus Radio at no cost to the District.

Installation of Bus Radio receivers on Cobb's fleet will begin in late August and conclude by the end of September. The programming will be available to buses beginning Sept. 1. More information and an online demo is available on the Bus Radio Web site.