SPLOST III Referendum September 16 A referendum to extend the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) five years will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. A SPLOST is a one-cent sales tax on all retail goods sold in Cobb County. In June, the Board of Education unanimously approved a $798 million capital improvements plan to be funded by an extension of SPLOST. The proposal to improve infrastructure and classrooms throughout the District’s 126 facilities would be the third five-year SPLOST program for Cobb County schools. More information about the Cobb County School District’s SPLOST programs, including the entire SPLOST III proposal, is available at www.cobbk12.org/splost.
Cobb County’s senior class of 2008 weathered a 10-point drop in their average SAT scores by still outperforming their peers across the state and nation. According to recently released scores, this year’s graduating class in Cobb had an overall average (Reading, Math, Writing) of 1524, which was 10 points lower than the class of 2007, but still beat the national average by 13 points and the state average by 58 points. National scores in the three areas tested, Reading, Math and Writing, were unchanged. State scores declined in all three areas. In Cobb County, Reading scores declined by 4 points, while Math and Writing each dropped 3 points. Fewer seniors took the SAT this year than last year, decreasing the percentage of participants to 77 percent from last year’s 80 percent. One possible explanation for the decline in SAT takers is that more seniors this year took the alternative ACT college preparation test. A recent release of Cobb County ACT scores indicated that participation on that test had increased three percentage points to 39 percent of Cobb seniors – the highest percentage of ACT takers in recent history. On this year’s SAT, seven of Cobb’s 14 high schools had combined totals higher than the national average of 1511. Read more on the District Web site.
Recently released ACT scores show that for the third consecutive year Cobb County’s college-bound seniors have improved the school district’s composite score on the college preparation test. In addition, Cobb students have again topped the state and national averages in all four subject areas of the test, as well as in the composite average, just as they did in 2007. According to the Georgia Department of Education, the composite scores of five Cobb County high schools (Walton, Wheeler, Pope, Lassiter and Kennesaw Mountain) ranked among the 25 highest scores in the state. Walton’s composite score of 25.0 was the highest of any high school in Georgia. ACT scores for the class of 2008 indicate that Cobb graduates are well prepared for success in their first year of college. The 2008 seniors posted an average composite score of 22 (out of a possible 36), slightly higher than last year’s score of 21.9. The composite average was 1.4 points higher than the state average, and 0.9 points higher than the national average. |
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New School Year Off To
The 2008-09 school year began on a clear, warm morning of Aug. 11, as Cobb schools welcomed back nearly 106,000 students. More than 1,400 buses safely transported students to the District's 114 schools, where 8,446 teachers stood ready to begin classes. Three new schools, Allatoona High, Lindley Sixth Grade Academy and Pickett's Mill Elementary opened for the first time.
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.
Angela Fenton of McClure Middle School Named District Teacher of the Year
The District's elementary Teacher of the Year is Karen Stargel of Varner Elementary. Scott Stephens, Latin teacher at Kell High School is Cobb's high school level winner. More information about all three nominees is available on the District Web site. Ms. Fenton will have her Teacher of the Year handprint unveiled by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce during the 20th annual ‘Give Our Schools a Hand’ ceremony Oct. 1 at Glover Park on Marietta Square.
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Angela Fenton, seventh grade social studies teacher at McClure Middle School, was selected as the 2008-2009 district Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Fred Sanderson surprised Ms. Fenton with the announcement during a special assembly Aug. 18. She now represents Cobb in the statewide program, which will announce a winner in May 2009. Ms. Fenton is also the middle school level Teacher of the Year, which made her eligible for the district-wide merit.
