September 10, 2026 — Each year, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation recognizes schools across the country that go above and beyond to promote a healthy environment for students, teachers, and families.

This year, Griffin Middle School was named one of America’s Healthiest Schools, joining 10 other Cobb schools on the 2026 list. Griffin was the only school in Cobb and the only school in Georgia to earn recognition in all nine categories, placing it among just 200 All-Star schools nationwide.

That achievement earned Griffin the All-Star distinction for creating a healthy and safe environment for students and staff. 

Griffin was among 1,376 schools recognized across 35 states.

Each school that applied for recognition was evaluated in nine categories: School Health Services, Implementing School Wellness Policies, Improving Food and Nutrition Access, Bolstering Physical Education and Activity, Enriching Health Education, Increasing Family and Community Engagement, Cultivating Staff Wellbeing, Promoting Tobacco-Free Schools, and Strengthening Social-Emotional Health and Learning. 

Griffin was recognized for excellence in each of those categories.

Schools that excelled in at least one category earned recognition as one of America’s Healthiest Schools. Griffin was the only school in Georgia to earn All-Star status.

How Griffin Supports Healthy Students

• Physical Education and Activity — An evidence-based curriculum that integrates physical activity opportunities throughout the school day for all students, including students with special health needs.
• Local School Wellness Policy — Implementation of district wellness policy with the support of a diverse set of representatives, set measurable goals, and reflect on progress, successes, and challenges.
• School Health Services — Routine health screenings and a clear process for connecting students with additional support when health concerns arise.
• Tobacco-Free Schools — Recognizes school teams that address tobacco use in youth through prevention education, actively engage students in promoting a tobacco-free campus and provide support and cessation intervention when students vape or use tobacco products.
• Nutrition and Food Access — Strategies that maximize school meal participation, meaningfully collaborate with teachers on nutrition education, and partner with community organizations to improve families’ nutrition security.
• Staff Well-Being — Providing resources to support breaks for all staff during the instructional day, actively promoting staff relationship-building, and fostering a culture of gratitude among colleagues.
• Family and Community Engagement — School teams that gather input from the school community, engage parents and caregivers in meaningful ways to support student success, and connect families to resources related to social drivers of health.
• Health Education — The use of evidence-based curriculum to provide health education to all students and prioritize opportunities for students to practice skills to maintain and improve their health.
• Social-Emotional Health and Learning — Positively motivating participation and learning, implementing an evidence-based social-emotional learning curriculum, and providing opportunities for students to regulate their emotions and learn from their mistakes.

Together, these recognitions reflect what Griffin families already know: supporting the health, well-being, and success of each student remains a priority every day.