East Cobb Schools

Georgia ‘Apply to College Month’ to waive application fees

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Submitted information:Georgia 'Apply to College Month' to waive application fees

The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) has partnered with the University System of Georgia (USG), the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), and private institutions to provide application fee waivers to Georgia high school seniors through the Apply to College Month initiative. Over 60 Georgia colleges and universities have agreed to waive their application fees for high school seniors between November 1 and 30.

“As the home of many top-ranking higher education institutions, Georgia has a program for any Georgian looking to advance their education and career,” said Governor Kemp. “Whether at a USG, TCSG, or private institution, we want Georgia students to know that they can receive a great education that will set them up for success without having to leave this state. I’m grateful that so many Georgia colleges and universities are waiving application fees during Apply to College Month, adding to the work of GEORGIA MATCH to make it easier for families to navigate the college admissions process.” 

This is the fifth year GSFC has promoted application fee waivers in November. There is no limit on the number of schools a student may apply to using the application fee waivers. While application fees vary by institution, cost savings to high school seniors applying to multiple colleges can be significant.

“Our mission is to make it easy for Georgia seniors to continue their higher education in the Top State for Talent,” said Georgia Student Finance Commission President Chris Green. “Through the incredible support of our postsecondary partners—the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Independent College Association—thousands of high school seniors can now apply to college for free. Apply to College Month empowers students to take full advantage of GEORGIA MATCH, fee waivers, and the more than $1 billion in scholarships and grants available each year to help them succeed.”

Students who apply through the GEORGIA MATCH direct admissions dashboard in November will automatically have their application fees waived. The full list of participating schools and information on how to access the application fee waivers may be found at GAfutures.org. 

The mission of the Georgia Student Finance Commission is to help students pursue higher education with the least out-of-pocket costs possible. Students interested in learning more about application fee waivers, GEORGIA MATCH, scholarships, and grants can schedule a meeting with their regional GSFC Outreach representative by visiting gafutures.org/outreach.

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Walton Drama to present fall musical production of ‘9 to 5’

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Submitted information:

Come see Walton Drama’s production of 9 to 5Walton Drama to present fall music production of '9 to 5'

November 6-9 in the Walton Theater
General Admission $15; Students tickets $10

Middle school students get free popcorn on Friday night and high school students on Saturday night.

Tickets on sale NOW at waltondrama.com.

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Eastside Christian School takes ‘The Lion King Jr.’ on stage

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Eastside Christian School takes 'The Lion King Jr.' on stage

Submitted information and photos:

Eastside Christian School’s fifth through seventh grade chorus students performed Disney’s The Lion King Jr. last weekend. A true community event, the cast was supported by Eastside’s high school theater students who served as stage crew, Jake Dalton, an eighth grade student who designed all 280 light cues, and a myriad of staff and parents who worked behind the scenes. The show, originally cast and scheduled for a Spring 2020 release at Eastside, was cancelled due to COVID-19 safety concerns.

“That 2020 cast, and the stage magic that was left unmade, is a group that I’ve held close to my heart. They left an indelible mark on the show, and I didn’t want to revisit it for years,” said Ashleigh Lucas, Eastside’s Director of Performing Arts. “The time came this fall, and here we are again, with a new group of performers stepping in to bring these characters to life.”

Eastside’s stage was transformed into an African savanna and rainforest in a stunning display of artistry. The large-scale set pieces and light displays were the perfect backdrop for the costuming. Inspired by the vision of Julie Taymor, the director and designer of the Broadway show, Lucas utilized masks and movement to create an imaginative experience. Students transformed into lions, hyenas, and even grasslands with flowing skirts and moving choreography.

The musical theater program at Eastside draws audiences from the community, with alumni of the school regularly returning to experience the magic that Lucas puts on stage and the talent that she brings out of her students each year.

“I am so proud of the excellence that is displayed every time our students take the stage. Mrs. Lucas does a phenomenal job not only teaching songs and dances, but also teaching life skills along the way,” said Dr. Tiffany Stark, Eastside’s Head of School. Eastside’s next musical is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and will be performed December 12-14, 2025. Tickets will be available at EastsideChristianSchool.com.

Eastside Christian School takes 'The Lion King Jr.' on stage

Eastside Christian School takes 'The Lion King Jr.' on stage

Eastside Christian School takes 'The Lion King Jr.' on stage

Eastside Christian School takes 'The Lion King Jr.' on stage

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Cobb school board member settles civil suit in business case

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Cobb school board member settles civil suit in business case
John Cristadoro said he’s “a target by those who are trying to tear down Cobb schools” and accused them of “fake outrage.”

Cobb Board of Education vice chairman John Cristadoro has settled a civil lawsuit filed against him, his business and another party by a client on charges of fraud and misusing business funds.

In the consent judgment filed Wednesday, Cristadoro and his advertising, marketing and events company, Alliance Activation LLC, were ordered to repay the client $225,000 plus future interest, most of it in three business days.

The consent judgment noted that the business’ policies included “using client funds to pay Alliance’s own operating expenses at times when Alliance was experiencing a cash flow shortage.” Those policies were crafted by Cristadoro, as the president and CEO, and a bookkeeper, according to Wednesday’s filing.

That filing further states that “Cristadoro, without Plaintiff’s consent, authorized use of Plaintiff’s funds for payment of Alliance’s operating expenses and credit card statements to cover a cash flow shortage.”

Some of those statements, according to the consent judgment, “included non-business transactions for Cristadoro’s personal benefit.”

Cristadoro, an East Cobb resident in his first year on the school board, told East Cobb News in response to a story published Tuesday that the lawsuit, which was filed in Fulton State Court, has no bearing on his duties in public office.

“It’s a personal case from a personal business, both of which have nothing to do with serving students, other than being a target by those who are trying to tear down Cobb schools,” said Cristadoro.

The case came to light Monday at a Fulton court hearing in which Cristadoro and the client, an insurance company, attempted to seal court documents about the settlement.

Four constituents of Cristadoro’s in Cobb school board Post 5 in East Cobb filed a motion before the hearing on Monday to keep the records public, saying it’s a matter of transparency given his status as an elected official.

Sagicor Life Insurance Company said in a March 2024 lawsuit that it paid Cristadoro and Alliance Activation, the company he founded in 2012, a $250,000 sponsorship fee for advertising at sporting venues in Tampa, Fla. (original lawsuit here).

Sagicor said in the suit that Cristadoro, Alliance Activation and the other defendant, named John Doe in the filings, was to have turned the money over to a third-party vendor to provide the sponsorship services.

But that never happened, and the consent judgment states that Sagicor hasn’t been repaid.

(Alliance Activation is located in Sandy Springs, hence the legal action in Fulton County.)

Watching the Funds-Cobb leader Heather Tolley-Bauer.

The charges included fraud, theft, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, civil racketeering and gross negligence, claims that Cristadoro initially denied in court filings.

According to Wednesday’s filing, Alliance Activation will be allowed to keep $25,000 in commission charges.

In his response to East Cobb News, Cristadoro said that “I am proud of the business we built and happy we’ve been able to negotiate a successful next chapter for the partners and employees. I learned a lot about people and serving customers which are lessons I’ll use for the rest of my life—especially in public service.”

Late Wednesday afternoon, he issued a similar response to “members of the press” from a business e-mail address, and asked that they contact him there about the lawsuit, instead of his official school board e-mail address.

Cristadoro also was asked by East Cobb News what he thought about the motion that was filed by the four individuals—including a Cobb schools financial watchdog, Heather Tolley-Bauer of Watching the Funds-Cobb (you can read that here)—and a statement by the Cobb County Democratic Committee on Tuesday that he resign.

“What other individuals do in their search for significance is their decision as they try to survive by creating fake outrage,” Cristadoro said. “Regarding the other nonsense [the CCDC demand], that doesn’t warrant a response.”

Cristadoro, whose two children attend Walton High School, is a Republican and part of a 4-3 GOP majority on the school board, which in recent years has clashed along partisan lines on a number of issues.

Tolley-Bauer and others co-founded Watching the Funds-Cobb in 2021 to scrutinize Cobb County School District finances, budgeting and spending, saying it was a non-partisan organization.

But some of those prominently involved in the group are deeply involved in local Democratic politics.

Co-founder Stacy Efrat is now a Cobb County Democratic Party appointee to the Cobb Board of Elections. Laura Judge, who served in former Democratic Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson’s “citizen cabinet,” lost to Cristadoro last year in the general election for the Post 5 seat.

Tolley-Bauer has supported Democratic school board candidates in Post 5 in 2020 and Judge last year.

Watching the Funds-Cobb has been critical of spending decisions made by the Cobb school district administration, including a $50 million special events center that was eventually scuttled, but has not previously scrutinized the activities of elected board members.

Tolley-Bauer told East Cobb News Tuesday that neither Efrat nor Judge is currently involved the group. She said she was told last week about the lawsuit against Cristadoro by “a concerned citizen” and as she was looking through the case files, noticed that “they asked to seal something.”

An attorney with an Atlanta law firm drafted a motion in time for Monday’s hearing, at which Fulton State Court Judge Wesley Tailor refused a request to seal court documents, saying the public interest outweighs privacy matters.

“This is an issue of transparency,” Tolley-Bauer said, adding that one of Cristadoro’s primary talking points in his campaign was his background as a businessman.

“He has a fiduciary responsibility to his constituents. We have a right to know whether or not he can be trusted with those responsibilities.”

Tolley-Bauer admitted that she’s aware of how the partisan “optics” might look. She said she’s voted for Republican Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell and also “accidentally” voted for David Banks, a former GOP school board member whom Cristadoro succeeded, “when I first moved here.”

But “this literally was an argument for transparency,” Tolley-Bauer. “If people don’t care to know [about the lawsuit], then I respect that. But the facts are the facts. And the taxpayer deserves to know.”

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Cobb school board vice chairman named in civil lawsuit

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Cobb school board vice chairman named in civil lawsuit
John Cristadoro

UPDATED: The lawsuit has been settled, and Cristadoro has commented on the matter to East Cobb News.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

The vice chairman of the Cobb Board of Education is a defendant in a civil lawsuit in Fulton County, along with his business, for claims of theft, fraud, conspiracy and other charges.

On Monday a Fulton State Court judge declined to seal consent filings in the lawsuit, filed by Sagicor Insurance Co. against Alliance Activation LLC, Cristadoro, and another unnamed defendant.

That decision came after a late motion by four individuals, including a Cobb schools financial watchdog, to keep the court records public. Both parties had asked that the settlement details be kept private.

Cristadoro, of Post 5 in East Cobb, runs Alliance Activation, an advertising, events and marketing firm, which according to the lawsuit was paid a $250,000 sponsorship fee by Sagicor in 2023 for advertising at sporting venues in Tampa, Fla.

The lawsuit claims that the money paid to Cristadoro’s company, in five installments, was not passed on to another vendor, as agreed to in the contract, to perform the advertising services. Sagicor claims in the suit that Cristadoro, Alliance Activation and the other defendant, named John Doe in the filings, kept the money and have not returned it.

Sagicor is alleging that Alliance Activation and Cristadoro also committed breach of contract and fiduciary duty, civil RICO violations and negligence. The suit seeks the full reimbursement of the $250,000, plus legal costs and an unspecified amount in damages.

Cristadoro has denied the claims in court filings. Alliance Activation has offices in Sandy Springs, and still lists Sagicor as a client on its website.

In their motion, filed early Monday morning, the four individuals claimed that they were responding to the parties taking the “extraordinary step of sealing the judgment in a case from public view.”

As Post 5 constituents, they continued, they “have a vested public interest in the terms of this consent judgment, including any admissions made by Cristadoro as to his liability in this case.”

Judge Wesley B. Tailor ruled he would not grant a motion to seal the records, and set another court date for for Dec. 1 unless the parties come to an agreement.

A parent with two children in the Walton High School attendance zone, Cristadoro, a Republican, is in his first year on the school board, after being elected in 2024 to succeed the retiring David Banks.

One of the four individuals making the motion to keep the court records public is Heather Tolley-Bauer, an East Cobb resident and founder of Watching the Funds-Cobb, which has been critical of Cobb County School District financial issues. They’ve hired an attorney with an Atlanta law firm, saying they’re pushing for transparency in a matter involving an elected school official.

Heather Tolley-Bauer

The motion filed Monday by Tolley-Bauer, Stacey Owens, Jennifer Simon and Maggie Dougherty said that “Cristadoro regularly highlights his business acumen and his entrepreneurial experience in campaign materials, Facebook posts, and interviews with the local press.”

As an elected official with a fiduciary responsibility, and “as a practical matter, Cristadoro often serves as the deciding vote on multi-million dollar contracts procured on behalf of the Cobb County taxpayers,” states the motion, which also alleges that “Cristadoro used his client’s money to pay off Alliance’s creditors and, it would appear, Cristadoro’s personal expenses.

“This was not a one-time event. Alliance’s bank statements show that he paid the same credit card company multiple times in the same month. In short, it would appear to be undisputed that Cristadoro, a fiduciary over his client’s funds, misappropriated a significant amount of money from his client.”

Cristadoro’s attorney objected to the late filing of the motion, saying it was politically motivated. Laura Judge, a Democrat who ran against Cristadoro last year, also has been involved with Watching the Funds-Cobb, but is not named in the third-party motion.

Another Watching the Funds-Cobb founder is Stacy Efrat, also an East Cobb resident and member of the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration who was appointed by the Cobb Democratic Committee.

Tolley-Bauer has said that she’s not a political activist and that her group is non-partisan. But in a 2021 East Cobb News profile of Watching the Funds-Cobb, she acknowledged she was involved in a fundraiser for a Democratic Cobb school board candidate challenging Banks in 2020. She also contributed financially to Judge’s campaign.

East Cobb News has left messages with Cristadoro and Tolley-Bauer seeking comment.

Republicans hold a 4-3 majority on the school board, and all three GOP candidates on the 2024 ballot, including Cristadoro, won their races.

On Tuesday the Cobb Democratic Committee called for Cristadoro to resign, saying that the court documents make “him no longer fit to continue serving on the school board. His judgment cannot be trusted when it comes to handling taxpayer funds or transparency with the public.”

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Dickerson MS Percussion Ensemble earns state, national honors

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Dickerson MS Percussion Ensemble earns state and national honors

Submitted information and photo:

The Dickerson Middle School Percussion Ensemble, based in East Cobb (Marietta, GA), has been selected to perform at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) State Conference in Athens, GA (January 2026) and the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis, IN (March 2026). These invitations mark an extraordinary achievement — the musical equivalent of winning both a State and National Championship in the same year.

“This is more than just a performance opportunity—it’s a chance for our students to grow, collaborate, and represent the excellence of East Cobb on a national stage,” said Director Scott Brown.

Under the direction of Scott Brown, over 80 student musicians will perform alongside world-renowned percussionist and composer Professor She-e Wu of Northwestern University, premiering an original composition written for the ensemble. To help every student participate fully, the group seeks community partners and sponsors to support travel, meals, and equipment. Sponsors will be recognized on signage, programs, and social media throughout the season.

We got that information from Jacqueline Baron-Lee and Kelly Wilkins, who are the leaders of the ensemble’s parent fundraising them. They’re asking for sponsors to help pay for both of the trips.

They’ve included all the pertinent information on the flyer below, including contact details.

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Wheeler leads Cobb, places 2nd in Georgia in 2025 ACT scores

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Wheeler name change

High schools in East Cobb held steady or did better in the 2025 American College Testing (ACT) results over the past year.

But at Wheeler High School, the improvement was significant, according to ACT results released Wednesday by the Georgia Department of Education.

Wheeler’s average composite score of 28.5 not only led the Cobb County School District, but was the best among traditional high schools in the state of Georgia and second overall.

Only the specialty Gwinnett School for Math Science and Technology had a higher average composite score, of 29.5. That school, whose student body is chosen from a Gwinnett County Public Schools lottery, typically leads the state in most testing results.

The ACT (American College Testing) tests students in four subject areas—English, math, reading and science, and combines those to determine a composite score as well. The maximum score overall and in individual subject areas is 36.

Walton was second in Cobb with a 26.6 average composite score, up from 26.0 in 2025, and that is good for seventh in the state.

Average composite scores were up from 2024 at Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry, and down slightly at Pope (see chart below).

The Cobb school district said in a release Wednesday that eight students in the Class of 2025 earned perfect scores of 36—three each from Walton and Wheeler, and one each from Lassiter and Pope.

The average composite score boost at Wheeler, home of the Center for Advanced Studies STEM magnet program, was across all subject areas.

Last year, Wheeler’s average composite score was 26.0, which tied Walton for the best in Cobb.

In 2025, Wheeler seniors led Cobb in every subject-area composite score, with a minimum of 28.0. Walton’s best average composite was in reading, at 27.4.

Cobb ACT average composite scores districtwide rose to 23.7, from 22.8 in 2025, and is second among major public school districts in metro Atlanta. Forsyth County schools had an average composite score of 24.7.

In its release, the Cobb school district claimed its average composite score led metro Atlanta, but it does not include Forsyth County.

“Strong results like these don’t happen by accident—they come from teachers, families, and a community all working together to help our students reach their goals,” Cobb Board of Education chairman David Chastain said in the district release.

The statewide average composite ACT score in 2025 is 21.4, which also is an improvement from last year; while the national average is 19.4.

More Cobb info can be found by clicking here; click here for school-level and here for district-level scores compiled by the Georgia Department of Education.

The table below details the ACT scores at East Cobb high schools; the number in parenthesis next to the school name indicates the number of students at that school who took the test.

[wptg_comparison_table id=”74″]

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Sprayberry HS reconstruction open house is Wednesday

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Sprayberry HS reconstruction open house is Wednesday

The $71.9 million reconstruction project that’s continuing at Sprayberry High School is the subject of a community open house on Wednesday.

The open house takes place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the main gymnasium lobby at the school (2525 Sandy Plains Road).

That’s the first phase of the project that’s expected to be done in the summer of 2026. The new main classroom building will have four stories and 68 classrooms, new administrative and guidance offices and learning commons. The funding comes from the Cobb Education SPLOST VI.

This is the second academic year for the Sprayberry rebuild, which has prompted major disruptions. Parking has been severely restricted due to several dozen portable classrooms.

When the contract was awarded last spring, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said that the three-year duration “not going to be a fun time” for the Sprayberry community.

But most of the exterior of the new building is nearing completion (here’s a time-lapse video of the construction thus far, posted recently on the school’s Instagram page). In addition to classrooms, the building will house administrative and guidance offices and a learning commons.

In the second phase, renovations will be made to existing cafeteria space and other facilities.

All work is expected to be completed by the start of the 2027-28 school year. The contractor is Carroll Daniel Construction of Atlanta, which rebuilt the Osborne High School campus.

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Pope HS teacher leaves handprints at Marietta Square

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Pope HS teacher leaves handprints at Marietta Square

As the Cobb County School District Teacher of the Year, Amanda Dillard of Pope High School has already enjoyed a number of special honors.

On Wednesday she got to do another one, at the Marietta Square, as part of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s “Give Our Schools a Hand” celebration.

That includes the Cobb and Marietta teachers of the year leaving their handprints in a designated place near the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre.

According to the Chamber, GOSH began in 1988 “not only to show appreciation for teachers in the community, but also to encourage area businesses, parents, and civic groups to take an active role in enhancing the quality of education.”

Dillard also will be driving a vehicle for the next year provided by the Voyles Automotive Group.

Later this month, on Oct. 29, Dillard and other school-level teachers of the year in the Cobb school district will be honored with a pep rally in front of local students.

Pope HS teacher leaves handprints at Marietta Square

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Dickerson, Mabry MS named distinguished ‘positivity’ schools

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Dickerson MS

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The Georgia Department of Education recently recognized 10 Cobb Schools for their work in creating an ideal learning environment for every student and avoiding major disruptions during the day. 

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support, better known as PBIS, has been a concentrated effort by Cobb Schools to equip schools with the staff and resources needed so classroom lessons are not interrupted for students.

The following Cobb Schools earned the title of Distinguished PBIS Schools for 2024-2025: Austell Elementary School, Barber Middle School, Big Shanty Elementary, School, Campbell Middle School, Compton Elementary School, Dickerson Middle School, Durham Middle School, Floyd Middle School, Mabry Middle School, and Smitha Middle School.

“Each of these schools has shown outstanding leadership and dedication in fostering a culture of positivity, engagement, and student success,” said Positive School Culture Support Supervisor Sara Folk.

To be selected as a Distinguished PBIS School, each of these 10 schools had to meet criteria set by the State, including few thresholds the following:

  • The percentage of students with 0-1 office discipline referrals must be 90% or higher. 
  • Decreases in ISS and OSS days compared to previous school year.  If there is an increase, the percentage of ISS days and OSS days (calculated per 100 students), should be no more than 5% compared to the prior year. 
  • In addition to these criteria, schools are also required to complete fidelity checks to ensure they are consistently monitoring and strengthening their PBIS implementation. 

With help from PBIS coaches, these schools have reduced disruptions, and as a result, increased time for learning.

“Just to see the culture change in the hallways, the cafeteria, the common areas, our kids buying into our expectation,” said Dr. Robert Grogan at Barber Middle School. 

Some schools have implemented methods that reward good behavior which in return has created a stronger bond between students and staff as well as made learning more fun.

“The kids love being able to use their points so they want to be able to earn points to be able to participate in activities like administration- being principal for the day, having lunch with the principal, and sports with the staff”, said Floyd Middle School science teacher Naasia Dubose.

For more information on PBIS and resources Cobb Schools provides, follow this link.

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Progressive group donates to Brumby ES for student meals

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Progressive group donates to Brumby ES for student meals
L to R: Danielle Stone, Janet Habib (Indivisible Cobb member, volunteer with Y food program), Linda Faniel (food & nutrition services manager), Fran Cameron, Valeria Hunt. Photo provided by Indivisible Cobb.

A progressive political advocacy organization that has staged anti-Trump rallies in East Cobb said it has made a financial donation to help pay for student lunches at Brumby Elementary School.

The group Indivisible Cobb said Wednesday that its $800 donation is part of an effort to “wipe out school lunch debt” that has built up among students early in the 2025-26 school year.

“With the cutbacks on food assistance programs under the Trump administration, the number of children who can no longer access free/reduced rates lunches has grown,” Indivisible Cobb said in a release, although it didn’t specify how many of those students are at Brumby.

The group said it has begun a fundraising drive “to guarantee that all Cobb County students receive a nutritional meal regardless of their circumstances. Without exception and without shame.”

The Indivisible Cobb release didn’t indicate which food program reductions its donation was addressing. The donation partially reduces a $2,000 balance at Brumby, and was collected at Indivisible Cobb events and via via cash apps from its member base of more than 2,1o0.

The release said the group “plans to continue collecting money to help pay off school lunch debts and aims to donate to other Cobb County schools as well. This effort is in conjunction with Indivisible Cobb’s ongoing program of food collections and coordinated with the East Cobb YMCA Hunger Relief Program.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program came to an end on Tuesday as part of the Trump Administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” reductions.

Earlier this spring, a federal program was cut that brought food from local farmers to school cafeterias.

The release quoted Indivisible Cobb leadership team member Stacey Parlotto, who said that “Cobb County schools pride themselves on delivering above state average test scores and graduation rates.

“How can you expect students to focus with empty stomachs and bearing the shame of an empty luncheon tray?”

East Cobb News has left a message with Indivisible Cobb seeking more information about its fundraising efforts.

The group cited Georgia Department of Education figures that 42 percent of the more than 105,000 students in the Cobb County School District qualify for some form of free or reduced lunches.

Brumby is among the schools in the Cobb school district with a food pantry set up by MUST Ministries that provides food for students to take home.

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Cobb-Marietta marching band exhibition moved to Lassiter HS

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Lassiter Band, Tournament of Roses Parade
The Lassiter High School band will kick off the Cobb-Marietta Marching Band Exhibition at Frank Fillman Field on Oct. 13

After being held for many years at McEachern High School, the Cobb County School District’s marching band exhibition will be coming to East Cobb in October.

The CCSD-Marietta Marching Band Exhibition, as it’s formally known, will take on Monday, Oct. 13, with all 16 traditional Cobb high school bands, along with the bands from Marietta High School and Kennesaw State University.

The Cobb school district said in response to a request for information by East Cobb News that the venue change is “due to extensive renovations of Cantrell Stadium at McEachern. ”

Oct. 13 is a digital learning day for Cobb students.

The event at the Lassiter football stadium (2601 Shallowford Road) will take place in two sessions, starting at 3:15 p.m. with the Lassiter band, and concluding with the bands from Kell High School and KSU (see full schedule in flyer below).

Tickets are $7 per adult and $5 for students (ages 5-18) and can be purchased by clicking here; the tickets are good for both sessions.

The exhibition has been held since 1972 and in recent years, has been conducted at McEachern on consecutive Monday nights in early and mid-October.

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Walton leads Cobb, ranks 4th in Georgia in 2025 SAT scores

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Walton leads Cobb, ranks 4th in Georgia in 2025 SAT scores

The Class of 2025 at Walton High School turned out an overall score in the Scholastic Aptitude Test that led the Cobb County School District, and was among the best in the state of Georgia among public high schools.

According to figures released Tuesday by the Georgia Department of Higher Education, Walton seniors combined for an overall SAT “mean score” of 1260. Lassiter’s mean score of 1206 was second in Cobb, and 12th in the state.

Wheeler came in third in Cobb at 1191, and Pope was fourth at 1185.

The Cobb school district, in a release, said its overall mean score of 1116 was the best for a large school district in metro Atlanta.

The statewide average overall mean score for 2025 is 1038.

The SAT is administered every spring for seniors, who are tested on evidence-based reading and writing and math, and the maximum score is 1,600.

“Parents I talk to don’t listen to what we say, they watch what we do,” Cobb Board of Education chairman David Chastain said in a statement issued by the district.

“The highest SAT scores in the metro, a record graduation rate, graduates walking across stages straight into high-earning jobs, and scholarships. That’s what we do, year in and year out,”

For the most part, the results from East Cobb high schools and the Cobb school district are only slightly different from the Class of 2025.

Wheeler’s score in 2025 is a 24-percent increase from 2024. In 2023, Wheeler’s score was 1255, tied for first in Cobb with Walton.

Lassiter’s 1206 score also represents a 24-point improvement from last year.

Cobb’s mean of 1116 was followed by 1083 in Marietta and 1076 in Fulton County.

Walton’s 1260 overall score mean was the highest for a traditional high school in Georgia. Specialty academies, charter and magnet schools are more selective in their admissions criteria.

For example, the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, which typically outpaces all other Georgia public schools in test results, has an enrollment of around 1,200 students. Those students are chosen from a countywide lottery held by Gwinnett County Public Schools.

EAST COBB 2025 SAT BREAKDOWN

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GEORGIA TOP SAT SCORES BY SCHOOL

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Pope HS leads Cobb school district 2025 graduation rates

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Pope seniors await the graduation ceremony.
Pope’s Class of 2025 graduated to the tune of 98.2 percent in May.

Ten schools in the 17-high school Cobb County School District had graduation rates of 90 percent or higher, and four of them are in East Cobb.

The Cobb school district announced Class of 2025 graduation numbers, and Pope High School leads the pack.

Pope’s graduation rate of 98.2 percent led a Cobb school district that reported an overall rate of 89.2 percent, an all-time high. Harrison was second at 97.8 percent.

Lassiter was third at 97.3 percent and Walton was fourth at 97.2 percent.

Lassiter had been Cobb’s graduation rate leader for the last three years.

“Our record-high graduation rate of 89.2% is something the whole community can celebrate. It shows what’s possible when students work hard, teachers pour their hearts out, and families and staff stand together to support them,” Cobb Board of Education chairman David Chastain said in a district release.

“From big gains at South Cobb to steady excellence at schools like Pope, Walton, Harrison, and Lassiter—this is what happens when we stand as One Team and all invest in student success.”

The district didn’t include school-by-school results, but data released by the Georgia Department of Education show that Kell High School’s graduation rate for 2025 was 93.8 percent, at Sprayberry is was 89.4 percent and at Wheeler it was 89.4 percent.

The figures are compiled as part of what the state calls the “4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate.”

That is defined as follows:

“The number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma, divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduation class.”

The federal rate is calculated in the ninth grade, and includes even students who are enrolled only for a day.

Cobb also produces what it calls “a more complete” graduation rate, comparing the actual class sizes as they go through the 10th, 11th and 12th grades.

For 2025, Cobb said that 99.2 percent of seniors graduate who spent all four years in the district.

Cobb’s overall rate jumped by 1.3 percent in 2024, and the 89.2 percent figure is second among major school districts in metro Atlanta, trailing only Fulton (91.9 percent).

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2025 classified employees of the year at East Cobb schools

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The Cobb County School District recently honored its classified employees of the year at respective schools. Campbell High School lockdown

They include paraprofessionals, custodians, nurses, clerks and secretaries and food service workers and were honored at a luncheon on Sept. 16 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

According to the school district, more than 120 employees were “nominated by their peers for exhibiting an exemplary work ethic and a dedication to the District’s direction and goals.”

Here are the recipients at schools in East Cobb:

Elementary Schools

  • Addison: Kathryn Daniell, school secretary
  • Bells Ferry: Rosalyn Figueroa, clerk
  • Blackwell: Iris Aguilar, paraprofessional
  • Brumby: Porscha Kincaid, custodian
  • Davis: Jennifer Cockrill, paraprofessional
  • East Side: Lane Holt, paraprofessional
  • Eastvalley: Rebecca Dumbleton, paraprofessional
  • Keheley: Jeannie Schuetze, clerk
  • Kincaid: McKenzie Sanders, paraprofessional
  • Mt. Bethel: Megan McHale, paraprofessional
  • Mountain View: Gail Arkenberg, clerk
  • Murdock: Vincent Martin, custodian
  • Nicholson: Kathy Breen, school secretary
  • Powers Ferry: Jennifer Letzer, parent facilitator
  • Sedalia Park: Seemi Jamshad, paraprofessional
  • Shallowford Falls: Carmen MacDonald, custodian
  • Sope Creek: Jeffrey Groce, custodian
  • Timber Ridge: Theresa Butcher, custodian
  • Tritt: Gwendolyn Corcoran, paraprofessional

Middle Schools

  • Daniell: Shannon Thompson, paraprofessional
  • Dickerson: Vanessa Moulthrop, school nurse
  • Dodgen: Christine Bishop-Fink, paraprofessional
  • East Cobb: Noemiz Perez, food service assistant
  • Hightower Trail: Stacy Gibbs, paraprofessional
  • Mabry: Andrea Cofield, paraprofessional
  • McCleskey: Barbara Purdy, clerk
  • Simpson: Zella Oliver, custodian

High Schools:

  • Kell: John Douglass, paraprofessional
  • Lassiter: Shannon Frank, paraprofessional
  • Pope: Susan Sawyer, clerk
  • Sprayberry: Odalys Iglesias, clerk
  • Walton: Sandra Guevara Medina, head custodian
  • Wheeler: Karina Mejias-Ortiz, school secretary

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Pope HS unveils Matt Hobby Field to honor former student

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Pope HS unveils Matt Hobby Field to honor former student

Friday was the 20th anniversary of a fundraiser to benefit childhood cancer research in the memory of former Pope High School student and football player Matt Hobby.

Before the football game against Lassiter, the school announced that it was designating the sports stadium Matt Hobby Field.

Hobby died of Ewing Sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer, in 2006, right before his graduation, and a year after the Rally Foundation had been formed to conduct childhood cancer research.Matt Hobby Game

Each year during the football season, a Pope home game is designated as a fundraiser for the Rally Foundation.

At that fundraiser, special t-shirts are sold, and a player is honored who wears Hobby’s jersey No. 70. That player is chosen before the season by coaches who “best exemplifies Matt’s qualities.”

This year, No. 70 is James Burns, and he’s wearing that shirt all season. Here are all the No. 70 recipients, starting in 2012.

“When Matt realized he would not survive cancer, he asked that money be raised for childhood cancer research so younger kids could live,” said Dean Crowe, founder and CEO of Rally Foundation, earlier this week.

“In 2005, he stood in uniform on the gridiron as the Pope community rallied around him, beginning a tradition that became the Matt Hobby Classic. Since then, 4 Quarters 4 Research has raised more than $450,000 at Pope alone and spread to schools nationwide, and it proves that Matt’s legacy of hope and generosity is still changing lives 20 years later.”

In addition to football, Pope’s soccer and lacrosse teams also compete at what is now Matt Hobby Field, along with track and field athletes.

Lassiter won the game 49-7.

To learn more about Rally Foundation, visit its website and follow on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Pope HS unveils Matt Hobby Field to honor former student

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Cobb school employees ‘no longer with district’ over Kirk posts

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Cobb school district employees fired over Charlie Kirk posts
Cobb school employees “should never – ever – be the cheerleaders for a school shooter,” Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said.

Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said Thursday that two employees who had been placed on administrative leave for their comments about the death of Charlie Kirk are no longer with the district.

During remarks at a Thursday Cobb Board of Education meeting, Ragsdale said the two individuals, whom he didn’t identify, “are no longer with the district.”

He didn’t say whether they were fired or resigned.

The district said Monday that an unspecified number of employees were placed on leave while it investigated allegations that they posted comments on social media “appearing to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk.”

The district also didn’t detail the messages of the post or identify the platforms where they were published.

Kirk was a conservative political activist who was shot and killed Sept. 10 while making an appearance at Utah Valley University.

Making multiple references to school shootings, Ragsdale said that “good educators must and do abhor school shootings.” While he said that “this is not in the vast majority of how Cobb school members act,” some condoned the Kirk killing in violation of district policies.

He didn’t mention what those policies were in his remarks, but the district has a social media policy for employees that also has provisions for what employees are permitted to post on their personal and social media accounts.

Among the provisions, employees are refrained from posting material that “displays inappropriate personal information, videos, or pictures that impair the employee’s professionalism and reputation” and “harms the reputation of or discredits the District.”

Ragsdale said that many of the complaints about the postings about Kirk’s murder came from other teachers, and that the ensuing investigations have been “incredibly disruptive” to the educational process.

He said teachers are committed to “a life of service, sacrificing much of one’s present for someone else’s future.” He mentioned a Virginia Tech professor who was killed during a 2007 mass shooting, as he blocked a door allowing his students to escape.

Ragsdale said that teachers “are heroes in a school shooting event. They should never, ever be the cheerleaders for a school shooting.”

The Cobb County Democratic Party on Wednesday blasted the district’s decision to place the employees on leave, saying it smacked of hypocrisy and that “Mr. Kirk’s killing has been used as an excuse by MAGA to persecute anyone who doesn’t adhere to their beliefs.”

On Thursday, Ragsdale said that the disciplinary action isn’t about political party or religious affiliation, but is “entirely a question of good and evil.”

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Eastvalley ES student qualifies for Augusta youth golf final

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Eastvalley ES student qualifies for Augusta youth golf final

Eastvalley Elementary School third-grader Finley Nelson recently won the regional qualifier for the Boys 7-9 age division of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

His next step is The Masters course in Augusta for the Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals that will be played at Augusta National Golf Club in April 2026.

“I’m very excited to go to the Masters, and see it and actually get to play on it,” Finley said in a release issued this week by the Cobb County School District. “You have to be the best of the best to get there, and it’s very prestigious.”

Eastvalley principal Dr. Whitney Spooner said Finley’s accomplishments were noted on the school’s morning news update: “His classmates and teacher were so excited.”

“Eastvalley Elementary classmates cheer on Finley like a hometown hero after his regional victory.”

Calley Anderson, Finley’s homeroom teacher, said in the release that “as soon as Finley told the class he had won the regional in Florida, the class could not contain their cheers. The whole class was jumping up and down.”

His teacher and classmates also made a good luck card and poster for him.

Finley said that “I was very happy that they were all cheering for me.”

“Finley is a very thoughtful, respectful, and dependable student,” Dr. Spooner said in the release. “He is soft-spoken, but very eager to learn.”

After winning the Regional Qualifier at TPC Sawgrass, Finley secured his place in the 2026 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, held during Masters week.

“Focused and fearless: Young golf prodigy Finley Nelson lines up his shot at TPC Sawgrass.”

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Pope HS to hold 20th Matt Hobby Classic for cancer research

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Submitted information:Pope HS to hold 20th Matt Hobby Classic for childhood cancer

This fall, two milestone anniversaries come together in the fight against childhood cancer. Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research is celebrating 20 years of funding innovative research, supporting families and advocating for better treatments. At the same time, Pope High School will host its 20th annual Matt Hobby Classic football game on Friday, September 19, at 7:00 p.m. at Pope High School, 3001 Hembree Road, Marietta, GA 30062. The annual game has supported Rally Foundation since its beginning. 

The Matt Hobby Classic honors the memory of Pope student and football player Matt Hobby, who was diagnosed in 2003 with Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in and around the bones. With the encouragement of his teammates and the Pope community, Matt vowed to “STANDTOUGH” through treatment. He passed away on May 30, 2006, just days after his high school graduation. Before his passing, Matt asked his parents to keep raising money for research so that “the little kids with cancer get a chance to live.”

The Pope community, together with Matt’s family and Rally’s founder Dean Crowe, turned his request into action. In 2005, they hosted the very first 4 Quarters 4 Research (4Q4R) game, which was Rally Foundation’s first fundraiser. Buckets were passed through the stands to collect spare change in support of childhood cancer research. That event later became known as the Matt Hobby Classic. Over the past 20 years, Pope High School has raised more than $450,000 through the annual event, including more than $33,000 last year alone. The 4Q4R idea also spread to schools across the country, multiplying Matt’s legacy and fueling childhood cancer research nationwide.

Rally Foundation was founded in 2005 with the mission to fund the best research wherever it takes place. Over the last 20 years, Rally has awarded more than $40.5 million in research grants through more than 680 projects across the United States and around the world. From its first $5,000 grant in 2006 to a record-breaking $5.5 million in 2025 alone, Rally’s funding has helped advance safer, more effective treatments for kids with cancer.

“When Matt realized he would not survive cancer, he asked that money be raised for childhood cancer research so younger kids could live,” said Dean Crowe, founder and CEO of Rally Foundation. “In 2005, he stood in uniform on the gridiron as the Pope community rallied around him, beginning a tradition that became the Matt Hobby Classic. Since then, 4 Quarters 4 Research has raised more than $450,000 at Pope alone and spread to schools nationwide, and it proves that Matt’s legacy of hope and generosity is still changing lives 20 years later.”

About Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research:
Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer among children in the United States. In 2025, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, proudly celebrates 20 years of impact, dedication and progress in the fight against childhood cancer. Rally empowers volunteers nationwide to raise awareness and funds for research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures. Rally received the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence and GuideStar Valued Partner seal, and according to independently audited financials’ five-year average results, 93 cents of every dollar raised supports Rally’s mission.

To learn more about Rally Foundation, visit www.rallyfoundation.org and follow Rally Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

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Cobb Democratic Party blasts ‘unfair punishment of teachers’

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The chairwoman of the Cobb County Democratic Committee on Wednesday issued a statement blasting the Cobb County School District for placing teachers on leave for the comments they’re accused of making about the death of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.Cobb Democratic Party blasts 'Unfair Punishment of Teachers'

Essence Johnson said in a statement authorized by the party that the school district “is once again picking and choosing which employees get a pass, and which are harassed until the ends of the earth.”

The district announced Monday that it had placed an unspecified number of employees on administrative leave while it investigates allegations that they posted social media messages “appearing to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk.”

The district didn’t specify what the messages said, but indicated that the employees won’t be allowed in classroom settings while on leave, and that they could be subject to disciplinary action that could involve possible revocation of their teaching certificates.

Johnson said the Cobb school district’s decision smacks of hypocrisy, and referenced a December 2023 report in the Cobb County Courier alleging that employees in the district’s communications office had ties to a conservative Powder Springs group, American Vision.

In that report, Cobb school district chief accountability officer John Floresta—who oversees the communications staff—was quoted as saying that the district isn’t “interested in the personal or political views of any of our staff.”

“For those unfamiliar, Gary DeMar, the [American Vision] founder, supports the death penalty for people in the LGBTQ community,” Johnson said in her statement Wednesday. “Now, after two years the school system has changed its stance on the personal or political views of its staff according to a statement released on Monday about the suspension of a teacher.”

Johnson, an East Cobb resident and former Georgia legislative candidate, further stated that “make no mistake, we reject political violence, regardless of which ‘side’ it comes from. However, Mr. Kirk’s killing has been used as an excuse by MAGA to persecute anyone who doesn’t adhere to their beliefs.”

“To those hellbent on rewriting history and ratting out their neighbors over perceived slights, we urge you to stop. To Cobb County Schools, we demand you stop using our teachers as political pawns and allow them to do their jobs.”

The Cobb school district has a social media policy for employees that also has provisions for what employees are permitted to post on their personal and social media accounts.

Among the provisions, employees are refrained from posting material that “displays inappropriate personal information, videos, or pictures that impair the employee’s professionalism and reputation” and “harms the reputation of or discredits the District.”

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