A Look at Schools in Cobb County, Georgia

If you are raising a family in Cobb County, Georgia, one factor that determined which home you purchased was probably in which school zone that home is located. Many residents of Cobb County may choose to reside in one area of the county but quickly move to another area once their children reach school age. Why? The diversity among schools in Cobb County is great. Achievement scores for various schools in Cobb County range from 40-99%. School rankings vary from a high of 5th in the state to a low of 1118th.

Cobb County is home to two school districts; Cobb County School District and Marietta City Schools.

Cobb County School District

Cobb County School District (CCSD) is the second largest district in the state and 30th largest in the country. It services over 102,000 students in 14 high schools, 22 middle schools, and 67 elementary schools. The district also provides five magnet programs for its students: the International Baccalaureate Program at Campbell High School, the Advanced Mathematics and Science Academy at Kennesaw Mountain High School, the Center for Excellence in Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School, the Academy of Research and Medical Science at South Cobb High School, and the Center for Advanced Studies in Science, Mathematics and Technology at Wheeler High School. Special schools include an open campus high school, transitional learning center, and psychoeducational center. Online courses for high school students are available through the district’s eHigh School.

Over 5,000 students from 131 countries do not speak English as their native language. The district’s International Welcome Center assists these students and their families by providing services such as facilitation of home/school communication including translation and interpretation, and promoting parental involvement and leadership in schools.

Students who attend school within CCSD can participate in a variety of sports and/or fine arts programs. Athletics within the district include not only the basic football, basketball, baseball, track, and cheerleading but also cross country, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, softball (both fast and slow pitch), swimming, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling. The fine arts include band, chorus, orchestra, piano keyboarding, music theory, and guitar.

The CCSD has eleven elementary schools, nine middle schools, and nine high schools within the top 100 in the state.

Topping the list of top elementary schools in the county are Tritt, Shallowford Falls, Sope Creek, Addison, and Mt. Bethel Elementary Schools. Dickerson, Mabry, Hightower Trail, Dodgen, and Simpson Middle Schools are the best performing middle schools within the district and Lassiter, Walton, Pope, Harrison, and Sprayberry High Schools are the top performing high schools.

Marietta City Schools

Marietta City Schools (MCS) is a much smaller district providing education to 7500 students in one high school, one middle school, a sixth grade academy, and seven elementary schools. The district is also home to Marietta Community School which offers continuing education services to all residents of Cobb County, the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics for academically gifted 3rd-5th graders, a performance learning center, and a special needs Pre-K/Head Start school.

Students within MCS have the option to participate in various sports including football, basketball, baseball, cross country, softball, cheerleading, swimming, wrestling, golf, soccer, tennis, and track. Students interested in the fine arts may choose to join the school band or chorus.

One school in MCS, West Side Elementary School, is among the 100 best schools in the state based on achievement scores.