NE Cobb Schools Excel in New Achievement Results

The first test of Georgia's alternative to No Child Left Behind has yielded fairly good marks for the Cobb County School District and excellent results for a number of schools in Northeast Cobb.

According to the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), students at the elementary, middle and high school levels of both public school systems outpaced the state average on a wide-ranging accountability spectrum.

The index grades each school in the state on a 100-point scale, measuring achievement (70 points) and tracking progress points (15 points) and achievement gap points (15 points).

All of the 16 schools in Northeast Cobb (ZIP code 30066) reached or surpassed a score of 80, and 12 schools had scores of 90 or better, led by Simpson Middle School (99). The only better scores in Cobb were at Hightower Trail Middle School (99.5), Mt. Bethel Elementary School (99.3) and Dickerson Middle School (99.2) in East Cobb.

Cobb schools averaged a score of 85.4 at the elementary school level, 87.1 for middle schools and 86.3 for high schools.

The statewide average is 83.4 for elementary schools, 81.4 for middle schools and 72.6 for high schools.

The CCRPI replaces the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports that were part of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. In receiving a waiver from NCLB, Georgia was required to create an alternative measurement to the AYP.

While AYP test results came largely from language arts and math test results, CCRPI also incorporates math and science assessments into each school's score.

The other Northeast Cobb schools, in descending order of their scores:

• Mabry MS (98.4);
• Rocky Mount ES (97.5);
• Mountain View ES (97.1);
• Keheley ES (96.7);
• McCleskey MS (96.6);
• Davis ES (96.4);
• Addison ES (95.3);
• Lassiter HS (94.4);
• Bells Ferry ES (93.4);
• Nicholson ES (92.6);
• Kincaid ES (92.4);
• Blackwell ES (88.8);
• Sprayberry HS (87.5);
• Daniell MS (85.2);
• Kell HS (82.7).

For more details about each school's score, visit the Georgia Department of Education's CCRPI database page.

For schools in the 30062, 30067 and 30068 ZIP codes (including Walton, Dodgen, Hightower Trail, Pope, Shallowford Falls, Garrison Mill, etc.), please visit East Cobb Patch.

Schools also were eligible to receive "challenge points" to their scores for demonstrating excellence in innovation and achievement, including STEM certification.

According to the AJC, Decatur City Schools and Gwinnett County Public Schools had the highest systemwide averages in metro Atlanta.

"While pleased with our scores, we still have work to do," Cobb schools' chief academic officer Amy Krause said in a statement. "As we come to better know this new accountability system, I expect our schools to earn more Challenge Points. We know that we can improve our efforts here."

The CCRPI includes not only test results, which was a significant component of AYP results, but rates schools for student achievement (state standardized tests, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates, core courses passed, AP, career pathways), academic progress over time (yearly growth in achievement) and closing achievement gaps for specific student groups (such as English language learners, students with disabilities, specific ethnic groups and the overall Georgia student population).