Today, the Board of Education wrapped up the final meeting of 2023—a year filled with successes from January to December.

“Cobb is the 23rd largest school district in the nation and 2nd largest in Georgia, but Cobb is number one for having the best students, staff, and community. We are thankful for everyone who helped make 2023 a success for Cobb Schools,” said Board Chair Brad Wheeler. 

News of Cobb student success rang out throughout the year and across the District. More Cobb students graduated in 2023 than the prior year, and they did so at a higher rate than the year prior. In 2023, Cobb’s graduation rate increased to 87.7%, topping Georgia’s graduation rate of 84.4 by 3.3 percentage points. The standout accomplishments of Cobb’s 8,286+ graduates earned the graduates nearly $135 million in scholarships, which dwarfed the year before by about $29 million.

Cobb’s Class of 2023 led the metro and topped their state and national peers on the SAT. They also outperformed their fellow graduates in Georgia and across the nation on the ACT. Because Cobb’s students have access to and succeed in a variety of high-level learning areas, all 16 of Cobb’s traditional high schools were named 2023 AP Honor Schools.  

Beyond Cobb’s 2023 graduates, Cobb students also succeeded at a higher rate than their state and Atlanta metro peers in all subjects on the Georgia Milestones. This year, the Georgia Department of Education recognized 10 Cobb schools as Literacy Leaders. The designation recognized the literacy achievement for third graders at 8 Cobb schools and remarkable literacy growth for third graders at two Cobb schools.

So far, in 2023, Cobb students have captured 43 state championships in various sports, from swimming and wrestling to basketball, soccer, track and field, tennis, and more. Cobb teams are still in the running for two state championships in December.

Cobb students were not the only ones recognized for success in 2023. In addition to the Cobb departments that earned accolades in 2023, several staff took home awards as top in their field. A Kennesaw Elementary School PE coach and a retired Austell Elementary School PE coach both took home state awards for their work with students. Palmer Middle School and Wheeler High School teachers won State Art Educator Awards. Meanwhile, a Shallowford Falls Elementary School was named Georgia’s Elementary Art Educator of the Year. Cobb is also home to Georgia’s Gifted Program Teacher of the Year for 2023. For his commitment to ending cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association named Cobb Schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale the Superintendent of the Year. 

2023 marked the 5th year in a row that the District was ranked as the Best Place to Work by Forbes. This year, Cobb also earned the accolade of being one of America’s best large employers. Cobb’s national reputation may be the reason why thousands attended the District job fair in the Spring with hopes of joining the Cobb team. Unlike other metro Atlanta Districts, which had hundreds of teacher vacancies when the school year started, Cobb only had about 20 openings. Further bolstering recruitment and retention of top educators, the 2023 launch of Georgia’s BEST, the trailblazing partnership with the University of West Georgia, allows Cobb educators to apply for the opportunity to pursue a master’s through a doctorate in education at no tuition cost to them.  

Staff had another reason to celebrate in 2023. Thanks to prudent financial planning, the District was able to provide a healthy raise of 7.5-12.1% to all full-time employees, one of the highest, if not the highest, raise for metro Atlanta school districts. In addition to the healthy raise for staff, the Board also voted in a tax rate reduction for Cobb citizens. The 2023 millage rate decrease was the first since FY2007. Also, during the Board meeting Superintendent Ragsdale announced that the District has once again earned AAA credit rating from three different agencies. Cobb is the only school district in the entire country to hold the three AAA credit rating designations.

The past 12 months have also included praise for the District. For example, an Ivy League study highlighted the success of the Cobb Teaching and Learning System. 

The year had special significance for several Cobb Schools. Pebblebrook High School celebrated its 60th anniversary. Thanks to the community-supported Ed-SPLOST, the Eastvalley Elementary School community cut the ribbon on a new state-of-the-art replacement school. The District also dedicated a new middle school to lifelong educator Betty Gray. This year also marked five decades of the Cobb Marching Band Exhibition. 

A year-end review would not be complete without highlighting some of the community support for Cobb staff, students, and schools. Each year, the Cobb community comes together to celebrate Cobb teachers like no other community in the nation. The Teacher of the Year celebrations include a car for a year and a rockin’ pep rally. The community also supports students and staff through a variety of volunteer activities, donations, and partnerships. Most recently, Wellstar partnered with the District to develop future healthcare professionals at the Cobb Innovation Technology Academy. 

2023 Cobb Sports State Champions

Swim and Dive State Champions:

• 7A Swim & Dive - 100 Yard Breaststroke – Evelyn Jezerinac, Kennesaw Mountain High School

• 7A Swim & Dive - 100 Yard Butterfly & 200 Yard Freestyle – Isabella Klinefelter, Harrison High School

• 7A Swim & Dive - 100 Yard Freestyle – Mitch McClain, Harrison High School

• 7A Swim & Dive - 400 Yard Freestyle Relay – Sydney Starnes, Lily Alderman, Karina Jansons, and Lily Osborn, Walton High School

• 7A Swim & Dive Boys Overall State Champions – Walton High School

• 6A Swim & Dive - 50 Yard Free Style State Champion & 100 Yard Freestyle State Champion – Noah Smith, Allatoona High School

• 6A Swim & Dive - Diving State Champion – Carter Loftin, Lassiter High School

• 6A Swim & Dive - 100 Yard Backstroke State Champion – Finnly Jollands, Lassiter High School

• 6A Swim & Dive - 100 Yard Butterfly State Champion & 200 Yard Individual Medley State Champion – Elizabeth Tilt, Lassiter High School

• 6A Swim & Dive - 200 Yard Medley Relay State Champions – Sofia Parker, Maggie O’Shaughnessy, Finnly Jollands, and Rose Jones, Lassiter High School

• 6A Swim & Dive - 200 Yard Freestyle Relay State Champions – Kate Bradley, Sophia Parker, Morgan Shaw, and Elizabeth Tilt, Lassiter High School

• 6A Swim & Dive - 400 Yard Freestyle Relay State Champions –Rose Jones, Finnly Jollands, Kate Bradley, and Elizabeth Tilt, Lassiter High School

• 6A Swim & Dive - Girls Overall State Champions, Lassiter High School

Wrestling State Champions:

• Traditional Wrestling All Girls State Tournament Champion (135 lbs.) – May Prado, Lassiter High School

• Traditional Wrestling All Girls State Tournament Champion (170 lbs.) – Genevieve An, Kennesaw Mountain High School

• 6A Traditional Wrestling State Champion (113 lbs.) – Riley McElligott, Lassiter High School

• 6A Traditional Wrestling State Champion (150 lbs.) – Aidan Karpinski, Pope High School

• 6A Traditional Wrestling State Champion (132 lbs.) – Josh Sanders, Sprayberry High School

• 7A Traditional Wrestling State Champion (215 lbs.) – Zion Rutledge, Hillgrove High School

• 7A Traditional Wrestling State Champion (190 lbs.) – Conner Cooper, Hillgrove High School

Basketball State Champions: 

• 5A State Basketball Champions – Kell High School

• 5A State Basketball Champions – Kell High School

• 7A State Basketball Champions – Wheeler High School

Literary State Champion:

• 7A Literary State Champion for Argumentative Essay – Lily Hurn, Hillgrove High School

ROTC National and State Champions:

• 2023 Joseph C. Gilliam Academic Achievement Award State Winner – U.S. Navy JROTC Cadet Alexis J. Gabriel, Hillgrove High School

• 2023 U.S. Navy JROTC Orienteering State & National Champions – Hillgrove High School

• 2023 U.S. Navy JROTC Drone Team State Champions – Hillgrove High School

• 2023 U.S. Army JROTC Female Color Guard State Champions – Osborne High School

• 2023 U.S. Army JROTC Drill Team State Champions – Osborne High School

Soccer State Champion:

• 6A Boys’ Soccer State Champions – Lassiter High School

Track and Field State Champions:

• 6A Boys Discus & Shot-Put State Champion –Tahir Hines, Allatoona High School

• 7A Girls Discus State Champion – Zoie Johnson, Osborne High School

• 6A Girls 800-Meter Dash State Champion – Oluwatosin Awoleye, South Cobb High School

• 7A Girls 100-Meter Dash & 200-Meter Dash State Champion – Ryan Davis, Hillgrove High School

• 7A Girls 300-Meter Hurdles State Champion – Jasmine Robinson, North Cobb High School

• 7A High Jump State Champion – Korbin Brown, Kennesaw Mountain High School

• 7A Boys Pole Vault State Champion – Connor McLain, Walton High School

• 7A Boys Shot-Put State Champion – Lota Ugokwe, Walton High School

Tennis State Champion:

• 7A Girls Tennis State Champions – Walton High School

Cross Country State Champions:

7A Boys Individual State Champion - Joseph Minecci, Walton High School

7A Boys Cross Country Team Champions ¬– Harrison High School

Volleyball State Champion:

7A Girls Volleyball State Champion – North Cobb High School

Co-Ed Cheer State Champion:

Walton High School

December Board Recognitions:

2023 Georgia High School Association 7A Boys Cross Country State Champions – Harrison High School

2023 Georgia High School Association 7A Boys Cross Country State Champions Individual Champion – Joseph Minecci, Walton High School

2023 Georgia High School Association Co-Ed Competition Cheerleading State Champions – Walton High School

2023 Georgia High School Association 7A Volleyball State Champions – North Cobb High School