Our teachers, principals, bus drivers, custodians—our entire One Team—are excited to welcome 107,000 Cobb students on the first day of school on August 1. No matter which of Cobb’s 112 schools your child is attending, here’s a checklist to help you prepare them for success in the new school year. 

STEP 1: Check out the Family Information Guide.

Each year, the Cobb County School District (District) provides families with a variety of information regarding specific District policies, rules, and programs. The Family Information Guide (Guide) contains a wealth of information about the District, including the Student Code of Conduct, as well as information about privacy rights, important dates, and more.

STEP 2: Check your bus schedule.

Cobb’s dedicated bus drivers safely transport over 72,000 students to and from school every day. The 870 bus routes include more than 37,000 bus stops. Learn everything you need to know about Cobb’s buses here, including how to track your bus like an Uber ride, thanks to the Here Comes the Bus App.

STEP 3: What’s for Lunch?

Get the scoop on how the Food and Nutrition Services team helps fuel student success, dishing up about 400,000 pounds of fresh and local produce, more than half a million gallons of milk, and a combined total of about 78,000 lunches and breakfasts daily.

All the pricing and menu options for the new school year are included in the Back-to-School Food and Nutrition Checklist for 2024-2025.

STEP 4: Get the Inside Scoop.

Parents of new kindergarteners, sixth graders, or freshmen may have many questions about the school transition. The Inside the Scoop podcast has episodes dedicated to each. Watch for episodes throughout the school year on various topics to help families support their students. 

• The Inside Scoop: Kindergarten Registration Questions and Answers
• The Inside Scoop: Moving Up to Middle School
• The Inside Scoop: Leveling Up to High School
• The Inside Scoop: Parenting Students in the Social Media Age
• The Inside Scoop: Cobb's Teaching and Learning System (CTLS)

STEP 5: Check CTLS.

Teachers, schools, and the District all share important information in CTLS throughout the year. Now is the time to make sure you have downloaded the app and any updates and reviewed any notifications your student’s school has already shared. 

STEP 6: Catch Up on What Happened Over the Summer.

In case you missed the news over the summer, take a moment to review some of the news and information highlights.

• Cobb Students Outperform Their Metro Peers!!
• Seal of Approval for Six More Years! Cobb Excels in Cognia Accreditation Review
• Superintendent Ragsdale Crowns 3 District-Level Teachers of the Year for 2024
• 36 Cobb Schools Qualify for USDA CEP Program
• Back to School: Cobb School Leaders Inspired for New School Year
• Photo Journal: 2024-25 New Teacher Academy

Cobb Schools New Principals for 2024-2025

• Kendra Brooks, Bells Ferry Elementary School
• Paul Watson, Bullard Elementary School
• Dr. David Church, Simpson Middle School
• Dr. Sara Ostrander, LaBelle Elementary School
• Dr. Lexie Bultman, Allatoona High School
• Shannon Thorpe, Durham Middle School
• Zach Mathis, Murdock Elementary School
• Jeff Milton, Harrison High School
• Dr. Stephanie Santoro, Walton High School
• Melissa Faklaris, Cheatham Hill Elementary School

STEP 7: Plan ahead. Check your school’s calendar and the District’s calendar.

Go ahead and add essential school dates to your calendar. The District calendar highlights Digital Learning Dates, school conference week, testing days, fall break, winter break, spring break, and other school holidays. Make sure to also check your local school calendar for important dates specific to your school community.  

Want more facts about Georgia’s second-largest school district and the metro leader on the Georgia Milestones? Check out the Cobb Schools At a Glance graphic below.

See you Thursday!