December 17, 2025 — As students and teachers prepare to spend time away from the classroom during Winter break, it's time to look back on some of the best moments in another successful year in Cobb Schools. 

From continuing to set the standard among neighboring districts for student success, to heartwarming stories of teachers going above and beyond for their students, 2025 highlighted the hard work of families, staff, and students throughout the year.

One Goal: Student Success

Building on years of progress, the Class of 2025 established a new milestone by posting the highest graduation rate in the history of the Cobb County School District.

The record-breaking 89.2% graduation rate is a direct reflection of the hard work of students and teachers in the classroom, as well as the efforts of families at home. 

More Cobb students walking across the stage is just one tangible sign of continued growth. Cobb Schools once again outpaced the Georgia averages for the ACT and SAT, indicating that the graduating students are better prepared for what's next. 

Along with scores that exceeded the state average, Cobb continued to outpace nearby districts, providing further evidence that Cobb remains #1 in the metro.

The Cobb County School District has once again been recognized as one of the nation's best financially managed school district. All three major credit rating agencies—Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's"), Kroll Credit Rating Agency, and Standard & Poor's (S&P)—assigned Cobb a triple-A (Aaa/AAA) credit rating. 

These ratings signify fiscal prudence and the district's ability to manage taxpayer funds with the utmost integrity. This exceptional standing benefits the district by reducing costs and enabling investments directly in classrooms for our more than 105,000 students.

"Receiving a AAA rating from all three agencies for the fifth year in a row is incredibly humbling," said Board Chair David Chastain, "It tells our families we are trusted by the best finance firms in the world and, more importantly, that we are managing their tax dollars wisely."

Celebrating Our Own

Pope High School's Amanda Dillard was given the title of District Teacher of the Year for her hard work and the impact she continues to make every day in the classroom.

Dillard, who teaches special education and coaches esports at Pope, now has her handprint permanently outlined on Marietta Square next to fellow Teacher of the Year recipients. 

While Dillard holds this title at the district level, each school also has an educator who receives the Teacher of the Year title. Cobb's annual TOTY Pep Rally showcased the impact these teachers make daily, as students cheered them on from a packed auditorium.

For students, National Signing Day was another cause for celebration throughout Cobb, as athletes committed to play sports at the highest levels in college. 

Off the field, 65 Cobb students were named National Merit Semifinalists, showcasing their excellent achievements in the classroom. 

 

Cobb Schools also recently celebrated another successful class of Georgia's BEST graduates, marking the first time that a class of doctoral graduates has earned their degree through the program. 

This partnership with the University of West Georgia enables educators in Cobb Schools to pursue advanced degrees while continuing to support students in achieving their academic goals in the classroom. To date, 530 educators have graduated from the program, with more and more interest being shown every year. 

The success of Georgia’s BEST is part of a broader commitment to supporting and retaining educators across the district. In 2025, Forbes recognized Cobb Schools as one of Georgia's Best Places to Work for the seventh straight year, highlighting once again why Cobb stands out as the best place to teach, lead, and learn.  

The quality of Cobb Schools also contributes to the county being ranked among the top 5 communities to live in the country, underscoring the district’s impact on the community and its appeal to families and educators alike.

Keeping Schools Safe

This year, students at Cobb Schools have probably seen more dogs around their campus — and that's by design. 

Vapor Wake dogs have been implemented across Cobb Schools with the intent of detecting a possible threat before an incident occurs. 

These dogs are able to detect the scent of a firearm even when it's buried in a backpack or car. 

 

What makes these dogs different from others you may see at an airport is that they're meant to be interacted with. Teachers across Cobb have reported positive encounters between students and the Vapor Wake dogs throughout the school day. These dogs are not only providing an important security measure, but they're also helping boost school morale throughout the year. 

It's a new initiative that has shown enough success for the Board to recently approve the addition of eight more Vapor Wake dogs, bringing the district's total to 16. 

The People Who Make Cobb Special

This year, a Veterans Day surprise captivated not only everyone in Cobb but also gained immediate national attention from media outlets and communities across the country. 

When 10-year-old Amare, a fourth grader at Kemp Elementary School, joined his classmates on stage for their Veterans Day program, he thought he was honoring heroes like his father from afar. Instead, his dad, Master Sgt. Osei Gore surprised Amare by returning home two weeks early from his deployment with the U.S. Air Force overseas. The heartwarming reunion marked the first time the father and son had been together in about 6 months. 

 

From notable alumni like Sprayberry's Flau'jae Johnson giving back, cafeteria staff making a difference, or Cobb staff who served in the military showcasing why they have a passion for teaching, Cobb Schools is filled with people who are going the extra mile for students every day. 

This commitment to learning showed itself once again in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as educators across Cobb shared their stories of survival. 

 

In many cases, these teachers continued to come to school in the midst of treatment, for the simple reason of not wanting the students to miss out on learning. 

It's not just the teachers who have shown they are willing to go the extra mile; students have showcased that ability throughout 2025. 

Over the Summer, Mabry Middle School eighth-grader Logan Richardson was recognized for helping save his grandmother's life after administering CPR and calling 911 to give clear and calm instructions to the operator, which proved vital in a stressful moment. 

Unique Opportunities to Learn

At Osborne High School, students are already utilizing the Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy (CITA) by taking classes such as HVAC and carpentry, gaining valuable career-ready skills, and options for success after graduation. 

In 2025, Cobb Schools broke ground on another CITA location—this time at Allatoona High School. 

The new CITA location, set to open next year, was funded through Ed-SPLOST.

Cobb continues to innovate how students can learn in a fun and engaging way throughout the school year, which was evident in many of the unique events held this year. 

From learning STEM by watching teachers fly in a plane and elementary students learning economics by making pizzas at school to students learning robotics in a hands-on environment, teachers are continually make the learning experience special in Cobb Schools. 

As we look ahead to 2026, we remain united as One Team. One Goal. Student Success, and look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026.