Ga. high school graduation rate increases in 2013

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013, 10:48am

Ga. high school graduation rate increases in 2013

(WXIA) -- The public school graduation rate in Georgia continues to climb.

The Georgia Department of Education announced Wednesday that the state's graduation rate was 71.5 percent in 2013 -- almost two points higher than in 2012 and four points above 2011's rate.

Every state uses a U.S. Department of Education-mandated four-year adjusted cohort rate to calculate graduations. It tracks the number of students who graduate from high school within the standard four years.

State superintendent Dr. John Barge said the more rigorous calculation method still shows an increase in Georgia's graduation rate.

"Despite the economic challenges our districts are facing, we have more high school students graduating today than we have had in several years, which is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers," Barge said in a statement.

Cobb County's 2013 four-year graduation rate was 76.5 percent.

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Submitted by Michael H. King, Digital Executive Producer

Monday, December 9th, 2013, 12:52pm

(WXIA) - Two wrecks on opposite sides of metro Atlanta have traffic snarled for your midday.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says two tractor-trailers were involved in a wreck on southbound I-285 just south of Hollowell Parkway on Atlanta's west side. That wreck has all four lanes of the highway blocked at that point. Atlanta Police and Fire crews are on the scene there.

GDOT says a jack-knifed tractor-trailer is blocking the exit ramp from I-85 north and southbound to I-285. DeKalb County Police are on scene, as are HERO units. GDOT says a wrecker has been dispatched to this particular scene.

Three of the four southbound lanes of I-85 are blocked between Georgia 400 and the Brookwood interchange by a multi-vehicle wreck.

No injuries have been reported in any of the wrecks.

Motorists are advised to drive slowly and safely, given the heavy rain that continues to fall across Metro Atlanta.

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Submitted by Paul Crawley, 11Alive Reporter

Thursday, December 5th, 2013, 8:57pm

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Cobb County school officials are not happy to find out they'll be losing tens of thousands of tax dollars the next couple of years thanks to some tax incentives for a new development project.

"The school system is in large part responsible for a lot of that development in this county," school system spokesman Jay Dillon told 11 Alive News on Thursday.

Faced with an $80-million budget deficit, the system said the development tax deal caught them off guard.

"Our schools are in the worst financial situation that perhaps we've ever been in, so this will not have a positive impact on that situation," Dillon said.

The $100-million Riverwalk development will go up on a 7 acre tract of land near the intersection of Cumberland Boulevard and Cobb Galleria Parkway.

It will include more than 200 condos and town homes as well as a 10-story office building.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, December 5th, 2013, 7:49am

(WXIA) -- Registration for the 2014 General Educational Development tests is now open on the new MyGED website.

The site, located at ged.com, offers study plans, skills assessments and other resources to help adults receive the equivalent of a high school diploma.

The 2014 GED program launches on Jan. 2. It was overhauled to better prepare GED candidates for higher education and the working world, and ultimately allow them to find jobs with higher pay.

The website also features a list of GED testing centers across metro Atlanta.

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Submitted by Sam Crenshaw, 11Alive Sports Anchor

Wednesday, December 4th, 2013, 9:17pm

ATLANTA -- The USA Today Metro Atlanta Super 25 Football Poll is here in time for the semifinals of the state football playoffs. Only two weeks to go, and the name at the top stays the same.

Buford leads the way again this week, with North Gwinnett next after a big win over Hillgrove. Griffin rises from 7 to 3 this week. Norcross climbs from 6 to 4, and Carrollton completes the top 5.

Collins Hill is 6, Sandy Creek is 7, while Creekside is up from 11 to 8. Gainesville and Hillgrove round out the top 10.

Tucker moves from 15 to 12, Kell goes from 21 to 15, and Marist climbs from 22 to 19.

Callaway is new in our poll this week at 22. The Cavaliers are 12-1 and will face Buford this Friday night.

Marietta returns at 25 this week, while Greater Atlanta Christian and Woodward Academy fall out of the Super 25.

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Submitted by Paul Crawley, 11Alive Reporter

Wednesday, December 4th, 2013, 9:15pm

COBB COUNTY, GA - Cobb County School Board member David Morgan admits he's not your typical office holder.

"I don't confine or define myself as the prototypical politician," he told 11 Alive News on Wednesday.

The former teacher was first elected to the school board in 2009, but now a Facebook page promoting his relationship building seminars is raising some eyebrows, especially some of the photos of scantily-clad women on LUHV 2 LIVE.

Some, like the Cobb County Association of Educators, point out they're the type of photos that could get a teacher fired.

But Morgan doesn't apologize for the nature of his extracurricular activities.

"I'm hopeful that the people that I represent over the course of two terms also realize that I relentlessly advocate for them and when it comes to, you know, what I do outside of that, I'm comfortable about that also," he added.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013, 1:09pm

20 Cobb businesses honored for communtiy contributions

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- The Cobb Chamber has announced the winners of its 2013 Sam Olens Business Community Service Award.

The honor is presented to companies that support local non-profits. Each non-profit that nominated an award winner was given a $500 gift card to Home Depot.

This year's awards were given during the chamber's December First Monday Breakfast at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

The winners include:

524 Creative
Nominated by Cobb Community Foundation and Cobb & Douglas Public Health

Assurant
Nominated by American Cancer Society

B+C Studio, Inc.
Nominated by Fountain Gate Life and Wellness

Chattahoochee Technical College
Nominated by Cobb Library Foundation and Cobb County Community Services Board

Ed Voyles Automotive Group
Nominated by Marietta City Schools

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