Schools

Fulton County Schools see graduation rates on steady rise

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013, 6:58pm

Fulton County Schools see graduation rates on steady rise

FULTON COUNTY -- In 2012-2013 school year, the Fulton County School System saw an increase in graduation rates, continued from a 2011 rise.

In 2011, seniors had a 70.1 percent graduation rate, followed by 71.3 percent for 2013, a spokeswoman for Fulton County Schools reported. Throughout the schools, nine saw the rise in rates. Roswell High School was among the top with a 12-point jump.

"It's great that 71 percent of our students are successfully finishing high school, but that also means more than a quarter of our students are being left behind," Superintendent Robert Avossa said. "One of our strategic focuses is to increase graduation rates to 90 percent by 2017."

Avossa pointed out that support from parents and the community are key helpers to achieve Fulton County's graduation goal.

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School is (almost!) out in DeKalb County

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, May 13th, 2013, 10:03am

School is (almost!) out in DeKalb County

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- The last day of school is fast approaching in metro Atlanta, with some districts dismissing as early as this week.

For DeKalb County Schools, the last day is Thursday, May 23.

Other last days of school in the Atlanta area include:

Thursday, May 16
Barrow County

Friday, May 17
Clarke County

Wednesday, May 22
Atlanta Public Schools (traditional)
Cherokee County
Gwinnett County

Thursday, May 23
Clayton County
Cobb County
Decatur City
Fulton County
Rockdale County

Friday, May 24
Bartow County
Buford City
Carroll County
Coweta County
Fayette County
Floyd County
Forsyth County
Griffin-Spalding County
Marietta City
Newton County
Paulding County

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DeKalb music official in running to lead FAMU marching band

Submitted by Associated Press

Monday, April 8th, 2013, 7:47am

DeKalb music official in running to lead FAMU marching band

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A DeKalb County Schools official is in the running to lead the famed marching band at Florida A&M University.

University officials say the search committee will meet Monday with two candidates for director of the Marching 100.

The two candidates are former Ohio University music professor Sylvester Young and Don Roberts, who is the instrumental music coordinator for DeKalb Schools.

In January, FAMU officials said they were starting over in their search for a new band director. They had planned to appoint Jorim Reid of North Carolina Central University, but they said Reid and the university disagreed over the duties of the band director.

The university changed the job following the hazing-related death of drum major Robert Champion.

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Judge lets DeKalb school district drop from lawsuit

Submitted by Associated Press

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013, 1:56pm

Judge lets DeKalb school district drop from lawsuit

ATLANTA -- A federal judge has granted a request from the DeKalb County school district to allow it to withdraw from a lawsuit against the state.

Last week, the district said it wished to withdraw, but that former board chairman Eugene Walker intends to continue the challenge.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of a law that allowed the governor to suspend six members of the nine-member school board after an accreditation agency put the district on probation.

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36 DeKalb students qualify for Governor's Honors

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013, 10:50am

36 DeKalb students qualify for Governor's Honors

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- Thirty-six students at seven DeKalb County high schools have been selected to participate in this year's Governor's Honors Program.

The prestigious summer program gives talented high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to spend four weeks studying in areas in which they excel.

Governor's Honors is extremely selective. Students must undergo a series of applications and interviews to qualify.

"GHP is such a competitive program that even being nominated is an accomplishment," program director Dale Lyles said in a statement. "I congratulate the students of DeKalb County School District and look forward to meeting them and their parents in June."

DeKalb County's Governor's Honors students include:

Arabia Mountain HS
* Amera Dixon, chemistry

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Emory to host seminar on bipolar disorder

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, March 29th, 2013, 11:14am

Emory to host seminar on bipolar disorder

ATLANTA -- Emory University will host a seminar for people whose loved ones suffer from bipolar disorder.

The event will take place Wednesday, Apr. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Emory's Briarcliff Campus. It is free and open to the public.

Panelists include Dr. Jeffrey Rakofsky, a psychiatrist with Emory's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Dr. Nadine Kaslow, an Emory psychologist and president-elect of the American Psychological Association; and Yvonne DeBellotte, mother of a child with bipolar disorder.

The discussion is sponsored by the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research and Emory's Mood and Anxieties Disorder Program.

The seminar will be held at 1256 Briarcliff Road, Building A, in the third floor auditorium.

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DeKalb School District serves up 5 Million Meals campaign

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Monday, March 25th, 2013, 2:38pm

DeKalb School District serves up 5 Million Meals campaign

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- Along with a few other districts, DeKalb County Schools has joined the 5 Million Meals Campaign to help get more local food in schools.

An official of the DCSD said its nutritionn director, Joyce Wimberly made a pledge to support her local economy and farmers by raising the amount of local produce served to students through a farm to school program. By joining forces, DCSD won a Golden Radish Award.

The 5 Million Meals Challenge was started in October 2012 by Georgia Organics and partners, with the goal of serving 5 million meals made with locally grown food to cafeterias across Georgia who serve kindergarten through twelfth grades.

In 123 schools, DCSD served over 12 million lunches that included watermelon, apples, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, carrots and strawberries.

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