For the first time, the Cobb County School District has a “chronically failing” school.

Georgia voters may have rejected a constitutional amendment that would have established punitive measures for schools on a “chronically failing” list, but state officials are still updating that list.

And for the first time since the list was created a couple of years ago, Cobb has a school that has failed on state measures for three consecutive years, the criteria for the chronic failure label: Riverside Intermediate School.

That’s far fewer than some, such as DeKalb County, which has 26 chronically failing schools. But more than Gwinnett County, which has never had any on the state list.

The Governor's Office of Student Achievement, which sets the scores on state measures that define failing and assembles the list, recently reported that it grew to 153 schools from 127 in 2015, with 13 removed and 48 added.

The label remains relevant despite the outcome of the November referendum because Gov. Nathan Deal and top lawmakers say fixing failing schools remains a priority. They are vowing action during the current legislative session, despite criticism of the state's comparatively "tougher" method of defining academic failure.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Athletes run drills during the fifth annual Girls Flag Football Showcase hosted by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, chaired by Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank, announced Wednesday $6.3 million in grants for flag football and other programs at several metro Atlanta school districts. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Featured

Angie McBrayer, ex-wife of James Aaron McBrayer, leans her head on her son Sam McBrayer as she and her three children and two grandchildren (from left) Jackson McBrayer, 3, Piper Jae McBrayer, 7, Katy Isaza, and Jordan McBrayer, visit the grave of James McBrayer, Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Tifton. He died after being restrained by Tift County sheriff's deputies on April 24, 2019. His ex-wife witnessed the arrest and said she thought the deputies were being rough but did not imagine that McBrayer would die. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC