PHOTOS: First day of school 2023

Education

PHOTOS: First day of school 2023

The 2023 school year begins for Atlanta Public Schools and Cobb County.

Virginia-Highland Elementary Principal Terry Harness greets parents and students on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Steve Schaefer/steve.schaefer@ajc.com)

Fourth-grader Noelle Ewuakye thinks about her favorite movie after being asked by Superintendent Chris Ragsdale, who was touring Compton Elementary School in Powder Springs on the first day of class Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (Ben Gray / Ben@BenGray.com)

Ashley Simpson and her son Harrison, 7, sit outside Virginia-Highland Elementary, waiting for the first day of school to start Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Steve Schaefer/steve.schaefer@ajc.com)

Compton Elementary School Principal Beth Lair looks over Charlie Vega’s letter to his future self on the first day of class Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Powder Springs. (Ben Gray / Ben@BenGray.com)

Hope Wiggins, 10, works on a letter to her future self on the first day of class at Compton Elementary School in Powder Springs on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (Ben Gray / Ben@BenGray.com)

Investigator Khristia Bynum ensure a safe crossing. Parents and students arrive for the first day of school at Springdale Park Elementary School in Atlanta on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Bob Andres for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Parents and students arrive for the first day of school at Springdale Park Elementary School in Atlanta on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Bob Andres for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Compton Elementary School Principal Beth Lair walks the halls with Superintendent Chris Ragsdale on the first day of class Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Powder Springs. (Ben Gray / Ben@BenGray.com)

Virginia-Highland Elementary Principal Terry Harness greets parents and students on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Steve Schaefer/steve.schaefer@ajc.com)

Parents and students arrive for the first day of school at Springdale Park Elementary School in Atlanta on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Bob Andres for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Ashley and fifth grader Sam Pollet walk to school for the first day of school at Springdale Park Elementary School in Atlanta on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Bob Andres for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Parents and students arrive for the first day of school at Springdale Park Elementary School in Atlanta on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Bob Andres for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Student waits for doors to open on the first day in Marietta on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Following with tradition, the new seniors of Marietta High School TPed their school the night before the first day. (Katelyn Myrick/katelyn.myrick@ajc.com)

Students document the tradition for the yearbook before going to their first day of classes in Marietta on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Following with tradition, the new seniors of Marietta High School TPed their school the night before the first day. (Katelyn Myrick/katelyn.myrick@ajc.com)

Students excitedly walk through a sea of toilet paper before going to their first day of classes in Marietta on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Following with tradition, the new seniors of Marietta High School TPed their school the night before the first day. (Katelyn Myrick/katelyn.myrick@ajc.com)

Following with tradition, the new seniors of Marietta High School TPed their school the night before the first day in Marietta on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. (Katelyn Myrick/katelyn.myrick@ajc.com)

Parents and students arrive for the first day of school at Harmony Elementary School in Buford on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Harmony Elementary School assistant principal Candace Jones guides students to their classrooms on the first day of school on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Fifth grade teacher Shannon Foster begins the day with her new class on the first day of school at Harmony Elementary School in Buford on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Students arrive at Harmony Elementary School in Buford for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

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Credit: Steve Schaefer

Virginia-Highland Elementary Principal Terry Harness greets parents and students on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 1, 2023. (Steve Schaefer/steve.schaefer@ajc.com)

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