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Staff giving bus drivers breakfast and gifts at drive-through breakfast outside the bus shop

CCSD leadership and staff showed appreciation this morning for our outstanding CCSD bus drivers with a drive-through breakfast sponsored by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and gifts from other partners for the 450 men and women who get the community's children to and from school each day with safety and care.

Principals Month - Holly Springs ES STEM Academy - Ashley Polito

October is National Principals Month!  Our Principals are Elevating the Excellence every day in our schools by providing leadership and inspiration.  We’re recognizing one of these amazing leaders each day.  Please join us in thanking them for all they do each day for our students and families, teachers and staff, and communities!

CCSD community forum on safety and security

The Cherokee County School District, as previously announced, last night presented a community forum on the topic of safety and security.  A video recording of the panel presentation, featuring Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis, Police Chief Buster Cushing and staff, Chief School Leadership and Operations Officer Dr. Debra Murdock and staff, and Cherokee Sheriff Frank Reynolds, now is posted online here.

School Custodian Day

Join us as we #ThankACustodian in recognition of National School Custodian Day. We love our custodians -- not just today, but every day! 

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Given the heartbreaking tragedy at Apalachee High School and uneasy atmosphere we have navigated in the days since, Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis gave a video report, during her welcome, on the state of safety and security in our school district at tonight’s School Board meeting.

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It is with a heavy heart that I send this message this evening following the horrific and tragic events at Apalachee High School in Barrow County today.  As the Superintendent of the Cherokee County School District, there is nothing that I think more about each day than the safety and security of our students and our staff, and I am heartbroken to think about the devastation experienced by the Barrow community and shared by our entire state of Georgia.

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The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, reviewed the school district’s Georgia Milestones Assessment Performance Review report, a new level in accountability reporting introduced this school year by the Superintendent of Schools.

Class Act magazine

Class Act, the award-winning magazine from the Cherokee County School District, went home with students the first week of school, giving parents a one-stop publication for back-to-school information and a peek at what's new for this school year.  

Back-to-School Video Message from Superintendent Davis

It is the night before our first day of school in CCSD, and we are excited for a great day!  Please click the link below for a video message from Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis.  We can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

ParentVUE logo

This summer, we converted our student information system and launched a new platform called Synergy in preparation for the 2024-25 school year.  Synergy offers families a ParentVUE website and app that provides greater access to their children’s emergency contacts and attendance information. 

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, June 20, approved its budget for next school year, which provides salary improvements to teachers and support staff while maintaining the same tax rate.  The school board also adopted consistent guidance for student dress and appropriate cell phone use for elementary, middle, and high school students to take effect as we start the 2024-25 school year.

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Get Ready for Back to School with CCSD’s New ParentVUE … the parent portal for our new student information system, where you can update emergency contact info, track absences and more!

Superintendent's Entry Plan Summative Analysis

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard a report from Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis on her key priorities and recommended balanced budget for next school year, with a focus on elevating the excellence of academics and achievement for all students and improving employee compensation to retain the best educators possible.

Superintendent Continues Ongoing Meetings with CCSD Community

Mary Elizabeth Davis over the past month has continued her ongoing meetings with students, parents, teachers, support staff and community partners to listen and learn more about CCSD’s strengths to further nurture and invest in, as well as for opportunities for continuous improvement.  

Mary Elizabeth Davis continued the celebration at Holly Springs ES STEM Academy

It’s national Teacher Appreciation Week, and Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis continued the celebration with a visit today to Holly Springs ES STEM Academy. She surprised teachers with a selection of “her favorite things for her favorite people” from a sunshine cart stocked with treats as she thanked them for all they do for our students! 

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard a presentation from Superintendent of Schools

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard a presentation from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis on her progress over the past month in the new role.  The school board also approved new school assistant principals for next school year.

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Three Cherokee County School District schools have earned national digital citizenship recognition!

Bascomb Elementary School, Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy and Holly Springs ES STEM Academy all recently earned Common Sense School re-certification from the national nonprofit organization Common Sense.  

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, March 21, 2024 heard a presentation from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Eli

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, March 21, 2024 heard a presentation from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis on her first two full weeks in the new role.  The school board also approved new school leaders for next school year and heard updates on new school construction projects. 

Mary Elizabeth Davis today began her service to Cherokee County as our new Superintendent of Schools.  True to her 100-day pl

Mary Elizabeth Davis today began her service to Cherokee County as our new Superintendent of Schools.
 
True to her 100-day plan’s mission -- “Listen to understand, Lean-in to remember, and Learn to Lead” – Mary Elizabeth spent her first day visiting schools and meeting students, teachers and support staff, families and business and community partners. 

kindergarten letters

Cherokee County School District kindergarten and new student registration now is open online for the 2024 -25 school year.  Parents of any student who will be new to CCSD for the 2024-25 school year can enter information and upload documents to complete the registration process online using CCSD’s Synergy system.  

The CCSD Recruitment Ambassador team is made up of outstanding educators from across the school district selected for their e

March begins peak teacher hiring season for school districts, and the Cherokee County School District calls upon a special team to aid in its recruiting success: current teachers.  The CCSD Recruitment Ambassador team is made up of outstanding educators from across the school district selected for their excellence in teaching and knowledge of the district and its opportunities for teachers.

CCSD 2024 Partner and Volunteer of the Year

The Cherokee County School District celebrated outstanding school volunteers and business and community partners at the annual CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Recognition Ceremony.  The ceremony on Thursday evening in the school board auditorium honored a Partner of the Year and a Volunteer of the Year for each individual school and center.  The evening included the surprise announcement of the CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year selected from that pool of honorees.

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis

The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting tonight, Feb. 15, 2024, voted to officially hire Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis as the county’s next Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Davis currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for Henry County.  You can learn more about her extensive experience as an educator and leader online here.  Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower last fall announced he planned to retire this spring after nearly 40 years in education, including eight years in his current role.        

Photo collage includes surprise presentations at, from left to right, Etowah HS, Creekland MS, Johnton ES, Mountain Road ES,

Congratulations to the Cherokee County School District’s 2024 School Teachers of the Year winners!  Every school year, every CCSD school’s teachers and staff are asked to select a Teacher of the Year for their school.  These school-level winners now are eligible for the honor of Cherokee County School District 2024 Teacher of the Year. 

CCSD 2024 School Choice infographic

February is School Choice Month for the Cherokee County School District!  In February, CCSD opens the opportunity for parents to request a school reassignment for the next school year, including our STEM, STEAM and Fine Arts Academies; this year, registration for our online high school, i-Grad Virtual Academy, begins a little later on March 11.  Registration for Pre-K, kindergarten and Grades 1-12 new student enrollment for the next school year begins in March.

Dr Mary Elizabeth Davis

The Cherokee County School Board at a special called meeting tonight, Jan. 31, 2024, announced a sole finalist to serve as the county’s next Superintendent of Schools.  The school board voted to announce Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis as the sole finalist to begin leading the school district.

CCSDGives Holiday Service Projects Video 2023

CCSD schools celebrated the holiday season by serving the community through donation drives and volunteering. Thank you to the teachers and staff who organized these #CCSDGives projects. We hope you enjoy this slideshow of photos from just a few of these many activities that's online here. Happy Holidays to our #CCSDfam!

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The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, heard plans by the Superintendent of Schools to return school custodial services to in-house operations for next school year.  The school board also approved the Woodstock HS classroom addition construction contract, named Dr. Chad Flatt as the new principal for Freedom Middle School beginning Jan. 8 as Principal Whitney Nolan is stepping down and appointed Adam Holley as the new head football coach for Cherokee High School.  

row of buses with lights on

CCSD is in the process of welcoming 30 new additions to its bus fleet, with new vehicles being delivered that will offer more safety features for its drivers and passengers while allowing the oldest buses in the fleet to be taken out of service. 

The Cherokee County School District this school year began a new program to recognize employees’ important service to the com

The Cherokee County School District this school year began a new program to recognize employees’ important service to the community.  The CCSD Milestones Service Awards celebrate employees’ dedication to serving the community through their vocation.  

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The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 heard an update on its search for the next superintendent of schools.  The school board earlier this month voted to contract with the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) for its support services to aid in the search.  Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower on Sept. 1 announced his plans to retire at the end of this school year.

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The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, April 20, 2023 approved the appointment of a new Cherokee High School principal and improvements to the driveway and parking for Creekview High School and Creekland Middle School.

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 approved mid-year bonuses for teachers and support staff and heard plans to increase salaries for next school year.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower proposed the one-time supplemental payments of $1,000 for eligible full-time employees and $500 permanent part-time employees, which will be issued in this month’s paychecks, to show appreciation for their continued service.

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The Cherokee County School District has earned international recognition for excellence in education!

The district is one of only 38 school districts in the world to today be named a 2022 Cognia School System of Distinction by the international accreditation organization.

georgia milestones

Cherokee County School District students for the seventh consecutive year exceeded State averages on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests, with significant gains on most tests. 

The annual tests assess students’ mastery of Georgia Performance Standards, which set expectations for what lessons students will learn in each grade.  Teachers and administrators use the results to improve instructional best practices.

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday night approved the budget for next school year, which calls for a tax rate reduction, increased investment in school safety and pay raises for teachers and support staff.

The 1.5 mills decrease in the tax rate, which was unanimously approved, is the first reduction proposed since 2014 and was prompted by the rise in property values.  While most homeowners will see an increase in their tax bill due to their property value rising, the increase will be less due to the School Board’s action.   

CCSD School Board and Student Delegates 5 20 22

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday night reviewed the proposed budget for next school year, which calls for a reduction in the tax rate for all property owners and well-deserved pay increases for teachers and support staff.

The proposed 1.5 mills decrease in the tax rate is the first reduction proposed since 2014 and has been recommended by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower in light of rising home values.

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard good news about the school district’s financial outlook due to increasing home values and discussed ways to reduce the burden on taxpayers, while also using some of the windfall to make teacher and staff pay more competitive.

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The Cherokee County School District received excellent news today: the district’s international accreditation as a high-quality school system is recommended for renewal for another five years!

“Accreditation is the gold standard for school districts – it provides independent assurance to parents, employees and taxpayers as to the excellence of their public schools,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “I’m incredibly proud of the work that all of our employees do every day to provide the best possible education and care to each of our students.  Thank you to the amazing parent volunteers and business and community partners who support us.  None of this would be possible without the outstanding leadership of our School Board, its vision for our future and its strong stewardship of the resources entrusted to them by our community.”

CCSD 2021 Governance Team of the Year State Finalist 10 14 21

The Cherokee County School District has been named a finalist for the 2021 Governance Team of the Year Award presented by the Georgia School Boards Association!
 
Three awards are presented annually to recognize top School Boards and Superintendents of Schools for outstanding leadership and dedication to continuous improvement.  One winner is selected in three categories based on school district enrollment: small, 1-3,000 students; medium, 3,001-10,000 students; and large, 10,000+ students.  

School Board Meeting 7 15 2021

The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, July 15, 2021 took the following action:

  • Approved the monthly personnel report, which included the appointment of Adam Johnson, a 13-year CCSD teacher who has taught and coached track at Cherokee High School, as a new assistant principal at Woodstock High School;
School Board Meeting auditorium 6 17 2021

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, June 17, 2021 unanimously approved its budget for next school year, which is balanced without a tax rate increase and includes hiring 125 new teachers above and beyond enrollment growth to help bridge any pandemic-related learning opportunity losses.  

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday reviewed the recommended budget for next school year, which includes hiring more teachers to lower class size while not raising the school property tax millage rate, and adopted a resolution that prohibits implementing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and The 1619 Project.  

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, April 15, approved school calendars for three more years and appointed several new leaders for next school year.

The approved calendars for the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 school year now are posted at http://bit.ly/CCSDcalendars.  They were developed by a committee of CCSD employees and parents and use the same balanced calendar model as currently in place.  

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, March 18, 2021, heard school operations updates on plans for special events including graduation ceremonies and proms, as well as details for next school year including the continuation of a Digital Learning option.  

The School Board also approved several appointments for CCSD school leadership roles for next school year including new Principals for Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy and Mountain Road Elementary School, as well as the naming of the District’s first administrator focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.

CCSD Board Photo 2018-19

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) has announced the week of March 15-19, 2021 as “School Board Member Appreciation Week.” 

CCSD joins a statewide celebration this week to salute the efforts of local school board members.  As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds.  As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for the children in local public schools and must study, evaluate and decide what actions are in the best interest of those students.

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, approved several appointments for CCSD school leadership roles for next school year.

As part of the monthly personnel report, the School Board accepted the retirements of many longtime educators throughout CCSD including Bascomb Elementary School Principal Kathleen Chandler.  

2020 Exemplary School Board Badge

The Cherokee County School Board has earned top state honors for exemplary leadership and innovation practices.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) has awarded the Cherokee County School Board its 2020 Exemplary School Board designation.  The statewide recognition program honors school boards that consistently meet standards of excellence and model best practices; it is a three-tiered program, and Exemplary is the highest level of achievement.  In order to earn this status, school boards must demonstrate commitment to

Board Biz Briefs - Steiner 12 11 2020

The Cherokee County School Board during its meeting Thursday approved the purchase of land for the potential site of a new Cherokee High School.

The 88-acre site is north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and adjacent to the current Teasley MS campus in Canton’s Riverstone area, and the land cost is $87,500 per acre to be paid for with current Ed SPLOST funds. 

BOE Meeting Oct. 15 2020 (1)

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard an update on potential State funding concerns for next school year.
 
During its pre-meeting work session, School Board members began the planning work for its annual Legislative Partnership Priorities, a list of top issues it would like to see addressed by Cherokee County’s State legislators during the General Assembly Session.  The report typically is shared by the School Board with the Delegation at a meeting in early December prior to the legislative session’s start in January.

School Board Meeting Bar Association Donation 9 18 2020

The Cherokee County School Board during its meeting Thursday heard operations updates and talked about construction of a replacement Cherokee High School as a possible project to be funded in the next Education SPLOST renewal.

New Leaders appointments 7 16 2020

The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting tonight unanimously approved the Cherokee County School District’s annual budget, which, despite a $25 Million State education funding cut, was balanced without the need for furlough days or a millage rate increase.

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The Cherokee County School Board at its called meeting tonight unanimously approved the Superintendent’s recommended CCSD Reopening of School Plan, which calls for both the return to schools for traditional learning and the launch of an improved digital learning choice.

 

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On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that Cherokee County School Board Chair Kyla Cromer has called for a School Board meeting to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2020 to consider approval of the Superintendent’s recommended CCSD Reopening of School Plan. 

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The Cherokee County School Board at its work session and regular meeting this evening reviewed the proposed CCSD budget for next school year, which balances a State funding shortfall without the need for furlough days or a tax rate increase, and heard an update on school reopening plans.

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The Cherokee County School Board this evening unanimously approved the Superintendent of Schools’ recommendation to end school early on May 8 and to postpone a decision on high school graduation ceremonies until July 1.

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 approved the appointment of a longtime CCSD leader as its next Chief Operations Officer.

Dr. Debra Murdock, a past Georgia High School Principal of the Year who currently serves as an Executive Director in the Office of School Operations, will begin leading the division this spring.

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 heard an update on CCSD’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative, including projects underway to increase counseling services and create a “parent university” program for providing parents more information to help their children’s safety and well-being.

Blueprint 20-24 Five Priority Areas

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 approved Blueprint, a new long-range plan for the Cherokee County School District’s continued success, developed based on community input. 

The creation of the new five-year strategic plan, which is posted here, evolved over six months of meetings with students, families, teachers, support staff, business and community partners to determine what matters most to them and how CCSD could better serve them.

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, July 18, 2019 appointed a longtime CCSD leader to head up the new Social and Emotional Learning initiative, as well as several resulting Principal changes.  

Dr. Debra Murdock, the former Principal of Cherokee High School and Georgia High School Principal of the Year, who has most recently served as the School Operations’ executive director overseeing middle and high schools, will take on the newly created role focused on developing new ways to better support students’ and employees’ emotional and mental health and well-being.

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The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, April 18, 2019 approved the appointment of a new CCSD School Police Chief and new assistant principals to fill vacancies for next school year. 

The School Board unanimously approved naming Major Buster Cushing, who currently serves as commander of field operations for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, as the next CCSD School Police Chief effective July 1.  Major Cushing will fill the role held by retiring Chief Mark Kissel  since the Department’s establishment 20 years ago.