This year, 11 schools in Cobb County have received the Cobb School Counseling Comprehensive Model (CSCCM) certification, recognizing their efforts to support students’ academic, career, and personal development. The CSCCM certification is awarded after a rigorous application process that takes over a year of preparation. Schools that achieve this recognition hold the title for five years.
During National School Counselors Week, counselors were informed of their achievement by staff members at their respective schools. The following schools were among those recognized: Awtrey Middle School, Cooper Middle School, Dodgen Middle School, Durham Middle School, Lassiter High School, McCleskey Middle School, Pearson Middle School, Pine Mountain Middle School, Shallowford Falls Elementary School, Sope Creek Elementary School, and South Cobb Early Learning Center.
At Durham Middle School, counselors Angie Hunt and Felicia Thrash analyzed data and found that students with frequent absences also had lower academic performance. They addressed this by teaching the importance of consistent attendance in every classroom and reaching out to parents to build partnerships for better attendance. As a result of these interventions, targeted students reduced their absences by 36% and cut course failures in half.
Durham Middle School operates under the Cobb County School District and aligns with its reputation for educational excellence as noted on its official website. The school aims to empower students and help them succeed while offering programs such as an after-school program and digital learning resources. It also benefits from a Parent Teacher Student Association that encourages community involvement.
Other schools implemented various strategies tailored to their student populations. For example:
– Awtrey Middle’s counselors introduced lessons focused on organizational skills which led to a 35% reduction in course failures.
– Cooper Middle saw a 54% decrease in discipline referrals among targeted students after implementing stress management programs.
– Dodgen Middle reduced in-school suspensions by 77% through leadership-building activities.
– Lassiter High increased Honors and AP enrollment among 10th graders by 210%.
– McCleskey Middle’s conflict resolution group resulted in a 50% drop in both discipline referrals and core class failures.
– Pearson Middle achieved a 40% reduction in course failures through study skill interventions combined with ongoing parent communication.
– Pine Mountain provided emotional support tools for sixth-grade boys leading to improved behavior and academics.
– Shallowford Falls used play-based interventions to improve ELA scores among fifth graders.
– Sope Creek focused on executive functioning skills resulting in higher reading scores.
– South Cobb Early Learning Center increased alphabet recognition skills among pre-K students by 60%.
“The CSCCM certification is a distinguished recognition awarded to school counseling programs that demonstrate outstanding commitment to supporting students’ academic, career, and personal development—empowering them to thrive in school and beyond.”
