CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GA. — The summer is over for students, teachers and staff in a northwest Georgia school district. Chattooga County is the first district in the Channel 2 viewing area to have its first day of school on Friday.
Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach learned the early start is because the school district has a unique schedule. The small rural district of almost 2,700 students only goes four days a week: Tuesday through Friday.
To get in the mandated class time, that means days are a little longer and going back to school now.
Count on Channel 2 Action News This Morning starting at 4:30 a.m. for full Back to School coverage, what families can expect and the impact on traffic for everyone.
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Looking ahead, a few more districts head back next Thursday and Friday. But the biggest back to school days will be Monday, August 3.
There are 21 districts in the Channel 2 viewing area that return to the classroom that day, including Atlanta, Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton schools.
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Top High Schools in Georgia What are the best high schools in Georgia? Niche.com ranked the top schools in Georgia, based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, teacher quality, and high school ratings. SAT/ACT scores have been removed from this year's rankings to reflect a general de-emphasis on test scores in the college admissions process. (Skodonnell/iStock)
30 - Starr's Mill High School Located in Fayette County, Mill Creek High School has 1,357 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, according to Niche. (Wikipedia)
29 - Mill Creek High School Located in Gwinnett County, Mill Creek High School has 2,782 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, according to Niche.
28 - Peachtree Ridge High School Located in Gwinnett County, Peachtree Ridge High School has 3,155 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, according to Niche. (Wikipedia)
27 - Kennesaw Mountain High School Located in Cobb County, Kennesaw Mountain High School has 1,695 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, according to Niche. (Wikipedia)
26 - Wheeler High School Located in Cobb County, Wheeler High School has 2,401 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, according to Niche. (Wikipedia)
25 - Atlanta Classical Academy Located in Fulton County (Atlanta Public Schools), Atlanta Classical Academy has 697 students and a student-teacher ratio of 12:1, according to Niche.
24 - Lassiter High School Located in Cobb County, Lassiter High School has 2,005 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, according to Niche. (Lassiter High School PTSA)
23 - Savannah Arts Academy Located in Chatham County, Savannah Arts Academy has 801 students and a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. (Google)
22 - Brookwood High School Located in Gwinnett County, Brookwood High School has 3,803 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, according to Niche.
21 - Cambridge High School Located in Fulton County, Cambridge High School has 1,602 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, according to Niche. (Fulton County Schools)
20 - Midtown High School Located in Fulton County (Atlanta Public Schools), Midtown High School has 1,696 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, according to Niche. (WSBTV.com News Staff)
19 - Paul Duke STEM High School Located in Gwinnett County, Paul Duke STEM High School has 1,509 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1. (Wikipedia)
18 - Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Located in Richmond County, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School has 747 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1. (Google)
17 - FCS Innovation Academy Located in Fulton County, FCS Innovation Academy has 1,507 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, according to Niche.
16 - North Oconee High School Located in Oconee County, North Oconee High School has 1,432 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, according to Niche.
15 - Denmark High School Located in Forsyth County, Denmark High School has 2,527 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, according to Niche.
14 - McIntosh High School Located in Fayette County, McIntosh High School has 1,762 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1. (Google)
13 - Johns Creek High School Located in Fulton County, Johns Creek High School has 1,789 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, according to Niche.
12 - South Forsyth High School Located in Forsyth County, South Forsyth High School has 2,634 students and a student-teacher ratio of 19:1, according to Niche. (Google Maps)
11 - North Gwinnett High School Located in Gwinnett County, North Gwinnett High School has 3,033 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, according to Niche. (Google Maps)
10 - Buford High School Located in Gwinnett County (Buford City Schools), Buford High School has 1,985 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, according to Niche. (Nelson Hicks)
9 - Walton High School Located in Cobb County, Walton High School has 2,705 students and a student-teacher ratio of 19:1, according to Niche. (Google Maps)
8 - Milton High School Located in Fulton County, Milton High School has 1,999 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1. (Google)
7 - Alpharetta High School Located in Fulton County, Alpharetta High School has 2,024 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. (Google)
6 - Chattahoochee High School Located in Fulton County, Chattahoochee High School has 1,730 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. (Google)
5 - Northview High School Located in Fulton County, Columbus High School has 1,591 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1. (Google)
4 - Lambert High School Located in Forsyth County, Lambert High School has 3,249 students and a student-teacher ratio of 19:1, according to Niche. (Google Maps)
3 - Columbus High School Located in Muscogee County, Columbus High School has 1,161 students and a student-teacher ratio of 19:1. (Google)
2 - Alliance Academy for Innovation Located in Forsyth County, Alliance Academy for Innovation has 1,145 students and a student-teacher ratio of 19:1. (Google)
1. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Located in Gwinnett County, Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology has 1,304 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, according to Niche.
Top 25 Private High Schools What are the best private high schools in Georgia? Niche.com ranked the top schools, based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents. Ranking factors include the quality of colleges that students consider, student-teacher ratio, private school ratings, and more. SAT/ACT scores have been removed from this year's rankings to reflect a general de-emphasis on test scores in the college admissions process. Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche users, and the schools directly.
No. 25: Holy Spirit Preparatory School Holy Spirit Preparatory School is in Atlanta. (Holy Spirit Preparatory School Facebook)
No. 24: Lakeview Academy Lakeview Academy is in Gainesville, Ga.
No. 23: Genesis Academy Genesis Academy is in Oakwood.
No. 22 Mount Vernon School The Mount Vernon School is in Sandy Springs.
No. 21: Mount Paran Christian School Mount Paran Christian School is in Kennesaw.
No. 20 Savannah Country Day School Savannah Country Day School is in Savannah.
No. 19: Darlington School The Darlington School is in Rome.
No. 18: Lyndon Academy Lyndon Academy is in Holly Springs.
No. 17: Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta Holy Innocents' Episcopal School is in Atlanta.
No. 16- Mount Pisgah Christian in Johns Creek, GA Mount Pisgah Christian is in Johns Creek.
No. 15: Heritage Preparatory School Heritage Preparatory School is in Atlanta.
No. 14: Greater Atlanta Christian in Gwinnett County Greater Atlanta Christian is in Norcross.
No. 13: Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is in Rabun Gap. Photo: Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School FB page
No. 12: Notre Dame Academy in Duluth Notre Dame Academy is in Duluth.
No. 11 The Lovett School The Lovett School is in Atlanta. (File photo: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
No. 10 Pinecrest Academy in Cumming, Ga. Pinecrest Academy is in Cumming.
No. 9: Augusta Prep Augusta Preparatory Day School is in Augusta.
No. 8: Woodward Academy in College Park Woodward Academy is in College Park.
No. 7: Athens Academy Athens Academy is in Athens. (Athens Academy Facebook )
No. 6: The Walker School The Walker School is in Marietta.
No. 5: The Paideia School in Atlanta The Paideia School is in Atlanta.
No. 4: Atlanta International School The Atlanta International School (not pictured) is in Atlanta. (Cox Media Group)
No. 3: The Westminster School The Westminster School is in Atlanta.
No. 2: Fulton Science Academy Private School Fulton Science Academy Private School is in Alpharetta.
No. 1 Pace Academy Pace Academy is in Atlanta. (pace Academy)