Cherokee County 8th graders outperformed students statewide on the Georgia writing assessment given in January. Ninety-one percent of Cherokee students in the regular program scored in the “meets or exceeds” category, compared to the state average of 86 percent. The district said it plans to continue working to improve scores, particularly among special needs students and those who are learning English.

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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)