As school buses and parents groaned into action early Monday morning, kids throughout the metro area realized the obvious: Summer is over.

School began Monday in the Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fayette and Fulton county school systems. All other major public school systems in the Atlanta area began the school year earlier this month. Rockdale County began July 30.

Communters will be sharing kids' pain. With the additional buses on the road, traffic is expected to become a bit more challenging, though no major hassles were reported early Monday.

Two new school buildings will debut in Cobb and north Fulton counties. Cobb's Clarkdale Elementary School will reopen since 2009's devastating floods. Students there have spent the last three years attending two nearby schools.

The new $16.7 million facility in Austell has more than 50 classrooms.

After two years of construction, Milton will open its new Cambridge High School on Monday. An estimated 1,200 students are expected to fill the $45 million building at the corner of Bethan Bend and Cogburn Road.

Fulton County Schools approved a controversial redistricting plan last year that shuffled hundreds of north Fulton students to the new high school. Many of the students zoned to the new school come from Alpharetta High School and Milton High School.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com