East Cobb families now have a new career and technical education option after the Cobb County School District cut the ribbon Thursday, July 16, on a $25 million facility at Allatoona High School in Acworth. Students at Walton, Pope, Lassiter, Wheeler, and every other CCSD high school can apply to attend through the district's magnet program.

The Cobb Innovation & Technology Academy's second campus will begin classes in August for the 2026-27 school year. The program is tuition-free, and the district provides bus transportation on centralized magnet routes for admitted students.

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and CITA Executive Director Dr. Tiffany Barney joined the Board of Education for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

What the academy offers

CITA organizes its programs into three career pillars: Maker Industries (construction, automotive, mechanical), Emerging Technologies (IT and digital technologies), and Health Care and Community Services (nursing, EMT, surgical tech). The district's website lists more than 15 career pathways across the three pillars, and students can earn industry-recognized credentials. Aviation is also among the programs at the Allatoona campus, according to district materials.

Demand drove the expansion

Applications at the original CITA campus on Windy Hill Road in Marietta more than doubled in the program's first year, jumping from 300 to 669, according to WSB Radio's coverage of the Allatoona groundbreaking in 2025.

At that groundbreaking, Ragsdale said students "are understanding you don't necessarily have to go to the four-year college to get an awesome career and make great money."

Dr. Barney cited the surge in demand as the reason for the second location.

How it was funded

The district paid for the facility through the education special-purpose local-option sales tax (Ed-SPLOST) that Cobb voters approved. The district's FY2026 budget serves approximately 105,738 students.

How East Cobb students can apply

Students admitted to CITA attend classes at the Allatoona or Osborne campus while remaining enrolled at their home high school. The district has not yet posted application dates for the 2027-28 school year. The prior cycle's window ran from October 1 through December 1. Families should check the district's magnet portal at magnet.cobbk12.org for updated deadlines.

No third CITA campus or expansion to East Cobb high schools has been announced.