Walton, Pope Top Cobb on SAT

1. The heat is off in East Cobb. The high today is expected to be 81 degrees, the National Weather Service says, and the cold front moving through could produce some rain showers and thunderstorms this morning. We’ll see an increasing breeze through the day with gusts up to 20 mph. The overnight low will be in the upper 50s.

2. All three East Cobb public high schools exceeded the county, state and national averages on the SAT college entrance exam for the Class of 2011, according to official numbers released Wednesday. The national average was 1500, down from 1509 in 2010, and the state average was 1445, down eight points. The average held steady at 1522 out of a possible 2400. , and were among seven of the district’s 16 high schools that beat the national average. Every Walton senior took the test last year, averaging 1725, an increase of 12 points and the highest score in the county. Pope posted an average of 1676, up 21 points and second best in Cobb, while 97 percent of seniors took the test, up from 81 percent in 2010. Wheeler’s average fell 41 points to 1620, still good for fourth in Cobb, and the percentage of seniors taking the SAT jumped from 68 percent to 79 percent.

3. Those SAT results are timely because the Class of 2012 is now digging into college options. Seniors can get a boost in that direction with tonight’s PROBE College Fair from 6 to 9 at the Town Center at Cobb, off Barrett Parkway between Interstates 75 and 575 in Kennesaw. High-schoolers can talk with representatives of more than 100 colleges and universities at the free event. East Cobb students should be in high demand, based on the number of National Merit semifinalists at the high schools here; East Cobb Patch will have that story today.

4. Walton and Wheeler had rough starts in North Cobb High’s Warrior Classic softball tournament Wednesday. The Wildcats lost to Hiram, 7-2. The Raiders lost to North Paulding, 13-3, but bounced back to beat South Cobb, 9-0. The tournament continues Friday. Meanwhile, both teams have Region 5-AAAAA road games today at 5:55 p.m., and . Pope’s softball team also hits the road, in a Region 5-AAAA game. Wheeler’s volleyball team also is in action, at 5 p.m.

5. You may have noticed the new House & Home tab at the top of East Cobb Patch’s home page. Today, we officially launch Patch’s House & Home as a special section where you can find articles, photos and videos to help you make the most of the home you have or find a new home. Just click on the tab any time, or click on this link and bookmark it. You should find something new almost every day.