MARIETTA, Ga. -- The last day of school is right around the corner for Cobb County students.

Public schools will dismiss for the summer on Thursday, May 24.

Marietta City Schools will end the school year a day later -- Friday, May 25.

The last days of school in other metro Atlanta districts are staggered throughout the second half of May. They include:

Wednesday, May 16
Clarke County

Thursday, May 17
Hall County

Friday, May 18
Bartow County
Clayton County
Fulton County

Tuesday, May 22
Atlanta Public Schools
Barrow County

Wednesday, May 23
Carroll County
Gwinnett County
Newton County

Thursday, May 24
Decatur City Schools
DeKalb County
Rockdale County

ATLANTA -- The 11 talented local students who participated in this year's Atlanta Opera High School Opera Institute will give a special concert next month.

The institute, which is one of only a few programs of its kind in the U.S., puts high school students through a rigorous audition process and offers eight months of workshops, vocal coaching and other courses for young people who are interested in pursuing music careers.

In the three years the Atlanta Opera has offered the program, 11 of its graduates have gone on to study music at universities and conservatories across the country.

MARIETTA, Ga. -- Cobb County teachers are frustrated that the district is spending almost $500,000 on a conference that only a handful of teachers will get to attend. 

Many teachers believe that the money should go toward the district's $62 million budget deficit, especially at a time when the district is considering cutting 350 positions and implementing five mandatory furlough days. 

The conference will highlight success stories from the district and will share them with school systems from all over the country. 

"Teachers would rather have jobs than staff development," said a representative from Cobb County Public Schools. "Frustration is the right word. There isn't much trust left between the rank-and-file teacher and the Central Office."

The representative said the spending would further erode that relationship.