From 12% to 60%+: How Cobb County Schools Is Building Industry-Ready Students with SolidProfessor
October 12, 2026 · Emily Williams
When Arthur O’Neill talks about career and technical education (CTE), he gets straight to the point: “Everything we do is about the student… One team, one goal: student success.”
As Supervisor of Career Education for Cobb County Schools in Metro Atlanta, Art leads a massive program serving nearly 54,000 students across grades 6–12 in a district of 116 schools and over 106,000 total students. Their CTE offerings span engineering, architecture, manufacturing, and more — all aimed at high-demand, high-wage careers.
One tool that’s made a huge difference? SolidProfessor.
The Challenge
Cobb County’s architecture programs were hitting a wall with the industry-standard Revit certification. Students had the knowledge, but the timed, performance-based exam was tough. Pass rates were stuck at a low 12%. Engineering technology programs faced similar struggles mastering professional CAD tools like SOLIDWORKS, Fusion 360, and Inventor.
The SolidProfessor Solution
After bringing in SolidProfessor, the results were fast and impressive. In just the second year, Revit credential attainment jumped from 12% to over 60% — and the numbers have kept climbing.
Students love the self-paced modules that feel like real industry work. Teachers use the platform for targeted instruction, progress tracking, and building student confidence before the big exam. It’s also a perfect fit for Project Lead the Way enhancements and standalone engineering programs.
“We went from a 12% attainment rate to 60%… and it has continued to go up.” — Arthur O’Neill, Supervisor for Career Education, Cobb County Schools
Real Impact
These aren’t just numbers. Students are walking out with strong portfolios and credentials that actually open doors — landing internships at places like Lockheed Martin and catching the attention of employers like Boeing.
Art is also all-in on preparing students for the future. The district uses a three-pronged approach to AI across every career cluster, with Art’s favorite line being:
“AI will not replace humans. AI will replace humans that do not embrace AI.” — Arthur O’Neill
Why SolidProfessor?
With 36 years in education, Arthur knows what works. He chose SolidProfessor because it delivers practical, industry-aligned training that helps both teachers and students stay current and succeed.
“SolidProfessor has been very helpful… It is an important resource for our students, especially in those specific design area programs.” — Arthur O’Neill
What’s Next
Cobb County is expanding SolidProfessor across more engineering and manufacturing programs — including the new Innovation Academy that opened in August 2026 — and they’re even exploring middle school use for early CAD exploration.
Ready to Level Up Your CTE Program?
Cobb County Schools’ story shows what’s possible when you give students and teachers the right tools. If you want higher credential rates, stronger portfolios, and more career-ready graduates, SolidProfessor might be exactly what your district needs.
Check out more SolidProfessor customer stories or get a walkthrough of SolidProfessor to see how it can work for your students.