WOODSTOCK, GA — No large city is attempting to do what Mayor de Blasio wants to do. That would be to give students the option of attending classes at school during a pandemic. A school district in Georgia, while not even a tenth of the size of New York City’s school system, has some high schools that are comparable in size to city schools.

Symone Davis’ 14-year-old son, Zale Day, is a freshman at Woodstock High School in Cherokee County, Georgia. It’s a school of 2,200 students located 40 minutes north of Atlanta — a place where high school football is still kicking off.

Before school began August 3rd, parents were asked to choose between in-person learning or digital learning at home for their kids.

“I wanted him to at least get that the experience freshman year,” said Davis.

Like most parents at Woodstock High, Davis selected in-person learning for Zale.

Zale’s best friend, Adrian, is enrolled in all digital learning.

His mother, Suzy Beltran, is disappointed — there’s not a live teacher.

Instruction is self-guided with teachers available to answer questions.

“Cherokee didn’t get us much of an option. Just him on his own, pretty much,” said Beltran. “Yes, for sure. I don’t regret it. Immediately from the moment the school opened, the second day, we started seeing cases throughout Cherokee County.”

Letters from the principal told parents about confirmed COVID-19 cases the same week school opened.

“Dear Parents, I’m writing this letter in order to communicate that a student in 11th grade has tested positive for COVID-19,” the letter read.

Two days later, another letter. A senior tested positive.

The next day, an eleventh grader.

Another two days, another two students.

“I said ‘This is stupid. The schools need to be closed,’” said Davis.

On August 12, less than two weeks after opening, the high school temporarily halted in-person learning.

When the school reopened nearly three weeks later, full-time in-person attendance was not an option.

Zale was enrolled in a hybrid model.

“The hybrid is so confusing. I use two alarms now,” said Davis.

Each mom has her own concern. Davis wishes she had selected digital learning for Zale from the start and Beltran worries about the quality of her son’s digital education.

Both say the experience is teaching — maybe testing — patience.

For now, they focus on what they can control. Hand washing and mask wearing, which is optional in the school. Social distancing and football practices that they say are as safe as possible.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow; we’re just going to live in the moment and be the best that we can and take care of each other the best that we can,” Beltran said.