APS releases proposal to close several elementary schools
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Several elementary schools could close as part of a plan to consolidate buildings amid a drop in enrollment across Atlanta Public Schools.
Why it matters: APS has 70,000 seats, but around 50,000 students.
- Fewer students means less state funding and higher costs, so APS officials say the system must run lean to prevent property tax hikes.
Driving the news: The Atlanta Board of Education will hold public hearings at 5:30pm Wednesday, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3 to consider the recommendations.
Zoom in: APS' Comprehensive Long Range Facilities Plan call for closing Cleveland Avenue, Continental Colony, Dunbar, Peyton Forest and Stanton elementary schools in spring 2027 and redistricting those students to attend nearby schools.
- APS would also close Sylvan Middle School in spring 2027 and convert it to an elementary school.
- APS would close Finch and Perkerson elementary schools and move their students into the converted Sylvan building, which would open in fall 2028 (these students would be moved into the Washington High School cluster).
- Douglass High School's 9th grade campus would close and those students would move back to its main campus.
- The Jackson Primary School campus would also close, and the district will make Jackson Elementary School into a full kindergarten through fifth-grade facility.
Yes, and: Other recommendations include repurposing the Toomer Annex building and moving all prekindergarten classes to nearby schools.
- APS also wants to convert its Carver Early College building into a sixth through 12th-grade School of the Arts serving students districtwide and an Early College high school.
- Elementary schools that feed into Carver would move into the Washington and South Atlanta high school clusters.
The intrigue: APS is also looking to build at least one new school and add capacity at three other facilities.
- The district's plan includes a proposed 700 to 900-seat elementary school that would be constructed on the former A.D. Williams site.
- APS would close Usher Collier and Scott elementary schools and those students would attend that new elementary school.
- The Smith Intermediate building would be repurposed, and the district would renovate or rebuild Smith Elementary School to serve kindergarten through fifth-grade students.
- Jackson and Midtown high schools would each get 300-seat additions, and 200 additional seats would be added to King Middle School.
Context: Since the 2015-2016 school year, APS student enrollment has declined from 51,500 to 49,944.
- The drop has been driven primarily by fewer people having kids and fewer families moving into the district, Tracy Richter with HPM, the system's consultant, told Axios this summer.
- More people are also sending their children to private or charter schools.
By the numbers: APS' report states this will reduce the district's seating capacity by 5,200, improve school utilization rates and save between $20-$25 million in annual operating costs.
What we're watching: School closures are emotional topics for parents and students since they form tight bonds with fellow children, teachers and administrators.