The latest round of school rezoning maps released by Atlanta Public Schools shows two different locations for a proposed new North Atlanta Elementary School while expanding other elementary schools in Buckhead to keep up with increased enrollment.
These new options reflect public input. The initial four maps, released in November, touched off weeks of grumbling from Buckhead parents. School officials will find out what Buckhead parents think about the new maps during a public meeting at North Atlanta High School on Feb. 1. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. See the latest maps here.
The two maps propose two different locations for a new North Atlanta Elementary School. Option A would put the school closer to the northeastern end of the school district, and would pull students from E. Rivers, Morningside, and Garden Hills elementary schools. Option B proposes a new North Atlanta Elementary School in the center of the district that would take in students from nearby E. Rivers, Bolton Academy, Morris Brandon, and Centennial Place elementary schools. Option B would take out a large chunk of the western side of the E. Rivers school district, maps show.
Both options call for a new North Atlanta High School. The new maps already are generating a large volume of response on the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s education blog. The ideas in the new maps are generating some positive responses from the commenters there, unlike the first maps that were widely panned by APS parents whose neighborhoods were affected.
Here are a list of suggestions provided by demographers for Options A and B.
Option A Summary – Recommended Actions
– Sutton MS remains a Middle School
– Use current North Atlanta HS as a North Atlanta MS
– New North Atlanta HS built with capacity to house 2,400 students
– E. Rivers rebuilt for 648 total students
– 176 seat expansion at Mary Lin ES
– 176 seat expansion at Morris Brandon ES
– Build a new elementary school at a suitable site to be determined, located in a general area to the east of I-75, north of I-85 and west of GA 400 (when capacity is needed – estimated 2015 or 2016)
– Build a new middle school at a suitable location between I-75 and GA 400 (when capacity of North Atlanta MS begins to near 100 percent- estimated 2016 or 2017)
Option B Summary – Recommended Actions
– Sutton MS remains a Middle School
– Use current North Atlanta HS as a North Atlanta MS
– New North Atlanta HS built with capacity to house 2,400 students
– E. Rivers rebuilt for 648 total students
– No expansion at Mary Lin ES
– 176 seat expansion at Morris Brandon ES
– Build a new elementary school at a suitable site to be determined, located in a general area to the west of I-75 and near GA 41 (when capacity is needed – estimated 2015 or 2016)
-No Mid-Town MS
