Atlanta Public Schools will host two public meetings and four virtual ones starting tonight, Sept. 4, as it considers potential school closures, consolidations, repurposing, and redistricting.
In its Comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Plan (CLRFP), also known as APS Forward 2040, the district said there are 70,000 available seats but only 50,000 students currently enrolled.
However, enrollment figures have remained steady for the last decade with 49,842 students in 2015 and 49,660 in 2024. APS officials said the CLRFP is designed to address overcrowded schools, underutilized campuses, aging facilities, and the need for equitable access to specialized academic programs.
APS plans to finalize its recommendation by November and adopt the final plan by December. Another round of public meetings is expected in October.
In-person APS public meetings:
- K-5 Dual Campus Schools (Sarah Smith, Warren T. Jackson, Morris Brandon Elementary Schools)
- Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m.
- Morris Brandon Elementary Main Campus
- 2741 Howell Mill Road, NW
- High Schools Overutilization (Maynard Jackson, North Atlanta, Midtown High Schools)
- Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m.
- Midtown High School Auditorium
- 929 Charles Allen Drive, NE
Regional virtual meeting schedule:
- Southeast Region (Jackson, Carver & South Atlanta Clusters)
- Monday, Sept. 8, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Register here
- Central Region (Washington & Midtown Clusters)
- Monday, Sept. 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Register here
- Northwest Region (Douglass & North Atlanta Clusters)
- Tuesday, Sept. 9, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Register here
- Southwest Region (Mays & Therrell Clusters)
- Tuesday, Sept 9, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Register here
Recordings will be posted to the APS Forward 2040 dashboard after each meeting adjourns. A community survey is also available on the dashboard until Monday, Sept. 15.
If approved by the Atlanta Board of Education, the plan could see the closure, consolidation, or repurposing of existing schools as well as expansions to some others. In many of the scenarios, redistricting would be necessary.
The proposal includes:
• Repurposing the Toomer Annex and consolidating students at Toomer Elementary.
• Repurposing Douglass 9th and moving those students back to Douglass High School.
• Repurposing FL Stanton Elementary and moving students to the Washington cluster.
• Converting Hollis Innovation Academy from K-8 to K-5, while grade 6-8 students would move to Russell West End Middle. M.A. Jones Elementary would also be repurposed in the scenario.
• Repurposing of the Barack & Michelle Obama Academy, Dunbar Elementary, and Peyton Forest Elementary, West Manor Elementary, Heritage Academy, Cleveland Elementary, Humphries Elementary, Kimberly Elementary, and Continental Colony Elementary.
• Several scenarios include the repurposing or consolidation of Jackson Main, Jackson Primary, Smith Primary, and the two Sutton Elementary campuses.
• Scenarios that would potentially consolidate Perkerson, Finch, and Carver elementary schools.
• Additions are also under consideration for Midtown High, Maynard Jackson High and King Middle.
All the scenarios and potential for redistricting can be seen in the slide deck presentation below:
