The Student Assignment Project discussions around the Dunwoody cluster include several long-anticipated possibilities that could significantly reshape the cluster over the next several years.
First, it’s important to note that conversations about elementary consolidation in Dunwoody are not new. Based on enrollment trends and capacity data, Dunwoody currently has more elementary seats than projected 2030 enrollment supports. In fact, recent data suggested the cluster directionally has one elementary school more than needed. For that reason, some level of consolidation is expected.
What did come as a surprise to many was that two elementary schools — Vanderlyn Elementary and Kingsley Elementary — appeared on the potential closure list.
At the same time, Chesnut Elementary is proposed for expansion. Under the scenario being discussed, the Dunwoody cluster would ultimately consist of three larger elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
It is also clear to me that parents and community members have deep, emotional connections to their local schools. I recently saw a post describing a neighborhood elementary school as a “gem.” I understand and respect that sentiment — our schools are more than buildings; they are gathering places, memory-makers, and anchors of community identity. But across DeKalb County, there are 20+ gems that many communities feel just as strongly about.
The reality is that maintaining underutilized facilities comes at a high cost to students. When we operate more buildings than student enrollment supports, resources are absorbed into overhead — utilities, maintenance, administration — resources that could otherwise be redirected into teachers, students, and classrooms.
Another key piece of the conversation involves Hightower Elementary. For years, there has been discussion about potentially moving Hightower out of the Dunwoody cluster and into the Sequoia cluster once the new Sequoia HS and MS are complete. If that occurs, it would help reduce projected overcrowding at Peachtree Middle School and Dunwoody High School, which are currently forecasted to face capacity challenges through 2030.
While no final decisions have been made, there are several possible future uses for existing facilities:
- Vanderlyn Elementary sits adjacent to Dunwoody High School. If consolidated, that property could potentially support high school expansion needs – including additional classrooms or field space – helping address overcrowding at DHS.
- Kingsley Elementary, which is a smaller and older facility in need of renovation, could potentially serve as an Early Learning Center. The site could house Pre-K and possibly Kindergarten classrooms, creating a centralized early learning hub before students move on to larger elementary schools.
At this stage, these are discussions and scenarios not final decisions. Community feedback is a critical part of the SAP process, and residents are strongly encouraged to review the proposals and provide input.
The goal is long-term sustainability: aligning facilities with enrollment realities, addressing capacity pressures at the middle and high school levels, and ensuring resources are used efficiently across the cluster — always with students at the center of the decision-making process.
Andrew Ziffer is the District 1 representative on the DeKalb County School District Board, representing schools in the Dunwoody and Chamblee area.