Midtown International School will close on Friday, April 3, with only a few days’ notice to stunned parents.
The Druid Hills private school for gifted and exceptional students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade was founded in 2013.
In the letter, three MIS Board of Trustees members wrote that the school will close its doors on Friday “after an extensive review of the school’s financial and enrollment position.” The letter claims that applications across the independent school sector are down 20% to 30% this year.
UPDATE: Private schools step up to support displaced students from Midtown International School
“This trend, combined with the pressures of the current economic environment, has placed significant strain on independent schools of all sizes,” the letter states.
MIS Head of School Ashley Scott and Principal Munib Rezaie do not have voting authority with the board.
With the school closing about eight weeks before the end of the academic year in Atlanta, MIS parent Anne Cohen said families are scrambling to find ways for students to finish the year, earn credit, or graduate.
“The fourth grade parents are trying to rally together and figure out if there is a way with liability, credibility … if we can find a space where our fourth graders and fifth graders can go with their two primary teachers to finish out the year,” Cohen said. “But we don’t know if that’s going to be possible.”
Cohen’s two younger children were planning to join their sister at MIS in the fall. She said upon hearing the news she started to hyperventilate.
“There’s no other place for [her oldest daughter]. This school works with brains like the one that she has, a kid who is on a quest and thirsty for knowledge and in every which way possible,” Cohen said.
A sixth grade parent confirmed her child’s class is also trying to hire back the teacher to complete the school year.
“I’m not equipped to be a homeschool instructor,” Cohen said.
MIS parent Sarah Lazarus said the school had previously announced it would close the high school at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. That’s when she saw the writing on the wall.
“Lots of people felt like there was no warning, but [MIS] did close the high school earlier this year, and a few key teachers left. At that point, I had some concerns about the stability of the school, but obviously never expected that it would close before this school year was over,” Lazarus said.
As recently as six months ago, MIS was advertising teaching jobs according to a LinkedIn post by MIS school counselor Talia Auslin.
MIS is located on two acres of land on Sheridan Road in Druid Hills. A commercial property listing by Colliers Atlanta shows interior and exterior photos of the school for sale with the school’s address.
At this point in the school year, returning students and siblings have paid a deposit for fall 2026 and the application period for area private schools has passed. Teacher contracts for private and public schools have also been locked in for the 2026-2027 school year.
The letter states: “Detailed guidance on questions related to final grades, refunds, upcoming trips, student devices, graduation and other matters will be forthcoming from school leadership in the days ahead.”
“We have been given zero answers,” said Cohen.
