DeKalb County considers closing 27 schools in restructuring plan

DeKalb County School District has proposed closing or repurposing 27 schools in response to declining enrollment, and the district board is scheduled to vote on a final plan in the fall.

DeKalb County School District has proposed closing or repurposing 27 schools as part of a system-wide restructuring. Officials said the proposal responds to falling student enrollment and to projections of further declines through 2030. The district described these scenarios as conversation-starters intended to evaluate system-wide impacts. District leaders noted current enrollment is reported as about 92,000 compared with assumptions near 110,000. Reported details: - The proposal would close 27 schools, including one middle school and 26 elementary schools, and would repurpose several others. - Plans in the proposal include converting three high schools to middle schools and converting five middle schools to elementary schools. - District officials cited enrollment declines and projections equal to the loss of about four high schools by 2030 as reasons for the plan. - The district said teachers would follow students during a gradual consolidation, and the school board is due to vote on a final plan in the fall. Summary: The proposal would reduce the number of open schools and change grade configurations across the district, which has prompted concern among families and educators. The next formal step is a vote by the DeKalb County School District board in the fall.