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DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is seeking community feedback after a proposal to close 27 schools primarily in South DeKalb was made public Thursday, Feb. 12.
The district said it is also considering expanding 11 schools as part of its Student Assignment Project (SAP), a districtwide effort designed to address declining enrolment, maximize resources, and ensure long-term academic sustainability. The project has been underway for 20 months with support from the HPM Building Group and 150 community leaders from throughout DeKalb who have been meeting monthly to share their ideas.
“Declining enrollment is not just a number on a graph; it impacts how we support student success, staff schools, and maintain buildings,” said Norman C. Sauce III, Interim Superintendent of the DeKalb County
School District. “We owe it to our community to be transparent about the challenges we face and to listen carefully before charting a path forward. This phase is about hearing directly from our stakeholders.”
SAP leaders met on Wednesday, Feb. 11, for an update, which included the launch of the “Scenario and Community Feedback Phase” of the project. So far, district officials said, the project has focused on buildings, school boundaries and programs.
The public feedback phase, which runs from February through May, invites parents, students, educators, community
members, and partners to review preliminary scenarios and share what matters most to them as the
district plans for the future. These scenarios are not decisions or recommendations, but conversation
starters built to gather insight and local perspective before any next steps are considered, the district stated in a news release, district officials stressed.
However, news that the district may close 27 schools in South DeKalb, has sparked an outcry from some residents who say the proposed closures would mean newer, more modern schools would be built in the District’s Northern region at the expense of families in South DeKalb.
A community group in Stone Mountain issued its position on the matter stating:
“The Rockbridge Coalition asserts that school closures should not be treated as the default response to under-enrollment. Schools function as long-term public assets and
neighborhood anchors. Decisions regarding facility use must be evaluated against enrollment recovery strategies, housing alignment, and adaptive reuse alternatives.”
Lance Hammonds, who heads the coalition, said the root problem with the ideas being discussed is that conversations began with school closings rather than discussions on how buildings might be repurposed or how enrollment might be recovered.
“As a member of SAP who has served for the past 20 months, I feel compelled to share my deep concern and disappointment with the current facility scenarios being presented for DeKalb County Schools.
DCSD officials say like school districts across Georgia and the nation, DeKalb has experienced significant enrollment declines over the past decade. According to district data available at www.dekalbschoolsga.org/sap,
DCSD enrollment has decreased by close to 20,000 students since its peak enrollment, a shift that affects funding, staffing, facility use, and the ability to deliver opportunities across all schools.
About the Scenarios
The scenarios were developed with support from HPM Building Group using data aligned with Board of Education policy, including enrollment trends, facility utilization, program access, and geographic
They reflect multiple possibilities, such as consolidations, repurposing, and closures. The scenarios are intended to surface questions, concerns, and priorities from the community.
“These scenarios are tools for dialogue; they are not final decisions,” said Triscilla Weaver, DCSD Chief of Access and Opportunity. “Before anything moves forward, we must understand how these possibilities
intersect with people’s daily lives, such as what families value about their school communities and what staff need to thrive.”
Community Voice Is Central
Throughout the spring, DCSD will host community meetings, school-based discussions, and online engagement opportunities to gather feedback.
“This work only succeeds if people see themselves in it,” said Tracy Richter, Vice President with HPM Group. “Data gives us a starting point, but community insight gives the data meaning. We are here to
listen, learn, and help the district build a process that reflects DeKalb’s values.”
A member of the Student Assignment Project Advisory Committee, emphasized the importancebof broad participation.
“We know these conversations can be difficult,” SAP Committee Member Narvella Dial. “But staying silentgmeans others decide for you. This is the moment for families, staff, and neighbors to share what they love
about their schools, what concerns them, and what they hope DCSD can become.
What Happens Next
All feedback collected during this phase will be reviewed, analyzed, and used to refine scenarios. The district will then return to the community for additional engagement before any recommendations are
brought forward to the Board in late 2026. It is important to note that there will be no changes in the 2026-27 school year. Approved changes will be implemented over a six-to-eight-year period.
“We are committed to a process that is transparent, iterative, and grounded in trust,” Dr. Sauce added. “Our message is simple: We need to hear from everyone.”
How to Participate
Community members are encouraged to:
- Review the scenarios and provide feedback at www.dekalbschoolsga.org/sapsurvey
- Attend upcoming community and school-based SAP Scenario Feedback Meetings
- Stay informed about all things SAP at www.dekalbschoolsga.org/sap
Meeting dates, materials, and feedback tools will be updated regularly on the SAP website.
27 proposed school closings
Ashford Park Elementary School
Bob Mathis Elementary School
Brockett Elementary School
Browns Mill Elementary
Canby Lane Elementary School
Cedar Grove Elementary School
Cedar Grove Middle School
Columbia Elementary School
Evansdale Elementary
Flat Shoals Elementary School
Henderson Mill Elementary
Kelly Lake Elementary School
Kingsley Elementary School
McLendon Elementary School
McNair Discover Learning Academy
Midvale Elementary School
Oak Grove Elementary School
Redan Elementary School
Robert Shaw Theme Elementary School
Rock Chapel Elementary School
Rowland Elementary School
Stone Mill Elementary School
Stone Mountain Elementary School
Stoneview Elementary School
Toney Elementary School
Vanderlyn Elementary
Woodridge Elementary School
11 schools that could expand
Briarlake Elementary School
Briar Vista Elementary School
Chestnut Elementary School
Montgomery Elementary School
Hawthorne Elementary
Hightower Elementary School
Huntley Hills Elementary School
Laurel Hills Elementary School
Livsey Elementary
Oakcliff Theme Elementary School
Sagamore Hills Elementary School
Rockbridge Coalition’s position on the Student Assignment Project
Purpose
This one-page summary accompanies the Rockbridge Coalition’s Position Paper on
the DeKalb County School District’s Student Assignment Project (SAP) and proposed
school closures. It is intended to provide board members, elected officials, and
stakeholders with a concise overview of the Coalition’s findings, conclusions, and
policy recommendations.
Context
DeKalb County School District faces long-term structural under-enrollment driven by
demographic change, housing patterns, and regional population shifts. The district was
built for approximately 110,000 students and currently has roughly 20,000 excess seats.
SAP was initiated to address these challenges through data-driven and community-
engaged planning.
Key Findings
Enrollment decline in DeKalb County is structural and demographic, not the result of
school failure.
Closure-first strategies pose high risks to community stability, equity, and long-term
recovery.
National and regional precedents show stronger outcomes through adaptive reuse,
housing integration, and community-school models.
Atlanta Public Schools’ experience demonstrates the importance of transparency,
phased decision-making, and coordinated redevelopment planning.
Coalition Position
The Rockbridge Coalition asserts that school closures should not be treated as the default
response to under-enrollment. Schools function as long-term public assets and
neighborhood anchors. Decisions regarding facility use must be evaluated against
enrollment recovery strategies, housing alignment, and adaptive reuse alternatives.
Core Recommendations
Implement a moratorium on school closures until SAP scoring criteria, assumptions, and
alternatives are fully transparent.
Shift from closure-first logic to enrollment recovery and stabilization strategies.
Integrate housing, redevelopment, and community-school models into SAP
recommendations.
Encourage structured collaboration between DCSD, DeKalb County Government,
municipalities, and development agencies to repurpose underutilized school assets in
ways that attract and retain young families.
Prepared by the Rockbridge Coalition