Atlanta Public Schools Plans Major Changes Amid Controversy

ATLANTA, Ga. — Atlanta Public Schools (APS) officials are set to continue discussions in the coming weeks about a long-range plan that aims to reshape the district. This plan has received mixed reactions from parents, with some praising and others opposing the proposals.

The main driving forces behind the changes are declining enrollment and rising operational costs. To address these issues, APS leaders proposed to repurpose 16 school buildings, resulting in the closure of several schools, including Cleveland Avenue, Dunbar, and Stanton elementary schools. The affected students will be rezoned to other schools within the district.

For some buildings, such as the Frederick Douglass 9th Grade STEAM Academy, closures will lead to students transferring to the main Douglass High campus. If approved, these closures could take effect in two years, which raises significant concerns among parents and community members about the impact on children’s education.

The Atlanta School Board held its first vote on these consolidation plans during a meeting on November 5, 2025. The discussions center around the need for modernizing facilities as well as improving educational resources to better serve the student population.

Martha Dalton, a journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, has covered K-12 education for over 20 years and highlights the importance of community input in these decisions. Many stakeholders are concerned about how these changes will affect student performance and overall educational quality in the long run.

As the board prepares for its next discussions, community feedback will be crucial for guiding future decisions that impact the school district’s direction. The next meeting on this topic will provide further insights and potential outcomes for students and families throughout APS.