GEORGIA — The Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday night to accept a plan that will repurpose 16 schools, including the closure of more than a dozen buildings.
Officials said the plan is expected to save the district $25 million annually and cited declining enrollment in the affected schools. Board members told attendees that the savings could provide more educational options for students.
The schools slated for closure include Cleveland Elementary, Continental Colony Elementary, Dunbar Elementary, Finch Elementary, Frank L. Stanton Elementary, Jackson Primary Elementary, Perkerson Elementary, Peyton Forest Elementary, Scott Elementary, Smith Intermediate Elementary, Toomer Elementary Annex, Usher Collier Elementary, and the 9th-grade building at Douglas High School.
Students from these schools will be reassigned to nearby schools, with Maynard Jackson High School, Midtown High School, and King Middle School set to expand capacity to accommodate incoming students.
The board will now determine what to do with the vacant properties, which could include leasing them to developers, converting them into affordable housing, or turning them into community centers.
Rezoning of affected neighborhoods will also be part of the next steps.
Despite the vote, critics of the plan said they will continue organizing against the closures.
