DeKalb County Schools Facing Possible Closures Amid Declining Enrollment

Parents and officials discuss alternatives to shuttering school doors

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:54am

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DeKalb County School District officials have said low enrollment could force the closure of 27 schools and the expansion of 11 more. Parents and community members attended a public forum to voice concerns and demand clarity on the district's plan, calling for partnership, collaboration, and student-centered solutions rather than confrontation.

Why it matters

The potential school closures could have significant economic and community impacts, including the loss of jobs, declining home values, and the erosion of neighborhood identity and legacy. Parents and advocates are pushing for the district to consider alternatives like repurposing underutilized buildings to maintain quality education for DeKalb students.

The details

District officials have said no schools will close during the 2026-27 school year, but the district plans to release round two of scenarios for the Student Assignment Project on March 20 and will continue to hold community sessions throughout March. Parents and community members are demanding a seat at the table and want the district to be transparent and collaborative in its decision-making process.

  • The public forum was held on March 13, 2026.
  • The district plans to release round two of scenarios for the Student Assignment Project on March 20, 2026.
  • The district will continue to hold community sessions throughout March 2026.

The players

Tommy Travis

President of the South DeKalb Coalition.

Dr. Norman Sauce

Interim superintendent for DeKalb County Schools.

Carlene Anderson

Parent of a Lithonia High School student.

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What they’re saying

“We want to make sure that we have a seat at the table. It could be devastating, potentially, because we talked about empty buildings and communities. We are talking about loss of jobs of some of the people who work at the schools. We're talking about it could be potentially economically impactful because of home values and a lot of other things that come along with having this empty amount of real estate.”

— Tommy Travis, President of the South DeKalb Coalition (Atlanta News First)

“It would be disingenuous, otherwise. It would be, quite frankly, wrong and inappropriate otherwise, to not put ourselves in spaces where the community is and invite them to us as well to hear what they have to say about possible scenarios and iterations.”

— Dr. Norman Sauce, Interim Superintendent, DeKalb County Schools (Atlanta News First)

“We don't want it to be confrontational. We don't want it to be adversarial. We want partnership. We want collaboration. We want the change, if it's going to happen, to be student centered, and also to be mindful that there are teachers who may lose their jobs, and so what's the plan?”

— Carlene Anderson, Parent of Lithonia High School student (Atlanta News First)

What’s next

The district plans to release round two of scenarios for the Student Assignment Project on March 20, 2026 and will continue to hold community sessions throughout March 2026 to gather feedback from parents and community members.

The takeaway

The potential school closures in DeKalb County have sparked concerns from parents and community members about the economic and social impacts, leading them to demand a collaborative, transparent, and student-centered approach from the district. The community is pushing for alternatives to shuttering school doors, such as repurposing underutilized buildings, in order to maintain quality education and preserve the identity and legacy of their neighborhoods.