Dekalb County Schools Faces Backlash Over Proposed School Closures

Parents and city officials in Tucker raise concerns about the impact on community and public trust.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:26am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic elementary school building repeated in a tight grid pattern, utilizing flat, vibrant neon color palettes and heavy black photographic outlines to transform the everyday educational institution into a modern pop art piece.As Dekalb County Schools proposes closing neighborhood elementary schools, the vibrant pop art celebration of these community hubs aims to capture the local pride and sense of loss felt by affected families.Tucker Today

Dekalb County Schools' plan to close and repurpose 22 schools, including two elementary schools in Tucker, is facing growing opposition from parents and city officials. Parents worry the closures will create larger schools, erode community ties, and undermine public trust in the district. City council members also question whether cuts could have been made elsewhere instead of at aging school buildings, and express concerns the plan would make Tucker less walkable.

Why it matters

The proposed school closures in Dekalb County are part of a broader effort to address declining enrollment and consolidate resources, but they have sparked significant backlash from local communities who value their neighborhood schools and are concerned about the broader impact on their cities.

The details

Dekalb County Schools' latest scenario proposes closing down Tucker's Brockett and Midvale Elementary Schools, while also expanding Livsey Elementary. The district says the plan aims to improve how it uses school funds by addressing overcrowded and undercrowded schools and making school transportation more efficient. However, parents argue the plan would create larger elementary schools, erode public trust, and make Tucker less walkable. City council members also question whether cuts could have been made elsewhere in the district rather than at aging school buildings.

  • Dekalb County Schools announced the proposed school closure plan in early 2026.
  • On April 14, 2026, Tucker city officials shared their concerns about the plan at a city council meeting.

The players

Dekalb County School District

The public school district serving Dekalb County, Georgia, which has proposed closing and repurposing 22 schools across the district.

Stacey DeJesus

A parent in the Dekalb County school district who expressed concerns about the proposed closure of Midvale Elementary School at the Tucker city council meeting.

Erick Hofstetter

The chief operations manager for the Dekalb County School District, who stated the district sees cities like Tucker as partners in the school closure plan.

Tucker City Council

The local government body for the city of Tucker, Georgia, which raised concerns about the proposed school closures and their impact on the community.

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What they’re saying

“We don't trust the board of education to spend funds wisely. I can speak for Midvale. They did a million dollar renovation in the last year. The elevator that was installed works maybe 50 percent of the time and there's no plan for continued operation.”

— Stacey DeJesus, Parent

“Even with all of the other projects that we go on, we work with the different agencies that you have, we do see you as a partner, because again, it goes back to what we truly believe. And that's that we all still serve the same students.”

— Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operations Manager, Dekalb County School District

What’s next

The Dekalb County School District says it has received approximately 4,000 submissions of feedback from community members on the school closure plan, and will continue to gather input before submitting a final proposal to the school board for a decision. The timeline for that final decision is still unclear.

The takeaway

The proposed school closures in Dekalb County have sparked significant backlash from local communities who value their neighborhood schools and are concerned about the broader impact on their cities. The district will need to carefully weigh community feedback and find a path forward that balances its operational needs with the priorities of the affected communities.