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Atlanta Public Schools Move Ahead With 16 Building Closures Starting in 2027
Parents and students in affected Atlanta neighborhoods face enrollment shifts while statewide absenteeism reaches its lowest point since before the pandemic.
How we reported this
Atlanta Public Schools approved a districtwide plan to close or repurpose 16 schools beginning in 2027, with the George Washington Carver STEAM Academy set to shut its doors after the 2026-2027 school year.
The decision arrives as metro Atlanta districts prepare for the new academic calendar, with Cobb and DeKalb counties scheduled to open classes on July 31, 2026. Families connected to the schools on the closure list are already weighing options for where their children will attend once the changes take effect.
Absenteeism trends and local impact
Chronic absenteeism across Georgia fell to 19.5 percent, the lowest level recorded since the 2019-20 school year, according to data tracked by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In Atlanta, lower absence rates coincide with the upcoming closure timeline and new state rules that will require more safety drills under House Bill 147 and guaranteed planning time for teachers under House Bill 340.
Residents near the George Washington Carver STEAM Academy and other affected campuses have begun discussing transportation and program continuity with neighbors and school staff. The Georgia Early Literacy Act, which mandates science-of-reading materials, will also apply in these buildings during their final year of operation.
Enrollment options and higher education costs
Fulton County Schools will launch a tuition-based program allowing out-of-district students to enroll at select high schools. Atlanta families outside district lines are reviewing the new option alongside the APS closure list. At the college level, Georgia public institutions will apply tuition increases of 1 percent and 3 percent this fall, adding to the list of adjustments households must calculate before August.
Parents are checking district websites and attending upcoming information sessions to map out bus routes and program availability once the 2027 changes begin. School officials have directed questions about specific building repurposing to the Atlanta Public Schools communications office.