Atlanta Public Schools to close 16 sites from 2027 as state attendance improves and new rules take hold

Atlanta Public Schools approved a plan to close or repurpose 16 schools beginning in 2027, with George Washington Carver STEAM Academy set to shut after the 2026-2027 school year. The move follows years of enrollment shifts and facility reviews across the district.

School leaders reached this point after tracking steady drops in student numbers and rising maintenance costs for older buildings. The timing aligns with broader state efforts to stabilize operations and cut chronic absenteeism, which fell to 19.5 percent statewide in the 2024-25 year.

Georgia laws reshape daily routines

Two new state measures will affect how schools run starting this fall. House Bill 147 doubles required safety drills and mandates administrator participation in each one. House Bill 340 requires districts to give teachers protected planning time during the school day without other duties. Both changes address long-standing complaints from educators about workload and security preparedness.

Atlanta families will also see changes in neighboring districts. Fulton County Schools will open a tuition-based program at select high schools for students living outside district lines. Cobb County, meanwhile, is suing county commissioners over rising fees on tax collections that reduce money available for classrooms.

College costs and next steps for families

Georgia public colleges and universities approved tuition increases of 1 percent and 3 percent that begin in the fall semester. The adjustments follow several years of flat or minimal rises and will affect students at institutions serving many Atlanta graduates.

Parents in Atlanta should review the APS closure list and contact their schools this summer for transfer details. District staff will hold information sessions on reassignment options before the 2027 changes take effect. Families considering Fulton County options can check eligibility rules for the new out-of-district program.