5 schools face consolidation threat in metro Atlanta county, magnet programs also may be impacted

On Wednesday, a message was sent to parents, and video was shared to the Rockdale County Schools social media by Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Johnson.

That message told parents that some of the district’s elementary and middle schools may need to close, citing severe under-enrollment.

In the letter, shared by a parent with Channel 2 Action News and found publicly on the Rockdale County Schools parent portal, Johnson said parents “deserve to hear about our proposed elementary and middle school consolidation and rezoning plan” directly from her, rather than somewhere else.

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Johnson said the Rockdale County School District was “experiencing a sharp and persistent decline in the number of school-aged children living within our boundaries.”

There are 2,000 fewer students in the district now than before the COVID pandemic, according to Johnson’s letter to parents.

That difference adds up, with 5,000 empty seats in classrooms across the school system.

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Johnson’s letter says the main reasons are decreasing birth rates and a community that is aging.

For Rockdale County Public Schools to move forward, Johnson said school officials asked themselves a single guiding question: “What do we want today’s students to experience tomorrow?”

The superintendent said Rockdale school officials envision a future focused on students with strong, STEAM-certified elementary schools and more opportunities to explore, plus middle schools that offer more connections and specialty classes.

Implementing this vision will come in multiple phases, which Johnson said include:

• Creating capacity by building stronger schools
• Designing opportunities through a strategic planning process that includes all stakeholders
• Building the future by implementing what our community wants for its children and its schools

As for immediate impacts, if the consolidation goes as proposed, the following schools and programs would see changes:

• Barksdale Elementary
• Hightower Trail Elementary
• Shoal Creek Elementary
• Sims Elementary
• Memorial Middle School

Magnet program students in the fourth and fifth grade would move to Flat Shoals Elementary, and middle school magnet program students would move to General Ray Davis Middle School.

Johnson asked the community to keep in mind that these are proposals only, and all changes must be approved by the Rockdale County Board of Education.

“I know you may have questions about what this could mean for your child, and you deserve clear, honest answers. We will host three community information sessions and two public hearings for parents and community members. Dates, times, and locations will be shared with you soon,” Johnson said.

For staff who may be impacted, the district’s Human Resources Department will be visiting schools proposed for consolidation to answer questions and meet with employees.

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