What’s Happening?

Understanding the proposed school closures in DeKalb County

DeKalb County Public Schools’ (DCPS) plan, called the Student Assignment Project (SAP), initially aimed to close and consolidate more than 20 schools across the county. The original plan proposed the closure of 3 Lakeside cluster elementary schools, including Henderson Mill Elementary School.

In May 2026, after significant public feedback, DCPS revised SAP into a community-based engagement model with phased implementation. Henderson Mill Elementary will be affected by decisions made in Fall 2026. See below for updated SAP information.

How Has SAP Changed?

SAP will now

  • First addressing overcrowding in North DeKalb - The new Sequoyah cluster and renovated/expanded schools will affect current school clusters so attendance boundaries will be reviewed and addressed. Boundaries need to be decided before those schools start opening between Fall 2027 and 2029.

    • Community conversations will begin to discuss this redistricting in August 2026.

    • Final recommendation will go to the Board of Education for a vote in December 2026.

    • Implementation of the plan for overcrowding and redistricting begins January - June 2027.

  • Then address under-enrollment and student experience primarily in South DeKalb clusters starting in Spring 2027. Student experience, enrollment and facilities needs in other clusters will be taken into account as well, which could include Henderson Mill Elementary.

What’s Proposed for the Lakeside Community?

No decisions have been publicized yet. The Lakeside cluster, which includes Henderson Mill Elementary, will be impacted by the new and expanded schools, in addition to Cross Keys, Chamblee, Tucker, Dunwoody and Druid Hills clusters. This means Henderson Mill Elementary will be affected by decisions made after the Fall 2026 engagement session.

Final attendance boundary recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education for approval in December 2026. Transition planning for impacted schools will start in January 2027.

Why Are People Are Concerned With SAP Goals and Methodology

School closures were a large focus of the original SAP plan and remain on the table. The original goals of SAP remain the same. Parents and community members are raising serious concerns about how decisions about school closures and consolidation are being made. Some concerns include:

  • There is no clear evidence that school closures save money nor that other alternatives have been legitimately explored to balance the school district’s budget

  • Data and facilities assessments by the hired construction management firm use questionable data and scoring methodology

  • The facilities first approach taken by the SAP team ignores communities, programs, academics and more

  • There have been no traffic, environmental or transportation studies released - particularly around the schools that would need to be expanded to accommodate closures

  • Plans could create mega elementary schools with 800+ students

Key Concerns
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What Happens Next?

DeKalb County School District published information in August 2026 on the revised SAP plan on the school district’s SAP page.

DCSD will be gathering feedback through four main channels: public comment sessions, Community Advisory Teams (CAT), online surveys, and focus groups.

Public Comment Sessions

3 rounds of public comment sessions will be held for the Lakeside, Tucker, and Druid Hills clusters throughout the fall (sessions will be held for Dunwoody, Chamblee, and Cross Keys at a separate time):

  • Tuesday, September 1st @ Lakeside High School | Define Goals, Process, Expectations

  • Tuesday, September 22nd @ Tucker High School | Consider Multiple Options

  • Tuesday, October 20th @ Druid Hills Middle School | Refine Options

Community Advisory Team (CAT)

Each high school cluster will form a Community Advisory Team (CAT) comprised of up to 10 representatives from each school within the cluster. CAT participant categories will include:

  • Principals and School-based Staff

  • Students (Middle and High School)

  • Parents and Guardians

  • Community Members

  • District Administration

  • DCSD Partners

  • PAC/PTA/PTO members

  • Current SAP Committee Members

  • Alumni

Previous SAP committee members will be given priority in selections, all others will be randomly selected. CAT members are encouraged to attend the public comment meetings as well.

Lakeside cluster CAT members will meet on the following days:

  • Tuesday, September 8th

  • Tuesday, September 29th

  • Tuesday, October 27th

If you are interested in applying for the CAT, follow this link to fill out an interest form: https://survey.sogolytics.com/survey/form?k=SsRPUXRPsYYUsPsPsP&lang=0

Online Public Survey

There will be an online survey during each round of the Fall 2026 conversations. Everyone is invited to complete the online survey that consists of a DCSD video going over the survey and then a space for feedback.

Online Focus Group Meetings

Community members who complete the online public survey may choose to participate in a follow-up virtual focus meeting to provide more detailed feedback.

If redistricting and the possibility of school closures are alarming to you too, you are not alone. We invite you to explore our website, continue to stay informed about what’s happening and join us in saving our school, Henderson Mill Elementary, and the schools in our community.