Class in session on Atlanta school redistricting

By Ernie Suggs

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Call it a balancing act. To address overcrowding in the northern part of Atlanta, and half-full schools on the Southside, APS is considering a redistricting that could close as many as a dozen elementary schools and two middle schools while affecting families in every corner of the city.

The plans have parents all over Atlanta questioning how much the issues of school quality, race and class will drive decisions on where their children will attend school.

Since late November, hundreds of Atlanta parents -- wearing t-shirts and carrying signs -- have attended meetings and written thousands of letters, memos and e-mails to APS Superintendent Erroll Davis with concerns about everything from splitting up neighborhoods and forcing children to be bused instead of walking, to fears that children would leave good schools to attend under-performing ones.

"People who believe they have it good, don't want change," Davis said. "People who believe that things are not so good want change."

In Monday’s newspaper, the AJC takes a deep look at the Atlanta Public Schools redistricting. It’s a story you’ll get only by picking up a copy of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution or logging on to the paper’s iPad app. Subscribe today.