Opinion
Opinion

Atlanta school chief on how politics played role in school zones. Should APS start fresh?

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen sings the song "My Shot" from "Hamilton" with students during the annual State of the District event at King Middle School in the fall. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Credit: Maureen Downey

Credit: Maureen Downey

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen sings the song "My Shot" from "Hamilton" with students during the annual State of the District event at King Middle School in the fall. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL
By Maureen Downey
March 6, 2017

FIFTH OF NINE VIDEO SEGMENTS

With Atlanta Public Schools voting today on proposed school closings, I sat down with Superintendent Meria Carstarphen for a long video interview. AJC multimedia journalist Erica Hernandez broke the interview into nine short segments. (Two to three minutes.)

In this segment, Carstarphen addresses the big question raised by the vote on the table today to close half-empty schools in east and south Atlanta when there are overcrowded schools down the road a few miles: Why not do a citywide redistricting to create better balance?

She discusses how politics influenced past redistricting decisions and the lack of will among parents now to undo it all and start over fresh.

Here is a link to the first video.

Link to the second segment.

Link to the third segment.

Link to the fourth segment.

About the Author

Maureen Downey has written editorials and opinion pieces about local, state and federal education policy since the 1990s.

Follow Maureen Downey on facebookFollow Maureen Downey on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Over the past half-century, the cost of college has risen far faster than family incomes, as students at Georgia Tech can attest to. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
OPINION

Make college affordable for Georgians by funding needs-based financial aid

Georgia ranks high in college debt and low in needs-based aid it offers students. About 75% of Georgians support the state broadly offering financial aid based on need.

OPINION

White House autism research approach and Tylenol claim dehumanize Americans

Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other leaders legitimize vaccine conspiracy theories and dehumanize neurodivergent Americans, writes guest columnist Lisa Lacy.

OPINION

Readers write

The Latest

President Donald Trump speaks inside the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C., as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz listen. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Credit: AP

OPINION

White House autism research approach and Tylenol claim dehumanize Americans

OPINION

Readers write

OPINION

Make college affordable for Georgians by funding needs-based financial aid

Featured

Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat gives a tour of Fulton County Jail in 2023. (Natrice Miller/AJC 2023)

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

AJC EXCLUSIVE

Fulton County, sheriff nine months late on required jail implementation plan

The legal agreement with the DOJ mandates jail upgrades, but leaves the deadlines to the implementation schedule.

Flight affected by FAA cuts? Here’s what to do.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the busiest airport in the world, is on the list of airports affected — and will also likely see cancellations and delays.

Arctic blast bringing cold shot to metro Atlanta, snow possible in mountains

Temperatures across North Georgia will plunge early next week and could even bring a taste of snow to the state’s tallest mountains.