DeKalb County’s updated plan to address its school capacity problem includes keeping some schools open, closing a few others and the creation of several pre-K through eighth and sixth through 12th grade schools.

The district previously proposed closing Lithonia High, for example, but now suggests keeping it open. And several middle schools are now proposed to fold into the area high schools.

Released Friday, this second round of plans — called a “scenario” — builds on ongoing efforts to solve DeKalb’s capacity problem. The state’s third-largest district is facing declining enrollment and has room to educate about 18,000 more students than it currently does. That’s more empty seats than nearby Rockdale County has students.

“The reality is that our buildings are not balanced the way they need to be,” interim Superintendent Norman Sauce said at a news conference Friday.

Here are some key details in the updated plan:

• Proposed closure or repurposing: Brockett ES, Browns Mill ES, Canby Lane ES, Columbia ES, Columbia MS, Early Learning Center, Evansdale ES, Fairington ES, Freedom MS, Flat Shoals ES, Henderson Mill ES, Kelley Lake ES, Kingsley ES, McClendon ES, Midvale ES, Oak Grove ES, Oak View ES, Redan ES, Redan MS, Robert Shaw Theme ES, Rowland ES, Salem MS, Stone Mill ES, Stone Mountain ES, Toney ES, Woodridge ES, Woodridge ES
• Proposed conversion to 6-12: McNair HS, Miller Grove HS, MLK HS, Redan HS
• Proposed conversion to PK-8: John Lewis ES, Montclair ES, Woodward ES
• Proposed conversion to a middle school: Cedar Grove ES, Towers HS
• Proposed conversion to an elementary school: Bethune MS, Cedar Grove MS, Champion Theme MS, DeKalb Alternative, McNair MS, Miller Grove MS
• Proposed conversion to early learning center: Ashford Park ES, Bob Mathis ES, McNair Discovery Learning Academy
• Proposed to move to a new facility: DeKalb Arts Academy, DECA, DeKalb School of the Arts, Elizabeth Andrews, Kittredge Magnet, Wadsworth Magnet
• Proposed capacity expansion: Briarlake ES, Briar Vista ES, Chesnut ES, Clarkston HS, Hawthorne ES, Hightower ES, Huntley Hills ES, Laurel Ridge ES, Livsey ES, Montgomery ES, Oakcliff Theme ES, Sagamore Hills ES
• Proposed conversion to high school annex: Vanderlyn ES

Two schools that were previously listed for closure will stay open: Rock Chapel and Stoneview elementary schools. Additionally, Lithonia High was slated to be converted to a middle school and Lithonia Middle was slated to be converted to an elementary school. The current plan keeps both schools as-is.

These plans are still subject to change as the district continues to collect feedback.

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The DeKalb County School District released an updated plan for potential school closures, consolidations and expansions on March 20, 2026. Here are the tentative plans for schools in the north region of the district. (Photo courtesy DeKalb County School District)

More schools are slated for closure in the southern portion of the district, and more expansions are slated in the northern portion. District officials stressed 10 of the 11 major capital improvement projects it has planned as part of this process will take place south of Highway 78, which roughly bisects the county.

Last month, the district introduced an initial plan that would have closed 27 schools, added capacity at 10 and converted seven to serve other grade levels. All but one of the schools listed for possible closure were elementary schools.

DeKalb began the redistricting process in 2024, in an effort to address overcrowding in some of its facilities and underuse in others. When schools serve fewer students than they’re built for, it costs the district more money to operate them with adequate staffing and services for students.

The list of schools that could close is still subject to change. District staff and HPM, a consultant the district hired to help it through this process, will continue to gather community feedback and make recommendations on which facilities to keep open, which programs to offer and which students should attend which schools.

More than 3,000 people completed a survey about the initial plan. They wanted more details about where their students would go if their school were closed and what factors were considered before listing a school for possible closure. They had questions about equity, cost, transportation, jobs, academic performance and more.

“Obviously we have seen opposition to schools closing,” said Tracy Richter, the vice president of planning services at construction management group HPM. “But what we have also seen is an effort to be collaborative.”

The district will host another series of community meetings and ask for input via another online survey as it continues to fine-tune the plans. The school board isn’t expected to vote on anything until late fall.

More feedback opportunities

Virtual community meetings — Staff will present information relevant to the entire district.

• Monday: noon and 6 p.m., register here
• March 27: 10 a.m. and noon

In-person workshops — Staff will present information relevant to the entire district and information specific to the cluster the meeting is in. The meetings will start at 6 p.m.

• Monday: Lakeside High
• Wednesday: Towers High
• Wednesday: Stone Mountain High
• Thursday: Lithonia High
• Thursday: Dunwoody High
• March 30: McNair High