City Schools Decatur will likely need one and possibly two new schools in the next few years, but the United Methodist Children’s Home won’t be a contender, according to School Board Chairman Bernadette Seals.

She said recently the site “is not [currently] in a position to offer property [to CSD].”

The UMCH is on Decatur’s annexation map, and it’s long been rumored as a potential school site with its 99 prime acres, about half of which remain undeveloped. The UMCH has 30 children ages 18 to 21 living on campus, along with 12 families including another 20 to 30 children.

It’s unlikely many of these children would attend Decatur schools upon annexation, said UMCH spokesperson Deborah Hakes.

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Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — pictured at an August rally in Peachtree City that also featured Vice President JD Vance — appears to have scored another legal victory over gubernatorial rival Attorney General Chris Carr in their battle over campaign finance issues. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

Credit: Arvin Temkar / AJC