APS Final Plan to Close or Repurpose 16 Schools

Atlanta Public Schools has released its APS Forward 2040 final facilities plan proposing to close, repurpose or consolidate 16 schools to better match capacity with enrollment and address aging buildings. The plan includes consolidations, boundary realignments, new construction (including merging Usher Collier and Scott into a new school) and program relocations, with changes slated to begin after the 2026–27 school year. APS projects reducing about 5,200 student seats and raising elementary utilization from roughly 66.7% to 78.2%, while addressing an estimated $100 million budget gap. Officials estimate $20–25 million in annual operational savings and up to $65 million avoided in deferred maintenance, and some presentations cite nearly $90 million in total savings from repurposing; district leaders say enrollment is roughly 50,000 compared with facilities sized for about 70,000, leaving 20,000–30,000 empty seats. Public hearings are scheduled for November and December and the board will review the proposal before any final approvals, with some projects contingent on ESPLOST funding.