SAY NO TO REDISTRICTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE GRAYSON CLUSTER TO THE ARCHER CLUSTER

To: Gwinnett County Public Schools Board, Superintendent, Principals, and Planning Department

From: The United Communities of Bennett Farm, Central Park, and Eleanora 

We, the residents of Bennett Farm, Central Park, and Eleanora, strongly oppose the proposed redistricting that would move our neighborhoods from the Grayson Cluster (Trip ES → Bay Creek MS → Grayson HS) to the Archer Cluster (Cooper ES → McConnell MS → Archer HS). 

This change would disrupt families, lower home values, and harm students all while offering minimal relief for overcrowding. 

Why We Oppose the Rezoning: 

Minimal Impact on Overcrowding: Our neighborhoods represent less than one-third of the Grayson Cluster’s overcapacity.  Rezoning us does not solve the problem - it just shifts overcrowding to the Archer Cluster, while new community developments will continue to negatively impact both clusters.  

Academic Excellence Matters: Grayson schools outperform Archer schools in academics, athletics, and leadership. Students would lose access to top programs like Trip Elementary’s National Blue-Ribbon recognition, Bay Creek’s award-winning leadership, and Grayson High’s 94.6% graduation rate. 

Safety & Commute Concerns: Our communities are within minutes from Grayson high school, where students can walk safely. The proposal adds 12–20 minutes of travel time to get to Archer high school and requires crossing busy Loganville Highway. 

Leadership Transition & Timing Concerns: With an interim superintendent in place, an ongoing search for new leadership, and the middle school principal set to leave at the end of this school year, now is not the time to make major zoning changes.  Stability in leadership is essential before implementing decisions that will significantly impact students, families, and schools.

Property & Community Impact: Families paid premium prices to live in the Grayson Cluster.  Rezoning would lower property values and tear apart an established, close-knit community that takes pride in its connection to Grayson High School.  Many can hear the marching band from our homes which is a daily reminder of belonging and school spirit.

What We Ask: 

We urge GCPS to

1. Pause the current rezoning proposal 

2. Re-evaluate boundary options within the Grayson Cluster 

3. Implement long-term, equitable solutions that align with the Blueprint for the Future = Empathy, Equity, Effectiveness, and Excellence 

We stand with the Bennett Farm, Central Park, and Eleanora communities in opposition to the current Redistricting proposal. We recognize the need for a comprehensive plan to address the ongoing residential growth and overcrowding of schools in the Grayson cluster. We urge GCPS to consider, evaluate, and implement a plan that will rebalance enrollment within the cluster, add capacity to schools, and consider building a new school or public charter school to ensure that every student has access to a safe, high-quality education that aligns with the GCPS Blueprint for the Future: Empathy, Equity, Effectiveness, and Excellence.