STOP THE CLOSURE OF ATLANTA’S COMMUNITY SCHOOLS!
The Issue
Protect Continental Colony, Dunbar, Cleveland Avenue, F.L. Stanton & Peyton Forest Elementary Schools.
OUR PETITION DEMANDS
We demand that the Atlanta Board of Education stop the planned closure and repurposing of Continental Colony, Dunbar, Cleveland Avenue, F.L. Stanton, and Peyton Forest Elementary Schools and preserve them as vital neighborhood educational institutions with on-site hubs.
We further demand that no school closure or repurposing move forward until a comprehensive, publicly available equity, educational, economic, social, historical, community, transportation, and public-safety impact assessment has been completed and affected communities have been given a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decision.
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/09/18/behind-investigation-atlantas-school-closures-divide/
THIS IS ABOUT:
*Our children/future leaders
*A school being more than a building measured by enrollment or utilization. It is where children learn, families connect, teachers build relationships, and communities create a sense of belonging.
*Many Atlanta neighborhoods, particularly historically Black neighborhoods, where schools represent generations of history, investment, family memories, community identity, and pride.
[We understand that APS must address enrollment, budgets, and facility needs. However, there are national best practices to address these challenges.]
*School closures are also a safety issue?
When we disrupt the institutions that connect children, families, educators, and communities, we risk weakening the community infrastructure that supports stability, mental health, and public safety.
*What happens when the school is closed?
Because the school is the nucleus of our sacred community, our children, parents, educators, faith institutions, and community members are impacted.
*What happens when our children miss the bus?
Transportation is a critical issue. When children miss the bus or the bus breaks down, families can be left scrambling to get their children to school safely and on time. A change in school location can create additional transportation challenges for families who are caring for multiple children, or dealing with limited transportation options because they don't have a car or extra money for rideshare or public transportation.
*What happens when meeting notices are sent 2 days before the meeting date for a one-hour meeting?
Meaningful community engagement requires advance notice. Parents, grandparents, caregivers, educators, working families, and community members have responsibilities outside of a one-hour meeting. Giving families only a few days’ notice can make meaningful participation impossible, especially when the meeting concerns a decision that could permanently change their neighborhood dynamic and create instability.
These are not simply administrative concerns.
These are questions about, access, communication, trust, real parent engagement, community partnership, and accountability.
Before a school is closed, APS must consider whether the challenges families are experiencing are being adequately addressed, and whether closing the school could create additional barriers for families that are already struggling with challenges beyond their control.
Closing schools does not make these challenges disappear, nor does it close budget gaps and it doesn't improve academic outcomes. In fact, it creates more challenges because it negatively impacts student academic achievement for the first 2-3 years at the newly assigned school (according to national research studies).
These questions deserve answers before a closure, not after.
*We Demand:
*The same access to high-quality education as other schools.
*A forensic audit, and public-safety impact analysis to examine the impact on transportation, attendance, academics, and neighborhood stability.
*Publicly release the data supporting each proposed closure.
*Use national best practices when closing neighborhood schools if necessary.
OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE NOT JUST NUMBERS. OUR COMMUNITIES ARE NOT EMPTY SPACES ON A MAP.
Atlanta Board of Education can plan for the future without losing the institutions that have helped build its communities.
Continental Colony.
Dunbar.
Cleveland Avenue.
F.L. Stanton.
Peyton Forest.
These schools represent children, families, history, opportunity, and community.
Atlanta Board members are elected by Us, paid by us, to represent us and not special interests. With that responsibility comes an obligation to listen to our voices and implement policies that put students first.
Past school closures have not delivered the projected cost savings promised to our communities. We cannot continue repeating a process that places the burden on our most vulnerable students while failing to produce the expected financial results. Our children deserve better, and our communities deserve accountability.
We demand the Atlanta Board stop, listen, and fully consider the consequences before moving forward. Protect our children and all community stakeholders. The future of Atlanta, depends on the decisions made today.
Our demand is clear: Stop the closures. Protect our neighborhood schools. Put equity, academic achievement, community stability, and the well-being of Atlanta’s children first.
Sign this petition and stand with Atlanta families who believe every community deserves educational equity, strong neighborhood schools, and communities where children and families can thrive safely.
333
The Issue
Protect Continental Colony, Dunbar, Cleveland Avenue, F.L. Stanton & Peyton Forest Elementary Schools.
OUR PETITION DEMANDS
We demand that the Atlanta Board of Education stop the planned closure and repurposing of Continental Colony, Dunbar, Cleveland Avenue, F.L. Stanton, and Peyton Forest Elementary Schools and preserve them as vital neighborhood educational institutions with on-site hubs.
We further demand that no school closure or repurposing move forward until a comprehensive, publicly available equity, educational, economic, social, historical, community, transportation, and public-safety impact assessment has been completed and affected communities have been given a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decision.
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/09/18/behind-investigation-atlantas-school-closures-divide/
THIS IS ABOUT:
*Our children/future leaders
*A school being more than a building measured by enrollment or utilization. It is where children learn, families connect, teachers build relationships, and communities create a sense of belonging.
*Many Atlanta neighborhoods, particularly historically Black neighborhoods, where schools represent generations of history, investment, family memories, community identity, and pride.
[We understand that APS must address enrollment, budgets, and facility needs. However, there are national best practices to address these challenges.]
*School closures are also a safety issue?
When we disrupt the institutions that connect children, families, educators, and communities, we risk weakening the community infrastructure that supports stability, mental health, and public safety.
*What happens when the school is closed?
Because the school is the nucleus of our sacred community, our children, parents, educators, faith institutions, and community members are impacted.
*What happens when our children miss the bus?
Transportation is a critical issue. When children miss the bus or the bus breaks down, families can be left scrambling to get their children to school safely and on time. A change in school location can create additional transportation challenges for families who are caring for multiple children, or dealing with limited transportation options because they don't have a car or extra money for rideshare or public transportation.
*What happens when meeting notices are sent 2 days before the meeting date for a one-hour meeting?
Meaningful community engagement requires advance notice. Parents, grandparents, caregivers, educators, working families, and community members have responsibilities outside of a one-hour meeting. Giving families only a few days’ notice can make meaningful participation impossible, especially when the meeting concerns a decision that could permanently change their neighborhood dynamic and create instability.
These are not simply administrative concerns.
These are questions about, access, communication, trust, real parent engagement, community partnership, and accountability.
Before a school is closed, APS must consider whether the challenges families are experiencing are being adequately addressed, and whether closing the school could create additional barriers for families that are already struggling with challenges beyond their control.
Closing schools does not make these challenges disappear, nor does it close budget gaps and it doesn't improve academic outcomes. In fact, it creates more challenges because it negatively impacts student academic achievement for the first 2-3 years at the newly assigned school (according to national research studies).
These questions deserve answers before a closure, not after.
*We Demand:
*The same access to high-quality education as other schools.
*A forensic audit, and public-safety impact analysis to examine the impact on transportation, attendance, academics, and neighborhood stability.
*Publicly release the data supporting each proposed closure.
*Use national best practices when closing neighborhood schools if necessary.
OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE NOT JUST NUMBERS. OUR COMMUNITIES ARE NOT EMPTY SPACES ON A MAP.
Atlanta Board of Education can plan for the future without losing the institutions that have helped build its communities.
Continental Colony.
Dunbar.
Cleveland Avenue.
F.L. Stanton.
Peyton Forest.
These schools represent children, families, history, opportunity, and community.
Atlanta Board members are elected by Us, paid by us, to represent us and not special interests. With that responsibility comes an obligation to listen to our voices and implement policies that put students first.
Past school closures have not delivered the projected cost savings promised to our communities. We cannot continue repeating a process that places the burden on our most vulnerable students while failing to produce the expected financial results. Our children deserve better, and our communities deserve accountability.
We demand the Atlanta Board stop, listen, and fully consider the consequences before moving forward. Protect our children and all community stakeholders. The future of Atlanta, depends on the decisions made today.
Our demand is clear: Stop the closures. Protect our neighborhood schools. Put equity, academic achievement, community stability, and the well-being of Atlanta’s children first.
Sign this petition and stand with Atlanta families who believe every community deserves educational equity, strong neighborhood schools, and communities where children and families can thrive safely.
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Petition created on September 30, 2026