JCPS proposes school closures and consolidations: what families need to know

Jefferson County Public Schools is confronting a $188 million budget deficit and today for the first time announced school closures could be part of the solution.

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Jefferson County Public Schools is asking families to prepare for significant changes next school year, with Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood recommending closures and consolidations affecting several schools across the district.

The recommendation comes in response to a major budget shortfall discovered earlier this fall.

The deficit stems from the expiration of temporary funding sources that sustained district operations in recent years, including prior budget surpluses and federal COVID-19 relief funds. With those one-time resources now depleted, JCPS is facing a major budget deficit that seemingly came as a shock.

Now, the district is proposing major changes to several schools driven by a combination of declining enrollment and mounting facility costs. Ultimately, it will be up to the JCPS School Board to approve the recommendations.

Which schools are affected?

The recommendations hit both elementary and high school levels. Zachary Taylor Elementary would close entirely, with students reapplying to other elementary schools in the Ballard High zone. The school is currently operating at less than half its capacity.

King Elementary would merge into Maupin Elementary under the proposal. While King is at 70% capacity, it's costing the district more than $10,000 above the average per student. Maupin, meanwhile, is only at 53% capacity but operates more cost-effectively, making it the target location for the consolidated school.

Liberty High School, which was created specifically for credit recovery, would also close. District officials say credit recovery programs are now available across JCPS, making the standalone school unnecessary. Students would return to their resident schools with personalized learning plans.

Two specialized programs would relocate rather than close. Waller-Williams Environmental School would move to a facility in the Fairdale neighborhood better suited to its size. The school is currently at just 39% capacity and costs about $111,000 per student- nearly double what other JCPS specialized schools spend.

The Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program would move from its current building to the Gheens Early Childhood Center at Male High School's campus, where enrollment has dropped to just 21% of capacity.

New school, school move updates

It's not all closures. JCPS also announced several building projects moving forward, including a new campus for W.E.B. DuBois Academy behind Thomas Jefferson Middle School, with Grace James Academy moving into DuBois's former building. A new early childhood center near Watterson Elementary is expected to open in August 2026, and Atherton High School's major renovation should wrap up around the same time.

Echo Trail Middle School will see boundary adjustments for new students living north of I-64 and west of Valhalla Golf Club to address overcrowding, though current students won't be affected.

What happens next?

JCPS is holding three community forums in early December for families to ask questions and share feedback. The district is collecting written comments through an online form as well. All that input will be compiled and shared with the school board before they vote on December 9.

Yearwood acknowledged these aren't easy decisions. "These are difficult but necessary steps," he said in the announcement, adding that the recommendations came after examining both facility conditions and educational models across the district.

For families in affected schools, the next few weeks will be crucial for understanding what these changes mean for where their kids will go to school next fall.

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