Comments on: Decatur Schools Call for Tax Hike to Hire Staff

By: decatur mom

decatur mom — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:28:05 +0000

I’m not so sure about “most of the current schools are operating at below capacity”, not the elementary schools anyway – Glennwood, for example, is getting, ahem, “learning cottages” next year. I also have heard that there are a record number of kindergarteners entering the system in the fall, so yeah, I’m already hearing speculation that the eventual reopening of either Fifth Ave. or Westchester is inevitable.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:21:44 +0000

Oh, one more point about the re-opening of elementary schools. Even though enrollment at DCS has leveled out after years of declining enrollment and is growing a little bit for the first time in years (100 new students last year), without annexation it is unlikely that a new school would be neccessary for a long, long time. Most of the current schools are operating at below capacity. The numbers just don’t add up to where they were when there were 3 more elementary schools in operation.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:14:49 +0000

There are plenty of condos in Decatur worth around $200k (and falling) and those people don’t have kids in school.

And I didn’t know that there were problems with great schools like Morningside and Mary Lin in Candler Park? It is unlikely that people who actually live in those neighborhoods are moving to Decatur, but that Decatur is now a viable alternative to homebuyers looking to buy in those neighborhoods.

By: E

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:21:08 +0000

Is there actually a home in Decatur valued at $200k? Hello? 1991 called, they want their press release back.

But seriously – expect more of this in the future. Decatur is THE intown destination for every intown household that is starting a family and suddenly putting a priority on school quality. Atlanta and Dekalb county schools are not up to par, so the mass migration of yuppie couples from Midtown, Candler Park, Va-Highlands, Emory’s environs, etc. will continue.

We are going to start hearing conversations about re-opening one of the old elementary schools, too.