Fulton County Schools may redraw zones for two middle schools at Alpharetta addresses, with closures not ruled out. First forum: 6 p.m. Wednesday in Roswell.
Fulton County Schools has started a process that could redraw the attendance zones for Haynes Bridge and Holcomb Bridge middle schools. Both carry Alpharetta addresses. The first public forum is at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Centennial High School in Roswell, about five miles away.
The district’s Sept. 28 announcement names eight schools in its northern region that “may be directly affected.” Its forum flyer for the region says why. “As enrollment continues to decline,” the district must deal with “underused facilities,” balance capacity and match resources to projected enrollment.
The flyer quotes School Board policy. When an area is underused and nearby schools have room, schools there “may be considered for closure, consolidation, or repurposing.” The district also says no final decisions have been made on zone changes, closures or consolidations.
Which schools are on the list
The district’s Region C covers its schools north of the Chattahoochee River. It lists these as possibly affected:
| School | Address on the school’s website |
|---|---|
| Haynes Bridge Middle | 10665 Haynes Bridge Road, Alpharetta |
| Holcomb Bridge Middle | 2700 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta |
| Autrey Mill Middle | 4110 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek |
| Elkins Pointe Middle | 11290 Elkins Road, Roswell |
| Esther Jackson Elementary | 1400 Martin Road, Roswell |
| Hembree Springs Elementary | 815 Hembree Road, Roswell |
| Mimosa Elementary | 1550 Warsaw Road, Roswell |
| Vickery Mill Elementary | 1201 Alpharetta St., Roswell |
Attendance zones do not follow city limits. Families in Alpharetta can be zoned to any of these schools, and the zones of other Alpharetta schools could shift as boundaries move.
What the district’s own figures show
Staff presented the numbers to the School Board on Sept. 10, in a capacity and utilization presentation for Region C. The board approved starting the process on Sept. 17, according to the district’s timeline.
- The district forecasts 8,710 middle school students in Region C in the 2030-31 school year.
- It forecasts 17,221 elementary students in the region that year.
- Its map shades the Haynes Bridge, Holcomb Bridge and Autrey Mill zones in the band for 11 to 14 more classrooms than the forecast needs by 2030-31.
- Webb Bridge Middle, also in Alpharetta, is shaded the other way: three to nine classrooms short. It is not on the list of affected schools.
A table on the same slide marks each middle school for a “potential gain” or a “potential loss.” Autrey Mill and Elkins Pointe are marked for a gain only. Haynes Bridge and Holcomb Bridge are marked for both. The slide does not say what would be gained or lost. Among the elementary schools, Mimosa is the only one marked for a loss alone.
The forums and the timeline
The middle school forums are at Centennial High School, 9310 Scott Road in Roswell, from 6 to 8 p.m. Each has a virtual version the next day.
- Wednesday, Oct. 7: “Redistricting 101.” Staff present population trends and forecasts and the board’s criteria. No map is shown. The virtual version is Thursday, Oct. 8.
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: the first draft map, with small-group feedback.
- Tuesday, Dec. 15: a revised map.
- Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027: the School Board receives the map at a work session.
- Thursday, Feb. 25, 2027: the board’s final vote.
The elementary forums are at Roswell High School, 11595 King Road in Roswell, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, Monday, Nov. 9, and Monday, Dec. 14.
Board members also hold daytime community meetings. One is at Holcomb Bridge Middle at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027.
How the board decides
The flyer lists the board’s criteria. The primary ones are:
- distance traveled to school
- instructional capacity, including space for ESOL, special education and gifted programs
- projected enrollment
When those point to more than one option, the board weighs traffic patterns, special programs, whether a neighborhood was rezoned in the last three years, and keeping elementary, middle and high school zones lined up.
What it means for you
- Check your zoned school on the district’s attendance zone map. Our Alpharetta schools guide explains how zones work.
- Go to the first forum if your child attends or is zoned for one of these schools. No map is shown until Nov. 11, so the first forum is the time to comment on the criteria.
- Comment in writing by email to planning@fultonschools.org, or by mail to Fulton County Schools, c/o Operational Planning Department, 6201 Powers Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30339.
- Need an interpreter? Email districtlanguageassistance@fultonschools.org at least 72 hours before the meeting.
- Read the documents on the district’s redistricting page.
Buying or renting in these zones? Today’s school assignment could change. The district has not said when new zones would take effect; the board votes in February.