RCPS proposes school consolidation and rezoning plan
CONYERS — Rockdale County Public Schools has announced a proposal to consolidate and rezone select elementary and middle schools beginning with the 2027-28 school year. The proposal is the first phase of Future Ready RCPS, a three-part plan to create capacity, define opportunity, and build the future for students. According to the school system, the proposal responds to a sharp and persistent decline in school-aged children in the district, driven largely by decreasing birth rates and an aging population in the county. Across the district, RCPS has more than 5,000 open seats with elementary schools using about 62% of their seats and middle schools using about 71 percent of their seats. Enrollment fell from 16,718 students at the 2017-18 midpoint to 14,693 at the 2025-26 midpoint, a decrease of 2,025 students. Because about half of the RCPS budget comes from state funding tied to enrollment, declining enrollment means declining funding. Instead of stretching resources thin across current schools, by combining some schools, RCPS will be able to offer more to students, according to the school system. The school system also stated in a press release that consolidating buildings would allow schools to earn maximum state funding, strengthen programs, and potentially
