DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Community members will have one last chance to weigh in on proposed plans for Druid Hills High School on Monday as DeKalb County School District officials host their final public meeting on the matter.
The discussion follows more than two years of debate over how best to address deteriorating conditions at the nearly century-old school.
The push for improvements began in 2022, when students shared a video on YouTube documenting issues like flooding, leaking pipes, and crumbling infrastructure.
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Since then, school leaders have been weighing the costs and challenges of two major options: renovating the current site or building a brand-new facility.
During Monday's meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the high school, district officials are expected to provide updates on their ongoing plans and field final questions from the community.
The price of progress
Fixing the current building comes with an estimated price tag of $80 to $100 million, according to district leaders. The cost of constructing a new school is significantly higher, at nearly $180 million.
However, challenges surrounding a new build could complicate the decision. Much of the land near the school is owned by Emory University, while train tracks border the backside of the property, limiting expansion options.
“Land availability is a significant factor in our discussions,” a district representative said during the October meeting.
Previous discussions highlight broader issues
This will be the third public meeting on Druid Hills High School's improvements since the academic year began. At the October session, district officials also raised the possibility of purchasing land for a new school, while earlier meetings in April focused on other costs related to the aging building, including trash removal logistics.
Parents, students, and alumni have all expressed concerns about delays in finalizing a plan. Many say the school’s current condition impacts both safety and the quality of education.
“This school has so much history, but it needs serious upgrades to support our students and staff,” one parent said after the last meeting.
What’s next
Monday night's meeting marks a critical point in the decision-making process. Officials have promised to consider community input before presenting their final recommendations to the school board later this year.