DeKalb County School officials at a Jan. 9 meeting introduced their final recommendation to ease overcrowding at Idlewood Elementary School that involves sending 418 students to Smoke Rise Elementary starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
Students living in areas west of Brockett Road, north of E. Ponce DeLeon Avenue, east of Montreal Road E. and south of U.S. Route 78 will move to Smoke Rise Elementary, located at 4789 Hugh Howell Road.
Smoke Rise, located about three miles from Idlewood, was rebuilt in 2021 and has about 500 students, which is 51% of its capacity. Idlewood, with more than 900 students, is at 115% of its capacity, according to a presentation made by the school board at the meeting.
The move to balance attendance at both schools is driven by Idlewood’s upcoming $30 million renovation, which will involve upgrades to its bathrooms, HVAC system, and major improvements to its exterior…