Several new schools, including a new high school in Buford, a number of major renovations and additions, and updated safety features await returning teachers and students at schools across northeast Georgia in a few days.
Most classes will resume during the first ten days of August. However, students and teachers in the Commerce City School System are to report on Friday, July 26.
In addition to a new Buford High School complex, Dawson County's new College & Career Academy at Dawson County High will be ready on opening day. Gwinnett County will be opening McClure Health Science High School, and in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County High School's JROTC/Science facility is opening this year.
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Banks County
*First day of classes: Aug 2.
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? "We have no new construction or new schools to open." - Supt. Ann Hopkins
*Projected enrollment, compared to last year: Expected to increase to about 2,850, an additional 50 or so students.
Barrow County
*First day of classes: Aug. 1
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer?
"No new schools this year, but construction well underway for the first phase of our new Arts and Sciences High School with completion expected summer of 2020. Renovations to Yargo Elementary including ceilings and paint throughout and redoing classroom floors, Westside Middle School including Phase I HVAC, ceilings, lighting, paint, and floors, and at Apalachee High School we are finishing up HVAC central plant renovation. At our Center for Innovative Teaching/Arts Integration Magnet School (housed at our old Russell Middle School facility) we are painting the exterior, converting a makerspace to a dance studio, and creating a larger new makerspace in the former gym building. The conversion of our stadium fields from natural grass to artificial turf fields at both Apalachee and Winder-Barrow High Schools is also being completed." - Supt. Chris McMichael
*Projected enrollment, compared to last year: Approximately 14,300 to 14,350, which is up between 1.5% to 2% from the past year.
Buford City
*First day of classes – Aug. 7
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? "This year we will open our new Buford High School which means our other schools have shifted some. Previously our elementary was Kindergarten and 1st grade, the Academy was 2nd through 5th grades, then the traditional middle school and high school. With the opening of the new school, our elementary now is Kindergarten only, the Academy is 1st through 3rd grades, then we have opened the Senior Academy for 4th and 5th grades. The Senior Academy is housed in the building that used to be the middle school, and the middle school has moved to the building that was the high school." - Spokeswoman Kerri Leland
*Projected enrollment, compared to last year: About 5,000, compared to about 4,857 last year.
Commerce City
*First day of classes: July 26
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? " No new schools are opening/no major renovations this summer." - Supt. Joy Tolbert
*Projected enrollment compared to last year: 1,720, a light increase
Dawson County
*First day of classes: Aug. 2
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? *We are opening a new College and Career Academy at Dawson County High School this year. It is a 35,000 square foot facility that houses our 21st-century Career/Tech labs, as well as, teaching space for our dual enrollment partners." - Supt. Damon Gibbs
*Projected enrollment compared to last year: About 3,600, up 4% from last year.
Forsyth County
*First day of classes: Aug 1
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? "As part of our $7 million bond project list, we modified the front entrance of many elementary and middle schools for safety vestibules. - Spokeswoman Jennifer Caracciolo
*Projected enrollment compared to last year: More than 51,000, a 1,600-1,800 increase
Gainesville City
*First day of classes: Aug. 7
*Projected enrollment: 8,018, down from 8,042
*What, if any, news schools are opening and what, if any, major renovations and/or additions occurred over the summer?
Twelve-unit modular addition at Gainesville Middle School to reduce student overcrowding
Renovation of first-floor wing at Gainesville High School for the new Student Success Center to support wrap-around services
Construction of security vestibules at Gainesville High School, Centennial Arts Academy, and Gainesville City School Board Office to increase safety and security
SOURCE: Spokeswoman Lynn Jones
*Projected student enrollment: 8,018; down from 8,042 last year
Gwinnett County
First day of classes: Aug. 5
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or, what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? Click here for that information.
*Projected enrollment compared to last year: 180,204, compared to 178,811
Habersham County
*First day of classes: Aug. 7
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? "No new schools. No major renovations." - Supt. Matthew Cooper
*Projected enrollment compared to last year: 6,900. Similar to last year.
Hall County
*First day of classes: Aug. 7
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? No new schools opening this year. Construction projects occurring this summer are as follows:
Johnson High School: Field House and Band Room addition
Jones- Early College: Renovations
Friendship Elementary: Re-Roofing
Martin Elementary: Access Drive
Chestatee High School: Fire Alarm Replacement; RACE program Renovations
Sardis Elementary: Fire Alarm Replacement
East Hall Middle School: Restroom Renovations
Gym LED Lighting installed at Chestatee High, East Hall high, Johnson High, West Hall High
SOURCE: Spokesman Stan Lewis
*Projected enrollment compared to last year: 26,234, down by 465 from last year
Jackson County
*First day of classes: Aug. 2
*What, if any, news schools are opening, and what, if any, major renovations/additions occurred over the summer? "No big building changes over the summer. New principals at North Jackson Elementary School (Jenica Johnson) and East Jackson Elementary (Allyson Pennington), and an interim principal at Jackson County Comprehensive High School (Jason Wester)." - Spokeswoman Karen Bridgeman
*Projected enrollment compared to last year: Some growth expected, especially at schools in the western part of the county.
Jefferson City
*First day of classes: Aug. 2
Lumpkin County
*First day of classes: Aug. 6
**What, if any, new schools are opening and what, if any, major renovations/additions have occurred over the summer? “We do not have any new schools opening in Lumpkin County. However, we are excited that our new JROTC/Science facility is complete and ready for day one.” – Spokesman Jason Lemley.
*Projected student population for the new year compared to last year: Just over 3,800, slightly more than last year when it was just under 3,800
White County
*First day of classes: Aug. 8
*What, if any, new schools are opening and/or what, if any, major renovations or additions have occurred over the summer? "White County does not have any new schools opening however, we did open Warrior Academy this past Winter. The Academy serves as an alternative school. No major renovations or additions (this summer)." - Spokeswoman Jennifer Goss-King
*Projected enrollment compared to last year: 3,790, up from 3,763
START DATES PRIVATE SCHOOLS (HALL COUNTY):
Chattahoochee Christian School - Aug. 9
Gainesville Home School Academy - Aug. 15
Lakeview Academy - Aug. 21
Lanier Christian School - Aug. 9
Maranatha Christian Academy - Aug. 9 (K-12), Aug. 10 (Pre-K)
Riverside Military Academy - Aug. 13
(EDITOR'S NOTE: All of the above information was provided by school officials in each system or school or, in the case of some school start dates, was taken from school system/school websites.)
