Category Archives: DeKalb County School District

Emergency Weather – What's The Plan?

Posted on December 8, 2017 by | 17 comments

Given the escalation of the severity of the weather, we will implement an early dismissal of students and staff today. Also, all extracurricular activities for this evening and tomorrow morning will be cancelled.
Dismissal Schedule:
12:00 pm – Elementary Schools
12:45 pm – High Schools
1:30 pm – Middle Schools
DeKalb County Schools’ primary concern is the safety of all students and employees-those who ride buses, those who walk, and those who are driven or drive their own cars to school. When severe weather creates hazardous conditions in DeKalb County, regular school scheduling may be altered or suspended.

Making Decisions
The final decision for closing schools is made by the Superintendent. The Superintendent consults with an emergency weather team, and is in contact overnight with DeKalb County security specialists (the National Weather Service, the DeKalb County Police Department, DeKalb County Emergency Management, the Georgia State Patrol, and others) who monitor reports of existing weather hazards.
The decision regarding school operations is made prior to 5:00 a.m. and sent through all communications channels. This information is normally broadcast on local radio and television stations by 6:15 a.m. The Communications department informs parents, students, employees and other stakeholders through a variety of channels including:

  • Local news media
  • District website
  • Emails
  • Calling Posts
  • District Mobile App
  • Social Media

Parents are encouraged to monitor local news reports or to contact the local school to find out whether the District has closed in the event of severe weather.

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Posted in DeKalb County School District

Kids Doc on Wheels Medical Van

Posted on November 29, 2017 by | 2 comments

DeKalb Schools is partnering with physicians to provide access to medical services at some schools via a new mobile health unit.

Kids Doc on Wheels is a mobile health clinic. The medical van will allow students to receive medical intervention on site during the school day. The intended purpose of this service is to provide consistent medical care and help keep students in school. Children from ages 0 – 18 may be seen for physicals, vaccinations, asthma and allergy management, wellness exams, and general sick visits.
There is no cost to the district for participation in this initiative. Parents must give consent for students to receive treatment. Medicaid and private insurance will be accepted for payment. A sliding fee will be offered to families that qualify.
The following four schools in South DeKalb will participate in the first phase of this initiative:

  • Flat Rock ES
  • Snapfinger ES
  • Panola Way ES
  • Fairington ES

The schools were chosen based on the chronic illness reports compiled in school clinics and research provided by external health agencies identifying the zip codes of students with frequent emergency room visits. The van will report to the schools on a rotational basis. School health staff will help to coordinate the student appointments.
DeKalb Schools will monitor the first phase of implementation to see if there is room for expansion into other regions of the District.
Student Attendance Rates – School Year 2016-2017
Research conducted by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) concluded that a student’s attendance significantly impacts graduation rates and academic performance. Data indicates that missing more than five days of school each year, regardless of the cause, begins to impact student academic performance and starts shaping attitudes about school. Chronically truant students are not the only students negatively impacted by absences.
Student Attendance Rate = 100 * (number of students with Absences < 6 / Total number of enrolled students)

Region School Average Student Attendance
4 Arabia Mountain HS 87%
1 Dunwoody HS 83%
1 Chamblee Charter HS 83%
3 Stepehenson HS 78%
2 Lakeside HS 78%
5 Cedar Grove HS 67%
2 Druid Hills HS 65%
3 Clarkston HS 61%
2 Tucker HS 59%
4 MLK, Jr. HS 58%
4 Southwest DeKalb HS 58%
5 McNair HS 52%
3 Stone Mountain HS 50%
4 Miller Grove HS 48%
4 Lithonia HS 47%
3 Redan HS 46%
5 Columbia HS 45%
1 Cross Keys HS 41%
5 Towers HS 37%

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Posted in DeKalb County School District