LAWRENCEVILLE — Some Gwinnett County families are speaking out against a proposed 2026 school redistricting plan that could reassign students from schools they chose when buying their homes.
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is considering moving students in three subdivisions — Bennett Farm, Central Park and Eleanora, near Loganville Highway — from the Grayson school cluster to the Archer cluster. The proposal would affect three high schools, three middle schools and six elementary schools.
The district says the redistricting is needed to relieve overcrowding, better balance enrollment across schools, and account for projected population growth. A new middle school, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy Middle School in Dacula, is scheduled to open in August 2026 and is part of the proposed changes.
Parents in the affected neighborhoods say the plan disrupts their children’s education, social networks, and access to programs. Many cite programs like the dual-language immersion at Trip Elementary, which is not available in the Archer cluster. Some also say their communities represent only a small fraction of the overcrowding cited by the district.
“We purchased the home and paid what I would say is a Grayson tax,” one parent said. “We’ve been in the boundary lines long before our subdivisions were built.”
Families are also concerned about longer commutes. Many students currently walk to Grayson High School. Under the plan, they could face 12–20 minute drives each way, crossing busy roads like Loganville Highway.
Parents say the redistricting could disrupt friendships, community connections, and the stability children rely on. Some families are urging the district to consider rebalancing enrollment within the Grayson cluster instead of moving entire neighborhoods.
GCPS has released draft maps and opened the plan for public input. Public hearings were scheduled for November and December, giving residents the chance to comment before final attendance zones are approved.
The district says it will use community feedback, school capacity data, transportation logistics, and feeder patterns when finalizing boundaries. Families still have the opportunity to weigh in and help shape the future of their schools.
