DeKalb County School Year Ends Early Due To Coronavirus

DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA — DeKalb County schools will cut short their academic year because of coronavirus restrictions, with classes for seniors ending on May 8 and classes for other grades ending May 15. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported the change Tuesday.

Before the announcement, the DeKalb County School District had stopped in-person teaching and instead was conducting digital learning online. The last day of class originally had been scheduled for May 21.

DeKalb County is the first metro Atlanta school district that announced it would wrap up the school year early.

After an initial closure of all schools until March 31, Gov. Brian Kemp extended the closure of all public schools in Georgia through April 24, and now has closed schools through the end of this school year. All classes will be finished through virtual learning only.

Outside Atlanta, schools in Chattahochee, Carroll, Haralson, Hart and Whitfield counties already have announced plans to end their academic years early.

Georgia's shelter-in-place order has been extended through the end of April, Kemp said last week. He first ordered a shelter in place for April 3 through April 13. The news of the extension was shared hours after the governor renewed a public health emergency declaration that was set to expire on April 13.

The DeKalb County School District is Georgia’s third largest school system. The district serves nearly 98,957 students, 139 schools and centers, and 16,242 employees.

Read Patch.com for further updates.

RELATED:

• GA Coronavirus: 500 Deaths, Cases At 138 Long-Term Facilities
• Women Launch GoFundMe, Ship Masks From Mexico: GA Coronavirus