Atlanta Public Schools will close and consolidate more than a dozen campuses in the coming years as part of a long-term restructuring plan. District leaders say the move is needed to balance the budget, address under-enrollment and improve academic outcomes.

The school board voted to approve the plan on Wednesday night.

The decision follows months of debate that drew strong opposition from parents and community members, many from predominantly Black neighborhoods that stand to lose their schools. Critics argue the process was predetermined and that community feedback had little impact on the outcome.

The list of schools that would close or be restructured:

• Cleveland Elementary School

• Continental Colony Elementary School

• Douglass High School (9th Grade)

• Dunbar Elementary Scho

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