Midtown International School announces sudden closure

Midtown International School closing this Friday

Midtown International School in DeKalb County is permanently closing this Friday due to financial issues, leaving parents and staff scrambling to find new options.

ATLANTA - Atlanta's Midtown International School announced that it will close this Friday, weeks before the end of the year.

What we know:

The school, which focuses on supporting gifted and high-achieving students, sent a letter to families on Monday announcing the immediate closure, leaving students without a school to end the year at and teachers without a paycheck. The school's board said it made the decision to close based on the school's financial and enrollment position. Before making the decision, the board said it consulted with multiple other independent schools, and they were all reporting decreased enrollment.

MIS said the fact that the school lost more than 20 full-pay middle and elementary students caused the financial gaps.

The backstory:

While the announcement was sudden, some staff saw signs of trouble. Kleinhenz noted that the school had not seen the expected growth over time. The board of directors stated the decision to close was made "after a thorough review of all available options" regarding the school's financial health and enrollment trends.

Midtown International School (FOX 5)

What they're saying:

"We recognize this news will be difficult to receive, and we have made every effort to communicate it as promptly as possible. Detailed guidance on questions related to final grades, refunds, upcoming trips, student devices, graduation, and other matters will be forthcoming from school leadership in the days ahead," the board's announcement said.

The board said neither the Head of School nor the Principal was able to vote on the closure. 

The emotional toll on the small school community has been significant. Kleinhenz shared that during a meeting with the student body, the kids showed remarkable grace. "I remember, in particular, one of the students said, you know, I'm an empath and I really feel for the teachers right now," Kleinhenz said. "Like he actually started crying on behalf of the teachers." Regarding the timing, Kleinhenz added, "the only shocking thing was that it was so sad I wouldn't finish out the year."

What we don't know:

While the school has committed to providing resources for the transition, it is unclear when or if parents who already paid tuition for the next academic year will receive refunds. Specific details regarding the long-term future of the Sheridan Road campus and the total number of students displaced have not been released.

What's next:

Teachers are currently working to finalize grades and write recommendation letters to help students transfer. Capstone Academy is stepping in to assist, holding an open house this Saturday and offering prorated tuition for Midtown International students to finish the current school year.