Out-Of-District Students Can Resume Classes At North Springs

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The Fulton County School System has made a concession on allowing some out-of-district tuition paying students to continue attending North Springs Charter High School in Sandy Springs. The system's decision last week to end the practice affected several magnet students and families who were suddenly burdened with the task of finding a high school to continue their education for the 2018-19 school year.

FCSS said it was made aware on Thursday of a letter penned by former Superintendent Dr. Robert Avossa that made "provisions for out-of-district students to remain at North Springs High." This provision, the system stresses, applies to students if they had been enrolled on or before the 2016-17 school year.

"Following a full review of the letter and its implications for students, Fulton County Schools has taken the appropriate and correct action to uphold the promise our district made to those students, pending clearance from the students’ home district and ensuring tuition payments are up to date," the system said in a statement issued Tuesday morning.

The Fulton County School System's charter agreement with the state and its district policy does not allow for the practice of enrolling out-of-district, tuition paying students. Spokesperson Susan Hale cited Georgia code 20-2-2066(b.1), which says the charter system "shall enroll students in its system charter schools per the terms of the charter and in accordance with State Board rules."

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The Fulton system's charter contract states the attendance zone is "limited to district residents and does not contemplate out-of-district tuition students. Fourteen families were affected by the system's decision, the majority of whom are from DeKalb County, Hale told Patch. Three students are seniors and the others are rising sophomores and juniors.

Kurt Hilbert, a partner with The Hilbert Law Firm, which is representing multiple families who have rising 10th- and 11th grade students at North Springs, said FCSS has called or emailed all but one affected parent/pupil who the firm represents. That message, the law office states, indicates the students "can return to NSCHS pending clearance from the students’ home district and ensuring tuition payments are up to date."

"We are very pleased with the FCSS’ recent decision," the firm added.

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