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Atlanta private school closure sparks refund worries

Source: ajc.com

TL;DR

Midtown International School abruptly closed weeks before the school year ended due to declining enrollment and revenue shortfalls.
Enrollment fell 31% by 2022, with rising financial aid requests; the school sold its building to avoid foreclosure.
Families face refund uncertainties for prepaid tuition and trips, disrupting students mid-semester amid broader Atlanta enrollment drops.

The story at a glance

Midtown International School, a small private school in Atlanta for gifted students, shut down permanently on April 3, 2026, after leaders cited an unsustainable financial position from falling enrollment and higher aid demands. Parents like Rawda Shehata and Maya West described shock over mid-semester withdrawal and refund issues for deposits up to $8,500. The article is being reported now as families scramble for placements and answers on finances, following the school's email announcement on March 31. Metro Atlanta has seen widespread enrollment declines hitting both private and public schools.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/education/2026/04/financial-questions-swirl-after-atlanta-private-school-closure/)[[2]](https://www.ajc.com/education/2026/04/atlanta-private-school-announces-sudden-closure-citing-financial-problems)

Key points

School leaders, including head Andrew Hardin, said fewer applicants, a 31% enrollment drop since prior years, and increased financial aid requests created deep financial jeopardy.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/education/2026/04/financial-questions-swirl-after-atlanta-private-school-closure/)
Tuition revenue failed to cover expenses, forcing the sale of the building to avoid foreclosure; prior fiscal year showed $3.8 million in expenses and negative net income.[[3]](https://www.decaturish.com/schools/local-private-school-for-gifted-students-abruptly-closes/article_52626f37-2621-4f5f-9abd-3daab01b3aca.html)
About 158 students in grades K-12 were affected, with roughly 59% withdrawing mid-semester; the school was set to run until May 21.[[4]](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0WrxdyxgvIo)
Refunds issued for unused tuition, but parents reported no clear word on prepaid amounts for next year or field trips like a $2,000 Washington, D.C. trip.[[5]](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWpNy--Dfrf)
Other private schools, such as Capstone Academy, offered spots with prorated or free tuition for remaining weeks to help displaced families.[[6]](https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/04/03/metro-atlanta-schools-stepping-help-after-abrupt-closure-midtown-international-school)

Details and context

The school, founded in 2013 off Briarcliff Road in Druid Hills, catered to gifted students but ended high school operations last year amid ongoing struggles. Annual tuition ran $26,000-$27,000 per grade, per archived site data, but nonprofit filings revealed $3.1 million in negative net assets for fiscal 2024.[[3]](https://www.decaturish.com/schools/local-private-school-for-gifted-students-abruptly-closes/article_52626f37-2621-4f5f-9abd-3daab01b3aca.html)

This fits a pattern in metro Atlanta, where public systems like DeKalb, Atlanta Public Schools, and Fulton County have closed or repurposed buildings due to enrollment declines post-pandemic.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/education/2026/04/financial-questions-swirl-after-atlanta-private-school-closure/)

Parents noted the economy's role in squeezing family budgets, making private tuition harder to sustain.

Key quotes

"We’ve seen a sharp decline in enrollment... fewer applicants and increased requests for financial aid have put the private school in an 'unsustainable' position." – Andrew Hardin, head of school.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/education/2026/04/financial-questions-swirl-after-atlanta-private-school-closure/)
"It’s not easy... we had to withdraw our child mid-semester." – Maya West, parent.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/education/2026/04/financial-questions-swirl-after-atlanta-private-school-closure/)

Why it matters

Private schools like this one highlight vulnerabilities when enrollment dips and aid rises, pressuring small institutions without public funding buffers. Families lose prepaid money and scramble for spots, while students face academic disruption in a tight education market. Watch for refund resolutions and enrollment aid from nearby schools, though details remain unclear.