Parents, volunteers, and anyone else walking into a Dunwoody or Brookhaven school building will need to hand over a state-issued ID for scanning before they get past the front office starting Monday, August 3.
The DeKalb County School District, led by Interim Superintendent Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, announced the new Visitor Management System on Monday, July 27, one week before the first day of the 2026-27 school year. The policy applies to all 135 DCSD schools and centers, including Dunwoody High School, Dunwoody Elementary, Chesnut Elementary, Kingsley Elementary, Vanderlyn Elementary, Austin Elementary, Cross Keys High School, and Montgomery Elementary.
How it works
When a visitor arrives, staff will scan the barcode on the back of their state-issued ID. The system checks the visitor's name and date of birth against a nationwide database, according to the district's announcement. Once cleared, the system prints a badge the visitor must wear for the duration of their time on campus.
The district said the system is meant to ensure every person entering a school building is properly identified while maintaining a safe learning environment for students and staff.
DCSD did not name the software vendor running the system or specify what happens if a visitor lacks a qualifying ID.
What Dunwoody and Brookhaven families should know
The change affects every type of campus visit:
- Parent-teacher conferences
- Volunteer shifts
- Lunch drop-offs
- After-school pickups inside the building
Visitors should expect the check-in process to add time at the front office, particularly during the first days of school. The district serves more than 92,600 students across its 135 campuses.
Back-to-school reminder: free and reduced-price meals
In a separate announcement also published July 27, DCSD encouraged families at non-Community Eligibility Provision schools to complete the 2026-27 Federal Eligibility Application for free or reduced-price meals. Families can apply at SchoolCafé (schoolcafe.com) or call DCSD School Nutrition Services at 678-676-1778 for help. Students at CEP schools already receive breakfast and lunch at no cost without an application.
