A new tuition-free public charter school won state approval Wednesday, July 29, and nearly 180 families in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and East Cobb have already expressed interest in enrolling their children.
The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia voted to approve the Spalding Academy for Innovation and Learning, known as SAIL, which plans to open for the 2027-28 school year, Rough Draft Atlanta reported. The school grew out of a parent-led fight to save Spalding Drive Elementary, the Sandy Springs neighborhood school open for more than 60 years that Fulton County Schools closed in 2025 over strong community opposition.
"It has been a long process that started with a loss," Save Spalding Committee Board Chair Raymond Grote said. "Now, we get to actually start building something, which is the fun part for me."
The Save Spalding Committee, a parent-led nonprofit formed in February 2025, filed its charter petition after Fulton County Schools rejected both the group's $10 million offer to purchase the old school site and its local charter application. Under Georgia law, a county rejection opens the door to the state commission.
Grote said many families moved to the Sandy Springs area specifically for a high-performing neighborhood elementary school and have since left the district or gone private after the closure. As a state charter school, SAIL will draw students directly from Fulton County Schools' population. Grote predicted the district will lose "hundreds of students" as a result.
What SAIL will offer
According to its website, SAIL will combine rigorous academics with hands-on learning, emphasizing creative problem-solving and what the school calls "core virtues." The committee selected National Heritage Academies, a for-profit management company operating more than 100 tuition-free charter schools in nine states, as its operator. NHA already runs two Georgia schools: Atlanta Heights on Atlanta's west side and Four Points Preparatory Academy in Braselton.
Grote said NHA played an "instrumental" role helping parents navigate the technical charter application process.
What Dunwoody families need to know
Some Dunwoody families zoned to Fulton County Schools would be eligible to enroll at SAIL. Families interested in learning more or expressing interest can visit sailcharter.org. The school still needs to secure a brick-and-mortar location before its fall 2027 target opening.
The committee's general counsel is Edward Lindsey, a former Georgia state legislator who helped draft and pass the state's first charter school law. Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, council member Melody Kelley, and former council member Andy Bauman have supported the effort, most recently helping identify potential properties for the school.
