Student Safety and Wellness

The health and safety of GCPS students and staff is our highest priority. Here are some tips you need to know and a few ways that you and your family can help. Make sure your student's school has up-to-date contact information for you.

Maintaining a Healthy School Environment

Responding to Lockdowns and Evacuation

If your student's school has been placed on lockdown or evacuated, please do not go to the school. Excessive traffic could interfere with law enforcement efforts or emergency response. The school will contact you to let you know how to proceed.

Schools go on lockdown when school officials and local law enforcement authorities determine that conditions outside or inside the school are unsafe. No one may enter or leave the school until the lockdown is lifted. This may delay dismissal times.

A soft lockdown occurs when conditions outside the school are unsafe. Students and staff continue with a normal school day, but stay within the building.
A hard lockdown occurs when conditions inside the school are unsafe. Students and staff remain in the classroom and safety procedures are followed until the lockdown is lifted. For their safety, students should turn off or mute their cellphones as a ringing phone could alert an aggressor.

Schools are evacuated when the school environment is unsafe for students to stay in the building.

For more information about school safety, visit Safety and Security (www.gcpsk12.org/safety).

Inclement Weather

When inclement weather is predicted, GCPS works with local authorities to monitor current and expected conditions in the area.

If bad weather is forecast overnight, GCPS staff drive roads and bridges across the county to gauge conditions.
Unscheduled digital learning days and full-day cancellations usually are announced by 6 a.m. Once a decision is made, the district posts the announcement about school closures on the GCPS website, GCPS TV, and the district's Facebook page and Twitter account. GCPS also notifies metro-Atlanta news outlets and alerts families with a phone call and optional text message via SchoolMessenger. (Families must request the text feature.)
When bad weather moves in during the school day, district leaders decide the safest and most efficient way to get students home. Should GCPS schools release early or cancel afternoon or evening activities, GCPS notifies parents and community members via local school communication vehicles and SchoolMessenger calls and texts, through reports to metro-Atlanta news media, and posts to the GCPS website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Confidential School Safety Tip Line: Call or text 770-822-6513.

Call or text the Tip Line if you think or know that someone is carrying a weapon, drugs, or alcohol on school property. You do not have to give your name.