There a lot happening in Brookhaven this month. Check out the latest news and scroll down for upcoming holiday happenings, including four free places you (and/or your dog) can grab a photo with Santa.
First up: DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), which isn’t technically in Brookhaven, but generates plenty of flights over the city.
Last month, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve a contract with New York-based Sky Harbour to build eight new hangars for private jets at the airport. Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, whose district includes Brookhaven, was the lone vote against the deal.
PDK is Georgia’s second busiest airport and home to corporate jets for Waffle House and Southern Company, among others, as well as more than a dozen pilot training schools.
Sky Harbour officials say having more private jet hangars will actually reduce airport noise by reducing the number of jets that need to be flown in from other locations to serve passengers at PDK.
But at a recent town hall meeting after the vote, one Ashford Park resident said she’s concerned about adding more hangars to the airport:
“I have young children, so if asthma shows up for them when they’re 25, I’m wondering, what is Brookhaven going to do? Are they going to get any type of medical compensation? I don’t know. I’m wondering if my husband and I have to move.”
SCHOOLS
Ashford Park, Montgomery among top DeKalb elementary schools
Brookhaven’s Ashford Park and Montgomery elementary schools were among the top 10 traditional elementary schools in the county for student mastery, according to new Georgia Department of Education school ratings. (Traditional, in this case, means not a magnet school.)
And Montclair, Montgomery and Ashford Park elementary schools all ranked in the top half of traditional DeKalb elementary schools for student progress year to year.
Those rankings are based on state test scores, which are just one of many ways to assess school quality.
'Strong concerns' about overcrowding at Ashford Park
As a reminder, DeKalb County Schools has pushed back the timeline for its redistricting process. The district now plans to release redistricting proposals in January or February. The most recent board update included these notes on community feedback:
• Strong concerns about overcrowding at Ashford Park, unbalanced enrollment created by specialized programs, and boundary decisions that have historically favored more affluent, whiter communities at the expense of others (e.g., John Lewis ES, Buford Hwy corridor, South DeKalb).
• Many families strongly want to remain zoned for their current schools (especially Ashford Park, Drew Valley, Brookhaven Fields, Avondale, and Brookhaven Village).
• Intense concern about maintaining the Chamblee High School magnet, Kittredge Magnet School, and high achiever pathways. Fear that moving, scaling, or altering these programs will reduce quality, harm student relationships, and undermine college readiness opportunities.
• Concerns With German Immersion (GI) at Ashford Park: Parents feel the GI program no longer serves the local community, contributes to overcrowding, and should be relocated or re-evaluated. Families want data on how many GI students live in-zone and how many would remain if relocated.
More Brookhaven news
Courtesy Brookhaven Police Department
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EVENTS
Free photos with Santa, free ice skating and more
🎅 Photos With Santa at City Centre
Saturdays, Dec. 13 and 20 | 9 a.m.-noon
Brookhaven City Centre, 4001 Peachtree Road NE
Walk-ups welcome.
🛍️ Brookhaven Police Shop With a Badge
Saturday, Dec. 13 | 6:30-9:30 a.m.
Target, 2400 North Druid Hills Road
Volunteer or donate by contacting [email protected].
🎅 Breakfast with Santa at the Cowart Family YMCA
Saturday, Dec. 13 | 9-11 a.m.
Cowart Family YMCA, 3692 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Free and open to the community. Enjoy a light pancake breakfast, visit Santa and explore crafts, karaoke and more. For children of all ages.
🎅 Breakfast With Santa at OLA
Sunday, Dec. 14 | 8:30-11 a.m.
1350 Hearst Drive NE
The Knights of Columbus will hold a Santa Breakfast at Marist Hall at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Recommended donation is $8/person or $30/family.
🎄 Merry Makers Market at Town Brookhaven
Wednesdays-Fridays, Dec. 10-12 and 17-19 | 5-9 p.m.
Town Brookhaven, next to LOOK Cinema
Stroll through a winter-wonderland-inspired marketplace filled with local art, handmade goods and curated vintage treasures. Free parking.
⛸️ Free Ice Skating at Brookhaven Park
Saturday, Dec. 20-Saturday, Jan. 4, 2026
Brookhaven Park, 4158 Peachtree Road
Register online for free 45-minute ice skating sessions, with a limited number of walk-ups permitted. More information at brookhavenga.gov/ice-skating. Registration opens Dec. 15.
🎅 Santa Paws Pet Photos & Free Mobile Pet Clinic
Sunday, Dec. 21 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Brookhaven Park Dog Park, 4158 Peachtree Road NE
Free photos for pets with Santa plus free mobile vet clinic for DeKalb County residents offering vet exams, vaccines and microchips. Walk-ups welcome.
Want to see your event featured? Email [email protected]
