Falling roll numbers have forced Education Minister Anne Tolley to merge, close or expand six primary and intermediate schools in South Dunedin.
The schools are Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury, Caversham, College Street, Calton Hill and St Clair schools.
Ms Tolley says the schools have lost a fifth of their students in the past decade and have 620 spare places.
Macandrew Intermediate principal Whetu Cormick says most of the school boards and principals agree the changes are necessary.
Mr Cormick says the declining student numbers have hurt the schools' financial viability and teacher numbers.
The changes will be in place by 2020.
