Decatur City

The Decatur City school district in Alabama consists of 17 schools, including 12 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district exhibits a wide range of academic performance, with some standout schools like Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School and Eastwood Elementary School consistently ranking among the top in the state, while others, such as Oak Park Elementary School and BanksCaddell Elementary School, struggle academically.

The district's performance is closely tied to the socioeconomic status of its student populations, with schools serving higher percentages of economically disadvantaged students generally performing worse than their more affluent counterparts. This is exemplified by the stark disparities in academic proficiency rates, which can range from over 70% in 3rd grade math at Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary to under 16% at West Decatur Elementary. The district's middle and high schools show more mixed results, with both Decatur High School and Austin High School ranking in the middle of the state's high school rankings.

Overall, the Decatur City school district faces significant challenges in providing consistent, high-quality education across all of its schools, with a clear divide between its top-performing and lower-performing institutions. Addressing these inequities, particularly in terms of resources and student populations, could be key to driving more positive outcomes for all students in the district.