High Schools in DeKalb County

The 23 high schools located in DeKalb County, Georgia serve students in grades 9-12. The schools vary significantly in size, performance, and student demographics, with a clear divide between the highest and lowest-performing institutions. While some schools like DeKalb School of the Arts and Dekalb Early College Academy consistently rank among the top high schools in the state, others such as McNair High School and Towers High School struggle with low graduation rates and test scores well below the county and state averages.

The data reveals a strong correlation between a school's socioeconomic status, as measured by free and reduced-price lunch rates, and its academic performance. The highest-poverty schools tend to have the lowest test scores and graduation rates. However, funding levels alone do not fully explain the disparities, as the highest-spending school, Elizabeth Andrews High School, has the lowest graduation rate in the district. This suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as school leadership, teacher quality, and student demographics, play a significant role in determining school outcomes.

The data also highlights a few standout schools, including the public charter Tapestry Public Charter School, which performs reasonably well compared to the traditional public schools. Additionally, Arabia Mountain High School - Academy of Engineering and Medical Sciences stands out with a very high 99.6% four-year graduation rate, despite serving a high-poverty student population.