Decatur High School

Q: Is Decatur High School a good school?

Decatur High School ranks 55 th of 458 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Decatur High School is a public high school located in Decatur, Georgia, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,853 students. The school is part of the City Schools of Decatur district and has consistently ranked among the top high schools in Georgia.

Decatur High School stands out for its exceptional performance, with a four-year graduation rate ranging from 94.9% to 96.7% over the past 5 years, significantly higher than the state average and the graduation rates of nearby DeKalb County schools. The school's students also consistently outperform the state and district averages on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Course assessments, with proficiency rates in subjects like American Literature and Composition, Algebra I, Biology, and United States History that are significantly higher than the state and district averages. Additionally, Decatur High School has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 9.55% to 12.41% over the past 3 years, much lower than the nearby DeKalb County schools, several of which have 100% of their students on free or reduced-price lunch.

The data analysis suggests that Decatur High School's strong performance may be attributed to its higher spending per student, ranging from $12,025 to $12,739, and its lower student-teacher ratio, ranging from 14.6 to 15.0 over the past 3 years, both of which are better than the nearby DeKalb County schools. However, the significant differences in performance between Decatur High School and the nearby DeKalb County schools, many of which have high percentages of students on free or reduced-price lunch, raise concerns about educational equity and the potential impact of socioeconomic factors on student outcomes.

Detail:

Public 9-12

310 N McDonough St
Decatur, GA 30030

(404) 370-4420

District: City Schools of Decatur

SchoolDigger Rank:
55^th of 458 Georgia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,629

Feeder schools for Decatur High School:

Elementary:	Clairemont Elementary School
	Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School
	Glennwood Elementary School
	Oakhurst Elementary School
	More...
	Talley Street Upper Elementary School
	Westchester Elementary School
	Winnona Park Elementary School
Middle:	Beacon Hill Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.0

Number of students: 1,853

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.2%

African American:

23.5%

Two or more races:

7.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 12.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Decatur High School ranks better than 88% of high schools in Georgia. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 78.29. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Decatur High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Student Body

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Decatur High School is $12,629.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Decatur High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Decatur High School 55^th of 458 Georgia public high schools. (See Decatur High School in the ranking list.)

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Rank History for Decatur High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	GA State Percentile
2006	67.79	78^th	335	76.7%
2007	73.00	63^rd	358	82.4%
2008	71.17	84^th	370	77.3%
2009	72.01	80^th	372	78.5%
2010	77.04	63^rd	384	83.6%
2011	79.32	51^st	402	87.3%
2012	79.68	46^th	396	88.4%
2013	81.83	35^th	425	91.8%
2014	79.79	32^nd	425	92.5%
2015	85.28	21^st	435	95.2%
2016	88.00	16^th	426	96.2%
2017	83.39	29^th	420	93.1%
2018	83.15	32^nd	428	92.5%
2019	83.04	34^th	438	92.2%
2021	76.09	42^nd	410	89.8%
2022	77.31	53^rd	429	87.6%
2023	76.26	56^th	442	87.3%
2024	78.29	55^th	458	88.0%

See the entire list of Georgia High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Georgia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Decatur High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	439	439
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	427	427
1992	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	472	472
1993	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	480	480
1994	157	357	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	517
1995	192	395	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	592
1996	192	395	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	592
1997	257	393	8	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	660
1998	318	439	7	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	764
1999	323	412	16	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	755
2000	341	363	9	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	719
2001	318	359	8	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	692
2002	336	388	4	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	731
2003	336	388	4	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	731
2004	354	413	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	772
2005	360	426	3	7	1	n/a	n/a	16	813
2006	368	403	6	9	1	n/a	n/a	17	804
2007	363	371	6	12	3	n/a	n/a	17	772
2008	355	366	13	11	4	n/a	n/a	27	776
2009	348	353	18	11	3	n/a	n/a	24	757
2010	355	335	10	13	1	4	25	0	743
2011	389	311	9	17	0	3	29	0	758
2012	437	313	16	26	1	3	28	0	824
2013	483	350	21	33	1	3	34	0	925
2014	544	342	21	35	2	2	44	0	990
2015	578	380	19	41	4	1	50	0	1073
2016	638	396	20	47	3	1	53	0	1158
2017	705	386	28	57	5	1	62	0	1244
2018	762	407	37	61	2	1	69	0	1339
2019	860	380	52	82	2	3	77	0	1456
2020	927	385	51	90	2	5	97	0	1557
2021	1007	391	59	112	2	5	110	0	1686
2022	1026	384	59	126	4	4	129	0	1732
2023	1079	435	65	123	5	2	144	0	1853

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Decatur High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	439	44.0	9.9	35.5
1991	427	42.0	10.1	35.4
1992	472	41.0	11.5	39.4
1993	480	38.0	12.6	35.2
1994	517	44.6	11.6	49.3
1995	592	44.5	13.3	44.3
1996	592	44.5	13.3	44.3
1997	660	42.1	15.7	43.9
1998	764	42.3	18.1	41
1999	755	47.9	15.8	35.4
2000	719	52.0	13.8	23.4
2001	692	51.5	13.4	26.4
2002	731	52.6	13.9	29.7
2003	731	52.6	13.9	29.7
2004	772	51.9	14.9	33.2
2005	813	55.9	14.5	31.5
2006	804	56.1	14.3	30.1
2007	772	59.0	13.1	29.3
2008	776	54.7	14.2	28.6
2009	757	56.5	13.4	31.4
2010	743	56.0	13.2	28
2011	758	57.3	13.2	25.6
2012	824	59.5	13.8	25.5
2013	925	67.6	13.6	25.7
2014	990	71.7	13.8	20.6
2015	1073	79.0	13.5	21.5
2016	1158	83.0	13.9	17.8
2017	1244	86.4	14.3	16.2
2018	1339	97.0	13.8	17.4
2019	1456	99.8	14.5	12.7
2020	1557	110.5	14.0	12.5
2021	1686	113.5	14.8	9.5
2022	1732	118.5	14.6	n/a
2023	1853	123.1	15.0	12.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Decatur High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	439	44.0	9.9	35.5
1991	427	42.0	10.1	35.4
1992	472	41.0	11.5	39.4
1993	480	38.0	12.6	35.2
1994	517	44.6	11.6	49.3
1995	592	44.5	13.3	44.3
1996	592	44.5	13.3	44.3
1997	660	42.1	15.7	43.9
1998	764	42.3	18.1	41
1999	755	47.9	15.8	35.4
2000	719	52.0	13.8	23.4
2001	692	51.5	13.4	26.4
2002	731	52.6	13.9	29.7
2003	731	52.6	13.9	29.7
2004	772	51.9	14.9	33.2
2005	813	55.9	14.5	31.5
2006	804	56.1	14.3	30.1
2007	772	59.0	13.1	29.3
2008	776	54.7	14.2	28.6
2009	757	56.5	13.4	31.4
2010	743	56.0	13.2	28
2011	758	57.3	13.2	25.6
2012	824	59.5	13.8	25.5
2013	925	67.6	13.6	25.7
2014	990	71.7	13.8	20.6
2015	1073	79.0	13.5	21.5
2016	1158	83.0	13.9	17.8
2017	1244	86.4	14.3	16.2
2018	1339	97.0	13.8	17.4
2019	1456	99.8	14.5	12.7
2020	1557	110.5	14.0	12.5
2021	1686	113.5	14.8	9.5
2022	1732	118.5	14.6	n/a
2023	1853	123.1	15.0	12.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Decatur High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$470 (3.9%)	$11,555 (96.1%)	$12,025
2018	$459 (3.6%)	$12,280 (96.4%)	$12,739
2019	$472 (3.7%)	$12,157 (96.3%)	$12,629

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Decatur High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 34^th of 438 High schools	Ranks 56^th of 442 High schools	4.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Decatur High School)	69.6	61.6	8%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (City Schools of Decatur)	69.6	61.6	8%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Georgia)	47.3	38.9	8.4%
End of Course Algebra I (Decatur High School)	56.4	50.7	5.7%
End of Course Algebra I (City Schools of Decatur)	63.2	57.9	5.3%
End of Course Algebra I (Georgia)	41.1	35.8	5.3%
End of Course Biology (Decatur High School)	81.2	76.4	4.8%
End of Course Biology (City Schools of Decatur)	81.2	76.4	4.8%
End of Course Biology (Georgia)	49	45.5	3.5%
End of Course United States History (Decatur High School)	72.4	33.8	38.6%
End of Course United States History (City Schools of Decatur)	72.4	33.8	38.6%
End of Course United States History (Georgia)	48.3	37.1	11.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1456	1853	27.3%
African American	380	435	14.5%
American Indian	2	5	150%
Asian	52	65	25%
Hispanic	82	123	50%
Pacific Islander	3	2	33.3%
White	860	1079	25.5%
Two or More Races	77	144	87%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	12.7%	12.4%	0.3%

Schools Near Decatur High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Milestones Assessment American Literature and Composition (2024)	Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2024)	Milestones Assessment Biology (2024)	Milestones Assessment United States History (2024)	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2024)			Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2024)			Milestones Assessment Science (2024)	Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment American Literature and Composition End of Course	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Biology End of Course	Milestones Assessment United States History End of Course	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Decatur High School	Public	9-12	310 N McDonough St	Decatur	30030	DeKalb County	City Schools of Decatur	No	No	No	No	(404) 370-4420	1,853	123	15.0	12.4%	1,079 (58.2%)	435 (23.5%)	123 (6.6%)	65 (3.5%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	144 (7.8%)	78.3	55^th of 458 public high schools	88.0%		76.3	56^th of 442 public high schools	87.3%	1	69.3	57.8	73.4	37.2									$12,629	$472	$12,157
Druid Hills High School	Public	9-12	1798 Haygood Dr NE	Atlanta	30307	Fulton County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-6302	1,358	89	15.3	37.0%	427 (31.4%)	571 (42.0%)	194 (14.3%)	115 (8.5%)	4 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	44 (3.2%)	50.6	182^nd of 458 public high schools	60.3%		59.2	124^th of 442 public high schools	71.9%	58	46.3	16.3	57.3	32.6									$11,109	$546	$10,563
DeKalb School of the Arts	Public	8-12	1192 Clarendon Ave	Avondale Estates	30002	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	No	(678) 676-2502	302	21	14.3	20.9%	96 (31.8%)	171 (56.6%)	14 (4.6%)	10 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.3%)	83.7	40^th of 458 public high schools	91.3%		82.9	35^th of 442 public high schools	92.1%	5	86.3	49.2	65.6	82.5									$12,327	$636	$11,691
Charles Drew Charter Ja/Senior Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	300 E Lake Blvd SE	Atlanta	30317	DeKalb County	Atlanta Public Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(404) 687-0001	925	80	11.6	40.0%	158 (17.1%)	694 (75.0%)	28 (3.0%)	9 (1.0%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	30 (3.2%)	63.5	115^th of 458 public high schools	74.9%		59.8	120^th of 442 public high schools	72.9%	5	51.3	63.1	47.1	38.4	60.4	57.5	61.2	51.0	58.2	63.3	15.6	42.4	$16,471	$572	$15,899
Clarkston High School	Public	9-12	618 N Indian Creek Dr	Clarkston	30021	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-5302	1,413	92	15.3	100.0%	84 (5.9%)	818 (57.9%)	83 (5.9%)	395 (28.0%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	25 (1.8%)	16.5	388^th of 458 public high schools	15.3%		20	345^th of 442 public high schools	21.9%	43	18.5	18.8	14.4	21.4									$12,511	$873	$11,638
Towers High School	Public	9-12	3919 Brookcrest Cir	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-2202	764	49	15.5	100.0%	17 (2.2%)	626 (81.9%)	76 (9.9%)	25 (3.3%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	15 (2.0%)	11.5	414^th of 458 public high schools	9.6%		11.8	402^nd of 442 public high schools	9.0%	12	12.8	9.0	18.0	13.6									$12,581	$935	$11,646
Columbia High School	Public	9-12	2106 Columbia Dr	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-0802	898	59	15.2	100.0%	10 (1.1%)	837 (93.2%)	35 (3.9%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	8 (0.9%)	14.7	398^th of 458 public high schools	13.1%		18.3	357^th of 442 public high schools	19.2%	41	15.3	17.3	18.5	18.1									$12,785	$1,091	$11,695
Maynard Jackson High School	Public	9-12	801 Glenwood Ave SE	Atlanta	30316	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-5200	1,474	107	13.8	43.6%	240 (16.3%)	1,080 (73.3%)	109 (7.4%)	6 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	35 (2.4%)	39.6	245^th of 458 public high schools	46.5%		27.8	297^th of 442 public high schools	32.8%	52	37.8	31.0	41.8	10.8									$13,942	$846	$13,096
Midtown High School	Public	9-12	929 Charles Allen Dr NE	Atlanta	30309	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(404) 802-3001	1,602	103	15.5	18.9%	768 (47.9%)	554 (34.6%)	137 (8.6%)	42 (2.6%)	10 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (5.7%)	76.4	60^th of 458 public high schools	86.9%		75.8	57^th of 442 public high schools	87.1%	3	63.3	57.1	60.5	43.4									$13,769	$621	$13,148
McNair High School	Public	9-12	1804 Bouldercrest Rd SE	Atlanta	30316	Fulton County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-4902	768	45	17.0	100.0%	5 (0.7%)	726 (94.5%)	23 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.0%)	13.1	405^th of 458 public high schools	11.6%		11.6	403^rd of 442 public high schools	8.8%	2	17.6	4.2	23.5	10.1									$13,999	$1,102	$12,897

Frequently Asked Questions about Decatur High School

How many students attend Decatur High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,853 students attended Decatur High School.

What schools feed into Decatur High School?

Decatur High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Clairemont Elementary School
Elementary : Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School
Elementary : Glennwood Elementary School
Elementary : Oakhurst Elementary School
Elementary : Talley Street Upper Elementary School
Elementary : Westchester Elementary School
Elementary : Winnona Park Elementary School
Middle : Beacon Hill Middle School

Is Decatur High School a good school?

Decatur High School ranks 55^th of 458 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Decatur High School?

Students at Decatur High School are 58% White, 23% African American, 8% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 4% Asian.

What district is Decatur High School in?

City Schools of Decatur

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.