Martin Luther King- Junior High School

Summary:

Martin Luther King- Junior High School is a public high school in Lithonia, Georgia, serving 1,440 students in grades 9-12 as part of the DeKalb County School District.

Despite being part of a district that includes some higher-performing schools, Martin Luther King- Junior High School has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Georgia high schools, maintaining a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's four-year graduation rate, ranging from 74.6% to 77.1% over the past 5 years, is significantly lower than the state average of around 83-84%. Proficiency rates on the Georgia Milestones assessments are also consistently well below state and county averages across all subject areas, with the school's highest proficiency rate being just 21.7% in US History, compared to the state average of 44.7%. Additionally, the school has a high student-teacher ratio, ranging from 15.8 to 19.4 over the past 3 years, and 100% of its students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating extremely high levels of poverty among the student population.

While nearby schools like Arabia Mountain High School and Southwest DeKalb High School perform significantly better than Martin Luther King- Junior High School on key metrics, the school's struggles have persisted despite increased per-student spending, from $8,589 in 2016-17 to $10,539 in 2018-19. Addressing the underlying factors contributing to this school's chronic underperformance will be crucial for improving educational opportunities for its students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

3991 Snapfinger Rd
Lithonia, GA 30038

(678) 874-5402

District: DeKalb County

SchoolDigger Rank:
403^rd of 458 Georgia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,539

Feeder schools for Martin Luther King- Junior High School:

Elementary:	Browns Mill Elementary School
	Chapel Hill Elementary School
Middle:	Salem Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 19.4

Number of students: 1,440

Racial breakdown:

African American:

93.1%

Hispanic:

3.7%

Two or more races:

2.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Martin Luther King- Junior High School ranks worse than 88% of high schools in Georgia. It also ranks 19^th among 23 ranked high schools in the DeKalb County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.6. (See more...)

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

Student Body

Compare Details Martin Luther King- Junior High School has the largest high school student body size in the DeKalb County School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Martin Luther King- Junior High School is $10,539. 20 high schools in the DeKalb County School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Martin Luther King- Junior High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Martin Luther King- Junior High School 403^rd of 458 Georgia public high schools. (See Martin Luther King- Junior High School in the ranking list.)

DeKalb County:

SchoolDigger ranks DeKalb County 138^th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Martin Luther King- Junior High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	GA State Percentile
2006	27.81	276^th	335	17.6%
2007	30.85	286^th	358	20.1%
2008	28.00	302^nd	370	18.4%
2009	34.18	283^rd	372	23.9%
2010	29.80	310^th	384	19.3%
2011	44.46	255^th	402	36.6%
2012	35.70	281^st	396	29.0%
2013	32.51	317^th	425	25.4%
2014	27.69	346^th	425	18.6%
2015	16.96	376^th	435	13.6%
2016	19.09	348^th	426	18.3%
2017	22.21	326^th	420	22.4%
2018	21.22	339^th	428	20.8%
2019	20.42	345^th	438	21.2%
2021	20.45	327^th	410	20.2%
2022	14.39	373^rd	429	13.1%
2023	15.86	375^th	442	15.2%
2024	13.60	403^rd	458	12.0%

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: 3)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Sunday, July 31, 2011

I hesitantly give MLK three stars. As a parent, I think that the teachers and administrators are there to "do a job" more so than focus on connecting with parents and students. Just a parent's intuition. The school is not that old so the facilities appear to be well maintained. I think some kids may really like the school if they get involved in extracurricular activities. I guesstimate there are 2100 kids enrolled. Perhaps, I simply long for the days of old when you didn't hear all the profanity that can be heard when kids are changing classes or when school is dismissed. And my son has had to deal with some minor cases of bullying, though I suppose that could happen at any school. What bothers me most is the time it takes to connect with teachers. I have had a horrible time reaching my son's teachers. It can take a week just to get a return phone call. I know that's not every teacher, but that has been my experience for the last two years at MLK. I don't blast the whole school because I have to balance it with my own personal experience. I can say that I have overheard the frustrations of several other parents in PTA meetings and the like. I hope others who send their children there will have a better experience. I have applied to transfer my son to a nearby school in order to be in a somewhat smaller setting. School is not to blame for all the problems our students incur. Nor is transferring schools always "the answer" but it may be what's right for my son at this point in his school career. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Martin Luther King- Junior High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2002	9	1564	8	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	1586
2003	9	1564	8	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	1586
2004	10	1647	7	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	1669
2005	4	1955	4	6	0	n/a	n/a	23	1992
2006	4	2135	3	12	0	n/a	n/a	21	2175
2007	3	2158	3	12	2	n/a	n/a	28	2206
2008	3	2103	4	14	1	n/a	n/a	30	2155
2009	2	1996	5	6	1	n/a	n/a	24	2034
2010	1	1826	0	2	0	0	4	0	1833
2011	0	1614	3	18	3	0	21	0	1659
2012	1	1468	0	18	5	0	18	0	1510
2013	1	1603	2	31	8	1	23	0	1669
2014	2	1512	2	29	6	1	19	0	1571
2015	6	1617	1	24	6	1	13	0	1668
2016	4	1604	0	29	4	2	12	0	1655
2017	7	1556	1	20	1	1	13	0	1599
2018	8	1489	3	23	3	0	18	0	1544
2019	4	1466	2	33	3	1	23	0	1532
2020	13	1360	2	35	1	1	23	0	1435
2021	17	1307	1	46	0	1	19	0	1391
2022	15	1377	2	53	1	0	24	0	1472
2023	12	1340	1	53	5	0	29	0	1440

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 Martin Luther King- Junior High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	1586	80.8	19.6	42.5
2003	1586	80.8	19.6	42.5
2004	1669	85.6	19.5	44.2
2005	1992	97.4	20.5	44.8
2006	2175	119.1	18.3	52.1
2007	2206	122.5	18.0	54.5
2008	2155	116.5	18.5	62.2
2009	2034	115.5	17.6	63
2010	1833	117.5	15.6	64.1
2011	1659	113.5	14.6	66.8
2012	1510	100.0	15.1	71.5
2013	1669	95.0	17.5	69.9
2014	1571	98.5	15.9	73.2
2015	1668	93.0	17.9	72.8
2016	1655	95.0	17.4	69.9
2017	1599	91.0	17.5	65.6
2018	1544	96.0	16.0	73.1
2019	1532	91.0	16.8	75.6
2020	1435	86.0	16.6	76.4
2021	1391	88.0	15.8	66.4
2022	1472	83.0	17.7	n/a
2023	1440	74.1	19.4	100

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 Martin Luther King- Junior High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	1586	80.8	19.6	42.5
2003	1586	80.8	19.6	42.5
2004	1669	85.6	19.5	44.2
2005	1992	97.4	20.5	44.8
2006	2175	119.1	18.3	52.1
2007	2206	122.5	18.0	54.5
2008	2155	116.5	18.5	62.2
2009	2034	115.5	17.6	63
2010	1833	117.5	15.6	64.1
2011	1659	113.5	14.6	66.8
2012	1510	100.0	15.1	71.5
2013	1669	95.0	17.5	69.9
2014	1571	98.5	15.9	73.2
2015	1668	93.0	17.9	72.8
2016	1655	95.0	17.4	69.9
2017	1599	91.0	17.5	65.6
2018	1544	96.0	16.0	73.1
2019	1532	91.0	16.8	75.6
2020	1435	86.0	16.6	76.4
2021	1391	88.0	15.8	66.4
2022	1472	83.0	17.7	n/a
2023	1440	74.1	19.4	100

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 Martin Luther King- Junior High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$559 (6.5%)	$8,031 (93.5%)	$8,589
2018	$561 (5.9%)	$8,932 (94.1%)	$9,494
2019	$758 (7.2%)	$9,781 (92.8%)	$10,539

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Martin Luther King- Junior 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 345^th of 438 High schools	Ranks 375^th of 442 High schools	6.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Martin Luther King- Junior High School)	17.9	20.9	3%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (DeKalb County)	40.6	30.9	9.7%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Georgia)	47.3	38.9	8.4%
End of Course Coordinate Algebra (Martin Luther King- Junior High School)	5.7	5.7
End of Course Coordinate Algebra (DeKalb County)	26.6	21.9	4.7%
End of Course Coordinate Algebra (Georgia)	33.7	26.4	7.3%
End of Course Biology (Martin Luther King- Junior High School)	32.3	18	14.3%
End of Course Biology (DeKalb County)	38.6	32.6	6%
End of Course Biology (Georgia)	49	45.5	3.5%
End of Course United States History (Martin Luther King- Junior High School)	30.9	11	19.9%
End of Course United States History (DeKalb County)	46.5	27	19.5%
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	1532	1440	6%
African American	1466	1340	8.6%
American Indian	3	5	66.7%
Asian	2	1	50%
Hispanic	33	53	60.6%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	4	12	200%
Two or More Races	23	29	26.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	75.6%	100%	24.4%

Schools Near Martin Luther King- Junior 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)	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 Mathematics 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Martin Luther King- Junior High School	Public	9-12	3991 Snapfinger Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-5402	1,440	74	19.4	100.0%	12 (0.8%)	1,340 (93.1%)	53 (3.7%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (2.0%)	13.6	403^rd of 458 public high schools	12.0%		15.9	375^th of 442 public high schools	15.2%	28	17.6	3.1	14.4	21.7			$10,539	$758	$9,781
Southwest DeKalb High School	Public	9-12	2863 Kelley Chapel Rd	Decatur	30034	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-1902	1,307	79	16.4	100.0%	4 (0.3%)	1,231 (94.2%)	46 (3.5%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (1.5%)	34.9	271^st of 458 public high schools	40.8%		35	260^th of 442 public high schools	41.2%	11	31.2	26.5	31.1	38.0			$11,703	$767	$10,936
The Anchor School	Public, Charter	6-12	2460 Wesley Chapel Road	Decatur	30035	DeKalb County	State Specialty Schools II- The Anchor School	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(404) 909-4555	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)					29.9	5.2
Arabia Mountain High School - Academy of Engineering- Medic	Public	9-12	6610 Browns Mill Rd	Lithonia	30038	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 875-3602	1,184	67	17.8	56.8%	1 (0.1%)	1,116 (94.3%)	40 (3.4%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.3%)	18 (1.5%)	50.4	184^th of 458 public high schools	59.8%		57.8	131^st of 442 public high schools	70.4%	53	64.9	31.0	43.1	25.4			$10,937	$680	$10,258
Miller Grove High School	Public	9-12	2645 Dekalb Medical Pkwy	Lithonia	30058	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 875-1102	1,188	74	16.0	100.0%	3 (0.3%)	1,105 (93.0%)	50 (4.2%)	3 (0.3%)	6 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	20 (1.7%)	20.1	360^th of 458 public high schools	21.4%		22	330^th of 442 public high schools	25.3%	30	27.9	14.6	18.4	24.0			$11,240	$648	$10,592
DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center	Public	5-12	2946 Clifton Springs Rd	Decatur	30034	DeKalb County	Department of Juvenile Justice	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 244-2183	7				0 (0.0%)	4 (57.1%)	3 (42.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
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
Cedar Grove High School	Public	9-12	2360 River Rd	Ellenwood	30294	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-4002	1,123	70	16.1	100.0%	7 (0.6%)	1,030 (91.7%)	58 (5.2%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (2.0%)	11.3	415^th of 458 public high schools	9.4%		16	374^th of 442 public high schools	15.4%	41	17.2	15.7	9.7	10.3			$11,139	$720	$10,419
Lithonia High School	Public	9-12	2440 Phillips Rd	Lithonia	30058	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-2902	1,483	83	17.8	100.0%	6 (0.4%)	1,361 (91.8%)	79 (5.3%)	4 (0.3%)	9 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (1.6%)	23.2	336^th of 458 public high schools	26.6%		22.9	325^th of 442 public high schools	26.5%	11	22.0	7.0	22.2	37.2			$11,301	$737	$10,564
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Martin Luther King- Junior High School

Is Martin Luther King- Junior High School a good school?

Martin Luther King- Junior High School ranks in the bottom 12.0% of Georgia high schools.

What schools feed into Martin Luther King- Junior High School?

Martin Luther King- Junior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Browns Mill Elementary School
Elementary : Chapel Hill Elementary School
Middle : Salem Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Martin Luther King- Junior High School?

Students at Martin Luther King- Junior High School are 93% African American, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Martin Luther King- Junior High School in?

DeKalb County

How many students attend Martin Luther King- Junior High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,440 students attended Martin Luther King- Junior High School.

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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.