Discovery High School

Q: Is Discovery High School a good school?

Discovery High School ranks 263 rd of 458 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Discovery High School is a public high school located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,803 students. It is part of the Gwinnett County School District, which is ranked 65 out of 203 districts in Georgia and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Discovery High School serves a diverse student population, it faces several academic challenges. The school has had a four-year graduation rate ranging from 73.5% to 80.8% over the past five years, which is lower than the state and county averages. Additionally, Discovery High School consistently underperforms compared to the Gwinnett County and Georgia state averages on the Milestones Assessments across various subjects, including American Literature, Algebra I, Biology, and United States History. For example, in 2023-2024, only 34.1% of Discovery High School students were proficient or better in American Literature, compared to 46.6% in Gwinnett County and 42% statewide. The school also has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 64.78% to 72.6% over the past three years, which is significantly higher than nearby schools like Brookwood High School (32.31%) and Peachtree Ridge High School (37.39%).

In contrast, some nearby schools, such as Brookwood High School and Peachtree Ridge High School, consistently perform better on state assessments and have higher graduation rates. Additionally, the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, a high-performing magnet school located just 1.48 miles from Discovery High School, ranks 1st out of 458 Georgia high schools and has exceptional test scores, with 98.1% of students proficient or better in American Literature and 99.2% in Biology. This highlights the significant academic disparities within the Gwinnett County school district.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1335 Old Norcross Rd
Lawrenceville, GA 30046

(678) 226-4250

District: Gwinnett County

SchoolDigger Rank:
263^rd of 458 Georgia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,355

Feeder schools for Discovery High School:

Elementary:	Alford Elementary
	Baggett Elementary School
	Benefield Elementary School
	Cedar Hill Elementary School
Middle:	Richards Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.4

Number of students: 2,803

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.8%

African American:

31.4%

Asian:

8.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 72.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Discovery High School ranks worse than 57.4% of high schools in Georgia. It also ranks 16^th among 24 ranked high schools in the Gwinnett County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 35.89. (See more...)

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

Student Body

Compare Details Discovery High School has the largest high school student body size in the Gwinnett County School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Discovery High School is $8,355. 15 high schools in the Gwinnett County School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Discovery High School 263^rd of 458 Georgia public high schools. (See Discovery High School in the ranking list.)

Gwinnett County:

SchoolDigger ranks Gwinnett County 65^th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Discovery High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	GA State Percentile
2018	44.07	194^th	428	54.7%
2019	42.07	208^th	438	52.5%
2021	38.33	223^rd	410	45.6%
2022	50.14	171^st	429	60.1%
2023	41.49	222^nd	442	49.8%
2024	35.89	263^rd	458	42.6%

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:

by a student
Friday, December 6, 2019

i’m not one of the students that hates their school just to fit in, but this school is terrible. i mean, the kids are terrible raised, they stink, like actually smell bad, and it’s had numerous threats in the past few months from students. i mean last year 2 kids were playing with a gun trying to be gangster and killed eachother. everybody there is racist and the statistics speak for themselves. avoid going here if you can, because it’ll be miserable. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Discovery High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2016	139	844	192	888	8	0	56	2127
2017	163	1002	258	1162	10	0	61	2656
2018	152	1014	273	1173	5	1	76	2694
2019	165	995	276	1235	3	1	74	2749
2020	166	938	286	1310	2	6	59	2767
2021	146	915	264	1403	3	5	44	2780
2022	135	964	279	1425	2	4	47	2856
2023	127	880	229	1507	3	5	52	2803

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 Discovery High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	2127	110.0	19.3	74.7
2017	2656	134.5	19.7	75.9
2018	2694	151.0	17.8	74.7
2019	2749	154.0	17.8	72.2
2020	2767	151.5	18.2	69.4
2021	2780	158.2	17.5	64.8
2022	2856	164.4	17.3	n/a
2023	2803	169.9	16.4	72.6

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 Discovery High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	2127	110.0	19.3	74.7
2017	2656	134.5	19.7	75.9
2018	2694	151.0	17.8	74.7
2019	2749	154.0	17.8	72.2
2020	2767	151.5	18.2	69.4
2021	2780	158.2	17.5	64.8
2022	2856	164.4	17.3	n/a
2023	2803	169.9	16.4	72.6

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 Discovery High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$533 (7.2%)	$6,836 (92.8%)	$7,370
2018	$545 (6.8%)	$7,424 (93.2%)	$7,969
2019	$576 (6.9%)	$7,780 (93.1%)	$8,355

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Discovery 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 208^th of 438 High schools	Ranks 222^nd of 442 High schools	2.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Discovery High School)	36.8	26.6	10.2%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Gwinnett County)	53.9	43.1	10.8%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Georgia)	47.3	38.9	8.4%
End of Course Algebra I (Discovery High School)	13.4	16.9	3.5%
End of Course Algebra I (Gwinnett County)	49	45.4	3.6%
End of Course Algebra I (Georgia)	41.1	35.8	5.3%
End of Course Biology (Discovery High School)	39.7	46.4	6.7%
End of Course Biology (Gwinnett County)	55.3	53.5	1.8%
End of Course Biology (Georgia)	49	45.5	3.5%
End of Course United States History (Discovery High School)	48.8	34.2	14.6%
End of Course United States History (Gwinnett County)	57.1	40	17.1%
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	2749	2803	2%
African American	995	880	11.6%
American Indian	3	3
Asian	276	229	17%
Hispanic	1235	1507	22%
Pacific Islander	1	5	400%
White	165	127	23%
Two or More Races	74	52	29.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	72.2%	72.6%	0.4%

Schools Near Discovery 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 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 8th 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
Discovery High School	Public	9-12	1335 Old Norcross Rd	Lawrenceville	30046	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 226-4250	2,803	170	16.4	72.6%	127 (4.5%)	880 (31.4%)	1,507 (53.8%)	229 (8.2%)	3 (0.1%)	5 (0.2%)	52 (1.9%)	35.9	263^rd of 458 public high schools	42.6%		41.5	222^nd of 442 public high schools	49.8%	41	34.1	23.0	35.4	30.3							$8,355	$576	$7,780
Gwinnett School of Mathematics- Science and Technology	Public	9-12	970 Mcelvaney Ln	Lawrenceville	30044	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	No	(678) 518-6700	1,231	75	16.5	31.6%	170 (13.8%)	304 (24.7%)	118 (9.6%)	578 (47.0%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	55 (4.5%)	99.8	1^st of 458 public high schools	99.8%		99.3	1^st of 442 public high schools	99.8%		98.1		99.2	88.9							$9,849	$132	$9,717
Phoenix High School	Public	9-12	501 W Pike St	Lawrenceville	30046	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	No	(770) 513-6862	762	34	22.4	29.4%	41 (5.4%)	226 (29.7%)	454 (59.6%)	23 (3.0%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (1.8%)	23.6	332^nd of 458 public high schools	27.5%		24.4	321^st of 442 public high schools	27.4%	11	24.6		18.1	22.2							$11,949	$179	$11,770
International Transition Center	Public	6-12	1335 Old Norcross Rd	Lawrenceville	30046	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 316-8944	638	45	14.1	87.6%	3 (0.5%)	6 (0.9%)	621 (97.3%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.6	442^nd of 458 public high schools	3.5%					(n/a)		1.1		4.8		0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0	$14,836	$634	$14,202
Central Gwinnett High School	Public	9-12	564 W Crogan St	Lawrenceville	30046	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 963-8041	2,380	158	15.0	65.8%	236 (9.9%)	1,031 (43.3%)	899 (37.8%)	115 (4.8%)	3 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	94 (3.9%)	44	217^th of 458 public high schools	52.6%		37.7	246^th of 442 public high schools	44.3%	29	32.1	43.8	44.7	29.9							$9,211	$686	$8,525
Gwinnett InterVention Education (GIVE) Center East	Public	6-12	723 Hi Hope Rd	Lawrenceville	30043	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 338-4855	226	41	5.5	53.5%	13 (5.8%)	153 (67.7%)	44 (19.5%)	4 (1.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.9%)	7	436^th of 458 public high schools	4.8%		8.3	422^nd of 442 public high schools	4.5%	14	10.1	7.3	5.1	9.1	13.6	16.1	4.8	8.2		6.6	$18,820	$820	$18,000
Collins Hill High School	Public	9-12	50 Taylor Rd	Suwanee	30024	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	No	(770) 682-4100	2,695	153	17.5	45.8%	427 (15.8%)	921 (34.2%)	893 (33.1%)	305 (11.3%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	146 (5.4%)	55.7	152^nd of 458 public high schools	66.8%		58.5	127^th of 442 public high schools	71.3%	25	45.9	37.6	48.1	40.9							$8,238	$309	$7,928
Brookwood High School	Public	9-12	1255 Dogwood Rd	Snellville	30078	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	No	(770) 972-7642	3,878	203	19.0	32.3%	1,026 (26.5%)	1,253 (32.3%)	665 (17.1%)	736 (19.0%)	8 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	189 (4.9%)	80.1	49^th of 458 public high schools	89.3%		79.6	45^th of 442 public high schools	89.8%	4	61.0	47.7	63.2	58.8							$8,107	$277	$7,830
Peachtree Ridge High School	Public	9-12	1555 Old Peachtree Rd NW	Suwanee	30024	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	No	(678) 957-3100	3,300	176	18.7	37.4%	436 (13.2%)	1,031 (31.2%)	813 (24.6%)	885 (26.8%)	3 (0.1%)	3 (0.1%)	129 (3.9%)	67.4	96^th of 458 public high schools	79.0%		70.1	78^th of 442 public high schools	82.4%	18	49.7	41.2	58.3	47.6							$7,854	$255	$7,599
Berkmar High School	Public	9-12	405 Pleasant Hill Rd NW	Lilburn	30047	Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 921-3636	3,029	191	15.8	76.4%	68 (2.2%)	587 (19.4%)	2,133 (70.4%)	202 (6.7%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	35 (1.2%)	23.9	330^th of 458 public high schools	27.9%		25.6	314^th of 442 public high schools	29.0%	16	25.5	27.2	25.6	21.4							$9,496	$758	$8,738

Frequently Asked Questions about Discovery High School

What is the racial makeup of Discovery High School?

Students at Discovery High School are 54% Hispanic, 31% African American, 8% Asian, 5% White, 2% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Discovery High School?

Discovery High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alford Elementary
Elementary : Baggett Elementary School
Elementary : Benefield Elementary School
Elementary : Cedar Hill Elementary School
Middle : Richards Middle School

How many students attend Discovery High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,803 students attended Discovery High School.

What district is Discovery High School in?

Gwinnett County

Is Discovery High School a good school?

Discovery High School ranks 263^rd of 458 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Discovery 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.