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Benjamin E. Mays High School

Q: Is Benjamin E. Mays High School a good school?

Benjamin E. Mays High School ranks 329 th of 452 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

329^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 452 Georgia High Schools

Better than 27% of Georgia high schools

Summary

Benjamin E. Mays High School is a public high school in Atlanta, Georgia, serving 1,363 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Atlanta Public Schools district, which is ranked 139 out of 206 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Over the past 10 years, Benjamin E. Mays High School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Georgia high schools, with a ranking between 328 and 399 out of 420-458 schools. The school's 4-year graduation rates have ranged from 84.4% to 88.4% in recent years, slightly below the state average of around 90%. On the Georgia Milestones assessments, the school's performance is significantly below state and district averages across all subject areas, with only 21.3% of students proficient or better in American Literature and Composition, compared to 32.2% for Atlanta Public Schools and 40.4% statewide.

When compared to other high schools in the Atlanta area, such as Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy, Benjamin E. Mays High School generally performs worse on key metrics like test scores and graduation rates. The school also faces significant challenges, with a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 82.61% to 100% over the past few years. Despite the relatively high per-student spending at the school, the academic outcomes remain poor, raising questions about the effective use of resources and the need for targeted interventions to improve student learning.

1,338

Students ?

11.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,366

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3450 Benjamin E Mays Dr SW
Atlanta, GA 30331

(404) 802-5100

District: Atlanta Public Schools

Feeder schools for Benjamin E. Mays High School:

Elementary:	Beecher Hills Elementary School
	Cascade Elementary School
	Miles Elementary School
	Peyton Forest Elementary School
	More...
	West Manor Elementary School
Middle:	Jean Childs Young Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

90.7%

Hispanic:

7.8%

Two or more races:

1.0%

See top rated Georgia high schools

Compare Benjamin E. Mays High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 25th percentile in 2015 → 27th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (24% vs 42% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (54% vs 20% Georgia)

!Algebra I scores 27 pts below the Georgia average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school24%

District avg32%

Georgia avg42%

329^th of 452

Georgia public high schools ?

Bottom 27%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Georgia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 15High Schools in the Atlanta Public Schools

139^th of 206Atlanta Public Schools among Georgia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2025	25.1	329 of 452	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	370 of 458	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	399 of 442	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.1	395 of 429	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.5	339 of 410	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.2	390 of 438	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.3	381 of 428	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	15.4	360 of 420	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	20.8	341 of 426	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	25.3	328 of 435	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.1	363 of 425	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	25.2	353 of 425	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.5	296 of 396	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	36.4	295 of 402	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	43.3	240 of 384	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	40.5	257 of 372	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.2	251 of 370	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.2	211 of 358	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	44.4	206 of 335	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Georgia (2024-2025) ?

United States History34%-4 vs state

Biology25%-19 vs state

American Literature and Composition21%-19 vs state

Algebra I18%-27 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Such an awful school. terrible teachers, terrible students that are just out of hand and terrible environment in a whole, period. And im not very sure how mays was in the past, but i know its present and definite future is tragic. Very glad i pulled my son out of it. My son was in BEA and was very focused on his work (during this time he was in the 9th grade).

i constantly (about 2 times every 2 weeks going at the school for meetings and/or just online emailing the school to stay caught up with my son) talked and talked and pulled all my attention on this school for my son. His grades were succeeding and everything was going fine with his school work. And you see, thats the thing.

HIS grades were fine, HIS mind was set and his want to be a good student was key. But NOT THE SCHOOL!!!! This school is VERY unfit for a learning habitat. My son could hardly focus on his work with all of the chaos. From his words "I basically had to FORCE teachers to teach" which was what he told me one day after school. And him pushing through to still succeed was a struggle. and not a good one.

There are some amount of cases of this school within news reports, using gang signs, kids bringing in guns, teachers punching students and one of the teachers having an affair with a middle school principal who sold or did some type of drugs with her.

I think almost everyday my child came back from mays, there was always a story about somebody fighting or somebody getting into a "big argument". And dont even get me started with the teachers/staff members. SUCH bad and unwelcoming attitudes. As if they dont even want you to be there. And it is so easily read within their facial expressions and body energy. Giving themselves and the school such a bad name.

Please do better mays. Become more organized and more well constructed because if not, one day this school just migght be shut down for its messups. Thank you. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, November 29, 2013

Great legacy. Dedicated and nurturing staff. Focus on career and college. Beautiful school. I am happy with the instruction, staff and students. Close Quote

Schools Near Benjamin E. Mays High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Milestones Assessment American Literature and Composition (2025)	Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2025)	Milestones Assessment Biology (2025)	Milestones Assessment United States History (2025)	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2025)			Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2025)			Milestones Assessment Science (2025)	Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Benjamin E. Mays High School	Public	9-12	3450 Benjamin E Mays Dr SW	Atlanta	30331	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-5100	1,338	112	11.9	100.0%	1 (0.1%)	1,214 (90.7%)	105 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	14 (1.0%)	25.1	329^th of 452 public high schools	27.2%		18.5	370^th of 458 public high schools	19.2%	41	21.3	17.7	24.8	34.4									$26,366	$1,747	$24,619
D. M. Therrell High School	Public	9-12	3099 Panther Trl SW	Atlanta	30311	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-5300	964	68	14.0	100.0%	2 (0.2%)	910 (94.4%)	36 (3.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	10 (1.0%)	14.8	392^nd of 452 public high schools	13.3%		10.7	418^th of 458 public high schools	8.7%	26	19.2	18.2	15.1	18.3									$27,908	$1,395	$26,513
Frederick Douglass High School	Public	9-12	225 Hamilton E Holmes Dr NW	Atlanta	30318	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-3100	1,296	87	14.9	100.0%	1 (0.1%)	1,165 (89.9%)	103 (7.9%)	3 (0.2%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (1.5%)	20	356^th of 452 public high schools	21.2%		13.9	402^nd of 458 public high schools	12.2%	46	11.0	18.2	30.7	24.5									$27,423	$2,113	$25,310
Kipp Atlanta Collegiate Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	98 Anderson Ave NW	Atlanta	30314	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(404) 326-4858	874	70	12.5	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	856 (97.9%)	9 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	7 (0.8%)	21.2	352^nd of 452 public high schools	22.1%		14.9	397^th of 458 public high schools	13.3%	45	32.0	17.3	20.5	17.7									$20,374	$980	$19,393
B.E.S.T Academy	Public	6-12	1190 Northwest Dr NW	Atlanta	30318	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-4950	268	34	7.8	96.6%	1 (0.4%)	249 (92.9%)	14 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	32.8	281^st of 452 public high schools	37.8%		13.1	406^th of 458 public high schools	11.4%	125	24.1	30.4	23.4	63.6	27.0	25.0	21.7	27.0	25.0	39.1	21.1	21.7	$43,336	$2,621	$40,715
Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy	Public	6-12	1190 Northwest Dr NW	Atlanta	30318	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-4900	377	48	7.9	97.9%	1 (0.3%)	353 (93.6%)	15 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.1%)	44.8	200^th of 452 public high schools	55.8%		47.9	199^th of 458 public high schools	56.6%	1	24.0	34.9	46.8	48.8	47.6	26.6	34.7	14.3	14.1	26.5	24.5	14.3	$37,604	$1,644	$35,959
Booker T. Washington High School	Public	9-12	45 Whitehouse Dr SW	Atlanta	30314	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-4600	856	71	12.0	100.0%	5 (0.6%)	811 (94.7%)	21 (2.5%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (1.8%)	16.7	377^th of 452 public high schools	16.6%		9.5	422^nd of 458 public high schools	7.9%	45	13.9	17.1	17.0	27.2									$28,684	$1,941	$26,742
Tri-Cities High School	Public	9-12	2575 Harris St	East Point	30344	Fulton County	Fulton County	No	No	No	Yes	(470) 254-8200	1,748	114	15.3	100.0%	13 (0.7%)	1,189 (68.0%)	507 (29.0%)	6 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (1.7%)	16.5	378^th of 452 public high schools	16.4%		17.3	380^th of 458 public high schools	17.0%	2	20.4	20.7	23.2	9.0									$17,308	$1,189	$16,119
Westlake High School	Public	9-12	2400 Union Rd SW	Atlanta	30331	Fulton County	Fulton County	No	No	No	No	(470) 254-6400	2,056	114	18.0	48.8%	5 (0.2%)	1,920 (93.4%)	69 (3.4%)	8 (0.4%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.1%)	47 (2.3%)	50.2	167^th of 452 public high schools	63.1%		52.8	167^th of 458 public high schools	63.5%		41.3	50.5	40.1	33.8									$16,241	$543	$15,698
Promise Career Institute School	Public	9-12	3605 Main Street	College Park	30337	Fulton County	Fulton County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(470) 254-8043	247	23	10.6	76.9%	1 (0.4%)	218 (88.3%)	20 (8.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.0%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Benjamin E. Mays High School

How many students attend Benjamin E. Mays High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,338 students attended Benjamin E. Mays High School.

What district is Benjamin E. Mays High School in?

Atlanta Public Schools

What schools feed into Benjamin E. Mays High School?

Benjamin E. Mays High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Beecher Hills Elementary School
Elementary : Cascade Elementary School
Elementary : Miles Elementary School
Elementary : Peyton Forest Elementary School
Elementary : West Manor Elementary School
Middle : Jean Childs Young Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Benjamin E. Mays High School?

Students at Benjamin E. Mays High School are 91% African American, 8% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

Is Benjamin E. Mays High School a good school?

Benjamin E. Mays High School ranks 329^th of 452 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate Benjamin E. Mays 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.