Career Academies of Decatur

Career Academies of Decatur is a small high school in Decatur, Alabama, serving 269 students in grades 9-12 within the Decatur City school district. The school stands out for its remarkably low student-to-teacher ratio of 9.9:1, which is far better than nearby schools like Austin High School (16.3:1), Decatur High School (13.8:1), and Priceville High School (18.7:1). This means students here receive substantially more individualized attention than their peers at surrounding schools.

However, despite the excellent staffing ratio, academic test scores are the lowest among comprehensive high schools in the region. In math, only 10.98% of students are proficient, compared to 22.81% at Decatur High and 23.08% at Austin High. Science proficiency is 12.2%, versus 29.82% at Decatur High and 27.42% at Austin High. English scores are relatively stronger at 20.0%, though still below the district average of 27.04%. The school serves a high-needs population, with 73.2% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch—the highest percentage among Decatur City's comprehensive high schools. The contrast with Hartselle High School, just 9.89 miles away, is stark: Hartselle posts math proficiency of 67.56% and ranks 8th in the state, though it serves a much lower percentage of low-income students.

The school's career academy model may explain some of the gap on traditional assessments, as students pursuing workforce pathways may be developing skills not captured by standardized tests. English is a relative strength, suggesting solid literacy instruction. However, special education students rank at just the 7th percentile, representing a significant area of concern. Notably, graduation rates and chronic absenteeism data are not available, making it difficult to fully assess student outcomes. For parents considering this school, the small class sizes and career-focused approach are clear advantages, but the academic performance challenges and missing outcome data warrant careful consideration.