Best High Schools in Decatur, AR

Decatur, Arkansas is home to a single high school, Decatur High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 with a total enrollment of 173 students and is part of the Decatur School District, a district ranked 163rd out of 251 in the state.

Decatur High School is a school on a strong upward trajectory, having jumped from the bottom 19th percentile (1 star) in 2023-2024 to the 50th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026—a remarkable improvement of 101 places in state rankings. The school excels in specific subjects, with Geometry proficiency at 29% (beating the state average of 26.4%) and Biology proficiency at 41% (nearly matching the state average of 42.7%). Notably, 10th-grade Biology scores of 44.1% significantly outperform the state average of 35.1%. However, the school struggles in English Language Arts (29.7% vs. 39.4% state average) and Algebra (20.6% vs. 36.9% state average), indicating a need for focused improvement in literacy and foundational math. The school also boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 6.1:1, suggesting a highly personalized learning environment, and spends $15,644 per student.

A key paradox exists: while test scores and rankings are rising rapidly, the graduation rate is alarmingly low at 69.2%, far below the state average of 90.1%. The school serves a 100% free/reduced lunch population, indicating high poverty, and the 4.6% dropout rate contributes to the graduation challenge. The dramatic year-over-year test score gains—such as Biology jumping from 16.3% to 41% and Geometry from 5.2% to 29%—are positive but may reflect small sample sizes. For parents, this is a school showing clear momentum and strength in science and geometry, but with significant work needed to ensure all students graduate and improve literacy and algebra skills.