Schools in Decatur, GA

Decatur, Georgia is served by 43 schools spanning pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including 28 elementary, 9 middle, and 6 high schools, split primarily between the high-performing City Schools of Decatur and the larger DeKalb County district, with a few state specialty charters and alternative programs rounding out the mix.

The standout story is Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers, which has ranked #1 in Georgia for three straight years with near-perfect proficiency rates in math, science, and social studies—all while serving a student body where 61% qualify for free/reduced lunch. Its chronic absenteeism rate of just 1.2% is the lowest in the area. Beacon Hill Middle School is another elite option, ranking in the 98th percentile with 95.4% Algebra I proficiency. At the elementary level, Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School leads with 92.5% 4th-grade math proficiency, while Talley Street Upper Elementary School also ranks in the 91st percentile. Decatur High School is on the rise, climbing from the 88th to 93rd percentile in three years with a 96% graduation rate. By contrast, several DeKalb County schools like Peachcrest Elementary School and Snapfinger Elementary School rank in the bottom 1st percentile.

The most powerful predictor of success here is chronic absenteeism: schools below 10% absenteeism consistently rank in the top quartile, while those above 30%—including Towers High School (49.2%) and Columbia High School (48.9%)—almost always land in the bottom quarter. Narvie Harris Elementary School proves poverty isn't destiny, beating state averages in math and science despite 88% free/reduced lunch eligibility. Spending also doesn't guarantee results: Bob Mathis Elementary School spends $57,153 per student yet ranks in the 15th percentile, while Wadsworth achieves #1 on just $17,904. For parents, the district boundary between City Schools of Decatur and DeKalb County matters enormously, as does prioritizing schools with strong attendance cultures.