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Best Elementary Schools in Decatur, GA

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Georgia rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

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Test scores delayed: 2026 rankings for Georgia do not yet include English Language Arts scores, which will not be released by the Georgia Department of Education until winter 2026.

At a glance

Schools

10,849

Students

Districts

5-star schools

Top rankedFifth Avenue Upper Elementary School67^th of 1,219 Georgia elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Kelley Lake Elementary School up 60 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Coralwood Education Center 8.3 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

5★

4★

3★

1★

0★

6 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

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Summary:

Decatur, Georgia is home to 28 elementary schools spanning the City Schools of Decatur, DeKalb County, and two state specialty charter districts, serving grades PK through 5 with a mix of traditional, charter, and specialized programs.

For parents, the standout story is the dramatic difference between the two main districts. Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School and Talley Street Upper Elementary School—both part of City Schools of Decatur’s unique PK-2 then 3-5 split model—are elite performers, ranking in the top 10% of all Georgia elementary schools. Fifth Avenue posts a remarkable 92.5% 4th grade math proficiency, nearly double the state average. Meanwhile, the district’s PK-2 schools like Westchester Elementary School and Winnona Park Elementary School show exceptionally low chronic absenteeism (as low as 2.4%), signaling strong early foundations. In DeKalb County, Laurel Ridge Elementary School and Briarlake Elementary School stand out as bright spots, ranking in the 78th percentile despite serving more economically diverse populations. International Community School also impresses, achieving 62nd percentile ranking with the lowest per-student spending among traditional schools.

The most urgent concern is chronic absenteeism. Kelley Lake Elementary School has a staggering 43% chronic absenteeism rate—2.5 times the state average—and schools like Canby Lane Elementary School (38.4%) and Snapfinger Elementary School (37.2%) follow closely. This pattern strongly correlates with lower test scores, more so than spending levels. For instance, Flat Shoals Elementary School spends $24,890 per student yet ranks in the bottom 5%, while International Community spends far less and outperforms it. Narvie Harris Elementary School offers a hopeful note, showing strong 5th grade math (53%) despite an 88% free/reduced lunch population, though its overall ranking has slipped recently. Charter results are mixed: DeKalb Brilliance Academy shows promise, while PEACE Academy Charter School struggles with 0% 4th grade math proficiency.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2026)						Milestones Assessment Science (2026)		Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2026)	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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th 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
Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School	Public	3-5	101 5th Ave	Decatur	30030	DeKalb County	City Schools of Decatur	No	No	No	No	(404) 370-4460	529	45	11.7	11.3%	366 (69.2%)	62 (11.7%)	26 (4.9%)	31 (5.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (7.9%)	95.3	67^th of 1219 public elementary schools	94.5%		96.4	56^th of 1238 public elementary schools	95.5%	11	81.5	92.5	82.4				64.8			$19,783	$175	$19,608
Clairemont Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	155 Erie Ave	Decatur	30030	DeKalb County	City Schools of Decatur	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 370-4450	162	17	9.8	32.1%	59 (36.4%)	58 (35.8%)	11 (6.8%)	15 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (11.7%)								(n/a)										$30,032	$1,684	$28,348
Winnona Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	510 Avery St	Decatur	30030	DeKalb County	City Schools of Decatur	No	No	No	No	(404) 370-4490	276	21	13.1	8.0%	177 (64.1%)	34 (12.3%)	18 (6.5%)	14 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	32 (11.6%)								(n/a)										$23,902	$258	$23,643
Oakhurst Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	175 Mead Rd	Decatur	30030	DeKalb County	City Schools of Decatur	No	No	No	No	(404) 370-4470	233	22	10.4	11.2%	143 (61.4%)	26 (11.2%)	15 (6.4%)	15 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (14.6%)								(n/a)										$27,844	$119	$27,725
Glennwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	440 E Ponce de Leon Ave	Decatur	30030	DeKalb County	City Schools of Decatur	No	No	No	No	(404) 370-4435	184	19	9.8	21.7%	79 (42.9%)	44 (23.9%)	21 (11.4%)	17 (9.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (12.0%)								(n/a)										$29,488	$500	$28,987
Westchester Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	758 Scott Blvd	Decatur	30030	DeKalb County	City Schools of Decatur	No	No	No	No	(404) 370-4400	174	17	10.3	5.7%	127 (73.0%)	8 (4.6%)	15 (8.6%)	8 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (9.2%)								(n/a)										$30,758	$257	$30,500
Talley Street Upper Elementary School	Public	3-5	2617 Talley St	Decatur	30030	DeKalb County	City Schools of Decatur	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 377-1446	623	51	12.1	21.2%	338 (54.3%)	144 (23.1%)	40 (6.4%)	40 (6.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (9.6%)	92.2	107^th of 1219 public elementary schools	91.2%		94.7	73^rd of 1238 public elementary schools	94.1%	34	74.5	68.7	77.9				71.4			$19,026	$594	$18,432
Coralwood Education Center	Public	PK-K	2477 Coralwood Dr	Decatur	30033	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	No	(678) 874-6002	218	26	8.3	43.6%	90 (41.3%)	55 (25.2%)	27 (12.4%)	26 (11.9%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (7.3%)								(n/a)										$74,148	$10,031	$64,117
Bob Mathis Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3505 Boring Rd	Decatur	30034	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-5802	368	30	12.2	100.0%	3 (0.8%)	313 (85.1%)	29 (7.9%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.9%)	17.6	1038^th of 1219 public elementary schools	14.8%		30.4	829^th of 1238 public elementary schools	33.0%	209	30.8	30.2	17.0				24.6			$57,153	$1,749	$55,405
Columbia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3230 Columbia Woods Dr	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-0702	364	35	10.4	100.0%	6 (1.6%)	324 (89.0%)	16 (4.4%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.8%)	9.2	1163^rd of 1219 public elementary schools	4.6%		10.4	1174^th of 1238 public elementary schools	5.2%	11	18.2	30.6	13.1				6.6			$25,568	$2,002	$23,566
Chapel Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3536 Radcliffe Blvd	Decatur	30034	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-8402	495	38	13.0	100.0%	7 (1.4%)	449 (90.7%)	27 (5.5%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	6.1	1198^th of 1219 public elementary schools	1.7%		16.2	1069^th of 1238 public elementary schools	13.7%	129	16.1	11.3	11.4				14.0			$20,603	$1,760	$18,842
Snapfinger Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1365 Snapfinger Rd	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-1802	356	36	9.8	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	312 (87.6%)	21 (5.9%)	7 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.5%)	4.3	1210^th of 1219 public elementary schools	0.7%		6.9	1212^th of 1238 public elementary schools	2.1%	2	7.8	11.8	11.3				9.7			$24,524	$2,331	$22,192
Rainbow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2801 Kelley Chapel Rd	Decatur	30034	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-1702	337	31	10.8	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	301 (89.3%)	20 (5.9%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.0%)	11.3	1133^rd of 1219 public elementary schools	7.1%		16.2	1071^st of 1238 public elementary schools	13.5%	62	31.0	14.3	17.9				12.5			$22,972	$2,173	$20,799
Laurel Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1215 Balsam Dr	Decatur	30033	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	No	(678) 874-6902	440	36	12.2	39.5%	185 (42.0%)	94 (21.4%)	83 (18.9%)	35 (8.0%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (8.6%)	75.5	266^th of 1219 public elementary schools	78.2%		76.1	265^th of 1238 public elementary schools	78.6%	1	63.4	63.7	49.2				55.4			$21,476	$3,462	$18,014
Kelley Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2590 Kelly Lake Rd	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-4802	302	26	11.6	94.4%	1 (0.3%)	172 (57.0%)	118 (39.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.3%)	17.2	1045^th of 1219 public elementary schools	14.3%		14.4	1105^th of 1238 public elementary schools	10.7%	60	27.0	36.1	21.9				12.5			$23,473	$1,549	$21,924
Toney Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2701 Oakland Ter	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-2102	207	21	9.8	100.0%	1 (0.5%)	175 (84.5%)	19 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.3%)	9	1165^th of 1219 public elementary schools	4.4%		10.6	1171^st of 1238 public elementary schools	5.4%	6	16.7	24.1	17.6				11.8			$29,467	$2,055	$27,412
Flat Shoals Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3226 Flat Shoals Rd	Decatur	30034	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-4602	373	31	12.0	100.0%	1 (0.3%)	349 (93.6%)	10 (2.7%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.1%)	9.2	1162^nd of 1219 public elementary schools	4.7%		7.3	1207^th of 1238 public elementary schools	2.5%	45	17.2	22.4	11.1				20.4			$24,890	$3,037	$21,853
Canby Lane Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4150 Green Hawk Trl	Decatur	30035	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-0602	446	30	14.8	100.0%	4 (0.9%)	374 (83.9%)	42 (9.4%)	15 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	17.7	1034^th of 1219 public elementary schools	15.2%		30.7	825^th of 1238 public elementary schools	33.4%	209	22.5	22.2	31.6				25.0			$20,137	$1,983	$18,154
Briarlake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3590 Lavista Rd	Decatur	30033	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	No	(678) 874-2502	360	36	10.0	37.2%	147 (40.8%)	90 (25.0%)	68 (18.9%)	22 (6.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.9%)	75.3	270^th of 1219 public elementary schools	77.9%		85.8	177^th of 1238 public elementary schools	85.7%	93	45.1	62.3	64.3				71.5			$23,438	$2,332	$21,106
McLendon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3169 Hollywood Dr	Decatur	30033	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-5902	342	31	11.0	100.0%	18 (5.3%)	199 (58.2%)	66 (19.3%)	34 (9.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.7%)	16.6	1050^th of 1219 public elementary schools	13.9%		18	1031^st of 1238 public elementary schools	16.7%	19	31.7	22.0	20.5				25.6			$24,746	$2,155	$22,591
Narvie Harris Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3981 McGill Dr	Decatur	30034	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 676-9202	535	37	14.4	88.4%	1 (0.2%)	498 (93.1%)	21 (3.9%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (1.9%)	47	589^th of 1219 public elementary schools	51.7%		64	392^nd of 1238 public elementary schools	68.3%	197	35.1	38.8	53.0				46.9			$18,236	$1,635	$16,601
International Community School	Public, Charter	K-5	2418 Wood Trail Ln	Decatur	30033	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	Yes	No	No	Yes	(404) 499-8969	501	33	15.1	95.2%	104 (20.8%)	177 (35.3%)	29 (5.8%)	160 (31.9%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	26 (5.2%)	56.9	466^th of 1219 public elementary schools	61.8%		53.6	517^th of 1238 public elementary schools	58.2%	51	39.5	44.7	60.8				54.4			$16,605	$457	$16,148
Oak View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3574 Oakvale Rd	Decatur	30034	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 875-1302	685	51	13.4	100.0%	7 (1.0%)	595 (86.9%)	42 (6.1%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.4%)	14	1096^th of 1219 public elementary schools	10.1%		11.4	1156^th of 1238 public elementary schools	6.6%	60	22.6	35.0	13.5				16.1			$19,257	$2,123	$17,134
Ronald E McNair Discover Learning Academy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2162 Second Ave	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-3402	475	36	13.1	100.0%	14 (2.9%)	428 (90.1%)	17 (3.6%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	6.1	1196^th of 1219 public elementary schools	1.9%		18.1	1027^th of 1238 public elementary schools	17.0%	169	20.6	17.6	10.1				3.9			$21,016	$1,793	$19,224
DeKalb Preparatory Academy Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	1402 Austin Dr	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	Yes	No	No	Yes	(404) 492-5061	537	37	14.5	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	508 (94.6%)	14 (2.6%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.0%)	14.3	1090^th of 1219 public elementary schools	10.6%		17.6	1037^th of 1238 public elementary schools	16.2%	53	5.1	13.8	8.5	20.4	8.9	13.8	36.2	14.0	4.0	$18,036	$740	$17,297
Peachcrest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1530 Joy Ln	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 874-1402	729	51	14.2	100.0%	17 (2.3%)	536 (73.5%)	112 (15.4%)	26 (3.6%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	31 (4.3%)	4.5	1209^th of 1219 public elementary schools	0.8%		6.9	1214^th of 1238 public elementary schools	1.9%	5	11.7	13.4	6.2				11.3			$19,532	$1,939	$17,593
DeKalb Brilliance Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	2634 Park Central Blvd	Decatur	30035	DeKalb County	State Specialty Schools II- DeKalb Brilliance Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(470) 563-6690	357	23	15.5	100.0%	4 (1.1%)	319 (89.4%)	23 (6.4%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.2%)	27.3	874^th of 1219 public elementary schools	28.3%		42.3	653^rd of 1238 public elementary schools	47.3%	221	23.6	42.7	19.7				39.5			$17,530	$1,399	$16,130
PEACE Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-5	1954 Candler Road	Decatur	30032	DeKalb County	State Specialty Schools II- PEACE Academy Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(470) 722-0706	241	16	15.0	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	231 (95.9%)	9 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	10.3	1153^rd of 1219 public elementary schools	5.4%		9.1	1197^th of 1238 public elementary schools	3.3%	44	11.7	0.0	13.9				27.8			$14,619	$1,029	$13,590

Cities Near Decatur

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Ellenwood	2.85 mi	6	342^nd
Atlanta	3.17 mi	137	237^th
Lithonia	3.4 mi	21	331^st
Stone Mountain	4.54 mi	22	286^th
Avondale Estates	5 mi	4	110^th

See the top GA Georgia cities

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.