Best High Schools in Decatur, GA

There are six high schools serving students within the city of Decatur, Georgia, spanning traditional public schools, a state specialty school, and a juvenile detention center, and they collectively illustrate a wide range of academic outcomes and socioeconomic contexts across the City Schools of Decatur, DeKalb County, and state-level districts.

Decatur High School is the standout performer, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 93rd percentile statewide. It far outpaces the other schools on every subject test—for example, 67.2% of its students are proficient in Algebra I and 78.2% in Biology, compared to state averages of 48.1% and 47.2%, respectively. Its 96% graduation rate and 16.2% chronic absenteeism rate (below the state average) reinforce its position as the top choice in the area. Among the DeKalb County schools, Southwest DeKalb High School leads with a 90.6% graduation rate and a 36th-percentile state ranking, despite serving a student body where nearly all qualify for free/reduced lunch. Columbia High School has shown the most improvement, jumping from the 13th to the 33rd percentile over two years, while Towers High School remains the lowest-performing traditional school, with proficiency rates in the teens and twenties and a 49.2% chronic absenteeism rate.

A striking finding is that higher spending does not translate to better outcomes. Columbia spends the most per student ($20,258) yet ranks in the bottom third, while Decatur High spends the least among traditional schools ($17,609) and achieves the best results. Chronic absenteeism emerges as a critical differentiator: the three DeKalb County schools all have rates near 50%, roughly three times the state average, while Decatur High’s rate is below average. The Anchor School, a small state specialty school, posts a better absenteeism rate (21.5%) despite serving a 100% free/reduced lunch population, though its test scores are very low. The DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center is a unique facility with just 11 students and a 2.2:1 student-teacher ratio, making it incomparable to traditional schools. Overall, the data highlights a stark equity gap within one city, with Decatur High’s success contrasting sharply with the challenges facing the DeKalb County schools.