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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.

Benjamin E. Mays High School

Q: Is Benjamin E. Mays High School a good school?

Benjamin E. Mays High School ranks 297 th of 455 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

297^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 455 Georgia High Schools

Better than 35% of Georgia high schools

Summary

Benjamin E. Mays High School is a comprehensive public high school in Atlanta's southwest corridor, serving 1,338 students in grades 9-12 within the Atlanta Public Schools district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Mays is in the midst of a genuine turnaround. The school's statewide ranking has climbed from the 10th percentile in 2022-2023 to the 35th percentile in 2025-2026, and its graduation rate has jumped from 71.1% to 88.7% over the same period—now exceeding the state average of 87.2%. The most striking success story is with English Language Learners: Mays ranks 3rd out of 173 schools statewide (98th percentile, 5 stars) in serving this population, a remarkable achievement that sets it apart from virtually every other school in Georgia. The school also earns 4 stars for Hispanic students and 3 stars for African American students. Compared to nearby APS peers, Mays outperforms Carver High School, D. M. Therrell High School, Frederick Douglass High School, and KIPP Atlanta Collegiate Charter School in its state ranking, though it trails Booker T. Washington High School. However, the contrast with nearby Westlake High School in Fulton County is stark—Westlake posts higher proficiency in Algebra I (37.4% vs. 23.7%) and Biology (49.3% vs. 35.9%) and serves a more economically diverse population.

Despite these gains, chronic absenteeism remains Mays' most pressing challenge. At 49.6%, nearly half of all students are chronically absent—nearly three times the state average of 17.7%. While this is an improvement from 61.3% in 2022-2023, it likely limits further academic progress. The school spends $26,366 per student and maintains a favorable 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio. With rising graduation rates, improving state rankings, and exceptional ELL outcomes, Mays is clearly moving in the right direction—but tackling attendance will be key to sustaining its momentum.

1,338

Students ?

11.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,366

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3450 Benjamin E Mays Dr SW
Atlanta, GA 30331

(404) 802-5100

District: Atlanta Public Schools

Feeder schools for Benjamin E. Mays High School:

Elementary:	Beecher Hills Elementary School
	Cascade Elementary School
	Miles Elementary School
	Peyton Forest Elementary School
	More...
	West Manor Elementary School
Middle:	Jean Childs Young Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

90.7%

Hispanic:

7.8%

Two or more races:

1.0%

See top rated Georgia high schools

Compare Benjamin E. Mays High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 20th percentile in 2016 → 35th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (30% vs 45% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (50% vs 18% Georgia)

!Algebra I scores 24 pts below the Georgia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg38%

Georgia avg45%

297^th of 455

Georgia public high schools ?

Bottom 35%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 20% (2016) to bottom 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 15High Schools in the Atlanta Public Schools

120^th of 201Atlanta Public Schools among Georgia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	28.4	297 of 455	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.1	328 of 451	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	368 of 454	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	403 of 448	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.1	399 of 431	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.5	339 of 410	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.2	390 of 438	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.3	381 of 428	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	15.4	360 of 420	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	20.8	341 of 426	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	25.3	328 of 435	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.1	363 of 425	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	25.2	353 of 425	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.5	296 of 396	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	36.4	295 of 402	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	43.3	240 of 384	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	40.5	257 of 372	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.2	251 of 370	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.2	211 of 358	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	44.4	206 of 335	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	43.0	163 of 376	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.5	187 of 391	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	31.0	248 of 382	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.9	316 of 384	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.9	329 of 372	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	97.9	3 of 173	98.3%	★★★★★
2025	51.8	62 of 180	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.1	31 of 159	80.5%	★★★★☆
2023	18.5	138 of 141	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.9	101 of 102	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	28.8	292 of 431	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.3	322 of 438	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.8	367 of 435	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.3	381 of 433	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.6	398 of 430	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	57.9	79 of 298	73.5%	★★★★☆
2025	24.0	251 of 312	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.9	213 of 315	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	8.3	299 of 308	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.4	282 of 295	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	27.5	298 of 436	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.1	330 of 442	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.6	348 of 436	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.4	409 of 436	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.1	404 of 427	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	27.5	261 of 338	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	48.4	145 of 347	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.5	219 of 344	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	17.1	324 of 343	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.9	300 of 331	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2026)98th percentile+64 vs school

Hispanic (2026)73rd percentile+39 vs school

African American (2026)57th percentile+22 vs school

Female (2026)32nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)32nd percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)23rd percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Biology36%-11 vs state

United States History30%-9 vs state

Algebra I24%-24 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Such an awful school. terrible teachers, terrible students that are just out of hand and terrible environment in a whole, period. And im not very sure how mays was in the past, but i know its present and definite future is tragic. Very glad i pulled my son out of it. My son was in BEA and was very focused on his work (during this time he was in the 9th grade).

i constantly (about 2 times every 2 weeks going at the school for meetings and/or just online emailing the school to stay caught up with my son) talked and talked and pulled all my attention on this school for my son. His grades were succeeding and everything was going fine with his school work. And you see, thats the thing.

HIS grades were fine, HIS mind was set and his want to be a good student was key. But NOT THE SCHOOL!!!! This school is VERY unfit for a learning habitat. My son could hardly focus on his work with all of the chaos. From his words "I basically had to FORCE teachers to teach" which was what he told me one day after school. And him pushing through to still succeed was a struggle. and not a good one.

There are some amount of cases of this school within news reports, using gang signs, kids bringing in guns, teachers punching students and one of the teachers having an affair with a middle school principal who sold or did some type of drugs with her.

I think almost everyday my child came back from mays, there was always a story about somebody fighting or somebody getting into a "big argument". And dont even get me started with the teachers/staff members. SUCH bad and unwelcoming attitudes. As if they dont even want you to be there. And it is so easily read within their facial expressions and body energy. Giving themselves and the school such a bad name.

Please do better mays. Become more organized and more well constructed because if not, one day this school just migght be shut down for its messups. Thank you. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, November 29, 2013

Great legacy. Dedicated and nurturing staff. Focus on career and college. Beautiful school. I am happy with the instruction, staff and students. Close Quote

Schools Near Benjamin E. Mays High School

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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 Algebra I (2026)	Milestones Assessment Biology (2026)	Milestones Assessment United States History (2026)	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 Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Biology End of Course	Milestones Assessment United States History End of Course	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th 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
Benjamin E. Mays High School	Public	9-12	3450 Benjamin E Mays Dr SW	Atlanta	30331	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-5100	1,338	112	11.9	100.0%	1 (0.1%)	1,214 (90.7%)	105 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	14 (1.0%)	28.4	297^th of 455 public high schools	34.7%		25.1	328^th of 451 public high schools	27.3%	31	23.7	35.9	29.5						$26,366	$1,747	$24,619
D. M. Therrell High School	Public	9-12	3099 Panther Trl SW	Atlanta	30311	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-5300	964	68	14.0	100.0%	2 (0.2%)	910 (94.4%)	36 (3.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	10 (1.0%)	22.5	342^nd of 455 public high schools	24.8%		14.8	391^st of 451 public high schools	13.3%	49	35.7	30.2	14.2						$27,908	$1,395	$26,513
Frederick Douglass High School	Public	9-12	225 Hamilton E Holmes Dr NW	Atlanta	30318	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-3100	1,296	87	14.9	100.0%	1 (0.1%)	1,165 (89.9%)	103 (7.9%)	3 (0.2%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (1.5%)	23.3	335^th of 455 public high schools	26.4%		20	355^th of 451 public high schools	21.3%	20	23.2	17.0	38.2						$27,423	$2,113	$25,310
Kipp Atlanta Collegiate Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	98 Anderson Ave NW	Atlanta	30314	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(404) 326-4858	874	70	12.5	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	856 (97.9%)	9 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	7 (0.8%)	21.2	351^st of 455 public high schools	22.9%		21.2	351^st of 451 public high schools	22.2%		27.9	24.7	26.5						$20,374	$980	$19,393
B.E.S.T Academy	Public	6-12	1190 Northwest Dr NW	Atlanta	30318	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-4950	268	34	7.8	96.6%	1 (0.4%)	249 (92.9%)	14 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	43.7	200^th of 455 public high schools	56.0%		32.8	280^th of 451 public high schools	37.9%	80	49.2	37.3	43.8	33.3	23.8	40.0	45.0	35.0	$43,336	$2,621	$40,715
Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy	Public	6-12	1190 Northwest Dr NW	Atlanta	30318	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-4900	377	48	7.9	97.9%	1 (0.3%)	353 (93.6%)	15 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.1%)	56.3	129^th of 455 public high schools	71.6%		44.8	199^th of 451 public high schools	55.9%	70	47.5	54.3	52.2	25.0	26.2	39.2	35.3	33.4	$37,604	$1,644	$35,959
Booker T. Washington High School	Public	9-12	45 Whitehouse Dr SW	Atlanta	30314	Fulton County	Atlanta Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(404) 802-4600	856	71	12.0	100.0%	5 (0.6%)	811 (94.7%)	21 (2.5%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (1.8%)	38.9	228^th of 455 public high schools	49.9%		16.7	376^th of 451 public high schools	16.6%	148	21.8	33.8	48.7						$28,684	$1,941	$26,742
Tri-Cities High School	Public	9-12	2575 Harris St	East Point	30344	Fulton County	Fulton County	No	No	No	Yes	(470) 254-8200	1,748	114	15.3	100.0%	13 (0.7%)	1,189 (68.0%)	507 (29.0%)	6 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (1.7%)	18.9	363^rd of 455 public high schools	20.2%		16.5	377^th of 451 public high schools	16.4%	14	23.3	25.7	23.8						$17,308	$1,189	$16,119
Westlake High School	Public	9-12	2400 Union Rd SW	Atlanta	30331	Fulton County	Fulton County	No	No	No	No	(470) 254-6400	2,056	114	18.0	48.8%	5 (0.2%)	1,920 (93.4%)	69 (3.4%)	8 (0.4%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.1%)	47 (2.3%)	40	223^rd of 455 public high schools	51.0%		50.2	166^th of 451 public high schools	63.2%	57	37.4	49.3	27.7						$16,241	$543	$15,698
Promise Career Institute School	Public	9-12	3605 Main Street	College Park	30337	Fulton County	Fulton County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(470) 254-8043	247	23	10.6	76.9%	1 (0.4%)	218 (88.3%)	20 (8.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.0%)	72.5	60^th of 455 public high schools	86.8%					(n/a)	71.8	60.2

Frequently Asked Questions about Benjamin E. Mays High School

What schools feed into Benjamin E. Mays High School?

Benjamin E. Mays High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Beecher Hills Elementary School
Elementary : Cascade Elementary School
Elementary : Miles Elementary School
Elementary : Peyton Forest Elementary School
Elementary : West Manor Elementary School
Middle : Jean Childs Young Middle School

What district is Benjamin E. Mays High School in?

Atlanta Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Benjamin E. Mays High School?

Students at Benjamin E. Mays High School are 91% African American, 8% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Benjamin E. Mays High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,338 students attended Benjamin E. Mays High School.

Is Benjamin E. Mays High School a good school?

Benjamin E. Mays High School ranks 297^th of 455 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Benjamin E. Mays High School!

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataNewAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresNewAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)NewAug 6, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026

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.