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Narvie Harris Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5
589th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,219 Georgia Elementary Schools
Better than 52% of Georgia elementary schools
Summary

Narvie Harris Elementary School in Decatur, GA, serves 535 students in Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the DeKalb County School District, and it stands out as a strong academic performer in an area where many nearby schools struggle.

Narvie Harris consistently outperforms its district averages across nearly every subject and grade level. In the most recent testing cycle, 5th grade math proficiency hit 53% compared to the district's 31.7%, and 5th grade science reached 46.9% versus the district's 30.4%. The school also shows exceptional results for its African American students, ranking in the 76th percentile statewide for that subgroup—well above its overall 52nd percentile ranking. Perhaps most impressive is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of just 14.8%, which is nearly half the district average of 26.7% and below the state average. This consistency in attendance, combined with strong upper-grade performance, suggests effective teaching strategies that build over time. The school has also shown a positive long-term trajectory, climbing from the 38th percentile in 2017-2018 to a peak of the 73rd percentile in 2023-2024, though it recently dipped to the 52nd percentile as the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch rose from 68% to 88.4%.

When compared to nearby elementary schools, Narvie Harris is the clear academic leader. Among seven neighboring DeKalb County schools within four miles, only Edward L. Bouie- Senior Elementary School (58th percentile) ranks comparably, while schools like Canby Lane Elementary School (15th percentile), Bob Mathis Elementary School (15th percentile), and Chapel Hill Elementary School (2nd percentile) lag far behind. Narvie Harris also achieves these results efficiently, spending $18,236 per student—far less than Rainbow Elementary School's $22,972 or Bob Mathis's extraordinary $57,153, both of which rank in the bottom 15% statewide. For parents, this school offers a proven track record of academic success, strong attendance, and effective resource use in a high-poverty setting.

535
Students ?
14.4
Student/teacher ratio ?
$18,236
Per pupil spending ?
88.4%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 3981 McGill Dr
       Decatur, GA  30034

(678) 676-9202

District: DeKalb County

Racial breakdown:

African American:
93.1%
Hispanic:
3.9%
Two or more races:
1.9%
more
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 Compare Narvie Harris Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!
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
Ranking trend: Holding steady — 56th percentile in 2016 → 52nd in 2026
Strengths
Above the Georgia median (52nd percentile)
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school43%
District avg34%
Georgia avg47%
589th of 1,219
Georgia public elementary schools ?
Top 48%▼ down 5 pts since 2016
From top 44% (2016) to top 48% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
24th of 81Elementary Schools in the DeKalb County
136th of 201DeKalb County 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202647.0589 of 121951.7%★★★☆☆
202564.0392 of 123868.3%★★★☆☆
202470.8335 of 123672.9%★★★★☆
202369.1345 of 122371.8%★★★★☆
202255.8496 of 122059.3%★★★☆☆
202150.4551 of 121454.6%★★★☆☆
201962.3426 of 123465.5%★★★☆☆
201837.1747 of 120938.2%★★☆☆☆
201753.3504 of 120558.2%★★★☆☆
201651.9540 of 123356.2%★★★☆☆
201547.4603 of 124051.4%★★★☆☆
201456.7640 of 123148.0%★★☆☆☆
201358.9619 of 122549.5%★★☆☆☆
201262.0542 of 120154.9%★★★☆☆
201165.2485 of 121260.0%★★★☆☆
201068.7399 of 118366.3%★★★☆☆
200965.7411 of 113363.7%★★★☆☆
200871.5300 of 113473.5%★★★★☆
200769.8356 of 112568.4%★★★☆☆
200677.3212 of 110180.7%★★★★☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202666.7200 of 82875.8%★★★★☆
202584.5100 of 89288.8%★★★★☆
202488.768 of 87992.3%★★★★★
202389.969 of 87092.1%★★★★★
202278.8136 of 87684.5%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202643.9614 of 118648.2%★★☆☆☆
202561.7421 of 122465.6%★★★☆☆
202470.0325 of 122373.4%★★★★☆
202370.2318 of 121273.8%★★★★☆
202267.7348 of 120671.1%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202650.0538 of 118354.5%★★★☆☆
202565.0367 of 122570.0%★★★★☆
202469.3330 of 122073.0%★★★★☆
202366.3364 of 121069.9%★★★☆☆
202244.5629 of 120948.0%★★☆☆☆
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)
African American (2026)76th percentile+24 vs school
Male (2026)55th percentile+3 vs school
Female (2026)48th percentile-3 vs school
By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?
Science47%+3 vs state
Mathematics42%-6 vs state

2.7
3 ratings · 2 written reviews
51
40
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21
11
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What people are saying
by a parent
Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Open Quote If you are seeking a school of quality compared to the surrounding neighborhood schools such as Cedar Grove or Oakview Elementary then yes, this school is an option. Unfortunately, Narvie J. Harris has tons of work to do internally in order to improve.
Honestly, what saves this school is their dynamic PTA Committee. Without their PTA this school would not be where they are currently. School's depend on its leadership, and the staff is only as good as their leader. The Principal is extremely obnoxious and rude- even when you speak to him he will not speak to you. The male teachers at this school follow that as well. Mr. Kirkland is a prime example.
I must say, the teachers overall are okay- as long as your involved with your child's education and that makes sense. I can tell a difference in what my child is learning from day to day. Its clear the teachers put in much more effort than their leadership. And for that, I appreciate everything Narvie's teachers do there. I even appreciate the front office staff. They are wonderful.
The school programs are phenomenal so I do appreciate the effort and dedication the staff and students put into the programs each year.
In closing, this school is just okay with so much potential to be GREAT. But it must start with its leader- Dr. Tart. If Narvie was ever astute enough to part ways with certain leaders at Narvie- you would probably witness test scores improve and professionalism in staff flourish. Dr. Tart must expect more from his staff and address concerns that involve its community stakeholders, staff, students, and parents. It is his job to build that rapport. Without the Principals true dedication this school will continue to lag in its process. Simply put, We have work to do Narvie! Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, August 19, 2016

Open Quote Narvie J Harris has good intentions but the delivery needs some work. Parents committed to the theme school curriculum value parental involvement and academic rigor for their children. However, parents still want their kids to enjoy going to school while being challenged academically. Students should not feel like or be treated like they are in boot camp. I find is disheartening to watch young children not want to come to school, not because of the work but because of the constant drilling of frivolous rules. "Not walking with your hands on your lips or on the silver line", doesn't equal a discipline or behavior problem. Enroll your child here with extreme caution as they will be prepared academically but their self esteem and self worth will take a huge hit. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Narvie Harris Elementary School

In the 2024-25 school year, 535 students attended Narvie Harris Elementary School.

Students at Narvie Harris Elementary School are 93% African American, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Narvie Harris Elementary School ranks 589th of 1219 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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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.

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