Dekalb Early College Academy

Dekalb Early College Academy is a high-performing public high school serving grades 9-12 in Stone Mountain, Georgia, with a student population of 301. The school is part of the DeKalb County School District, which is ranked 131 out of 206 districts in Georgia and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dekalb Early College Academy stands out as a clear outlier in the region, consistently ranking in the top 15 high schools in Georgia over the past 10 years, with a peak ranking of 2nd in 2015-2016. The school has maintained a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, the highest possible, for the past 10 years. Its students significantly outperform the DeKalb County and Georgia state averages on the Milestones Assessments across all subject areas, including American Literature, Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History. For example, in 2024-2025, 95.2% of Dekalb Early College Academy students were proficient or better in U.S. History, compared to 32.9% in DeKalb County and 38.6% statewide. The school's 4-year graduation rates have consistently ranged from 75.8% to 100% over the past 5 years.

Dekalb Early College Academy's success is particularly noteworthy given that it serves a student population with a relatively high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, ranging from 64.41% to 77.41% over the past 3 years. The school's focus on early college preparation, with students earning college credits while in high school, appears to be a key factor in its strong academic outcomes. Additionally, the school's significant per-student spending, ranging from $9,808 to $12,774 over the past 3 years, and low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 15.8 to 19, suggest that it is well-resourced and able to provide a high level of individualized attention and support to its students. Compared to nearby high schools like Elizabeth Andrews High School, Dekalb Early College Academy stands out as a clear outlier in terms of academic performance and overall quality.