Summary:
Zip code 30032 in Decatur, GA is home to two public high schools—Columbia High School and Towers High School—both serving grades 9-12 within the DeKalb County School District, where 100% of students at each school qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Columbia High School is the stronger performer of the two, and it is showing remarkable momentum. Over the past year, Columbia jumped 95 spots in the state rankings to land at 303rd (33rd percentile), while Towers improved to 357th (22nd percentile). Columbia outperforms Towers in every subject on the most recent Milestones assessments, with the largest gap in Algebra I (27.9% vs. 18.8% proficient). Columbia also posted exceptional single-year gains, jumping 16 points in Biology and 12.7 points in Algebra I. Both schools trail district and state averages in all subjects, though Columbia's Biology score (34.5%) comes closest to the district average (39.3%). Graduation rates are nearly identical (80.4% at Columbia vs. 80.1% at Towers), but Towers' dropout rate of 7.2% is more than double Columbia's 3.3% and triple the state average. Columbia also benefits from higher per-student spending ($20,258 vs. $18,332) and a better student-teacher ratio (13.9:1 vs. 16.5:1).
The most pressing challenge at both schools is chronic absenteeism, with nearly half of all students (48.9% at Columbia, 49.2% at Towers) chronically absent—roughly 22 points above the district average and 31 points above the state average. This systemic issue likely undermines academic performance at both schools. Despite these challenges, both schools have improved their state rankings for three consecutive years, offering cautious optimism. For parents, Columbia currently offers stronger academics and more resources, while Towers shows steady but slower progress. Addressing absenteeism and ensuring equitable funding—particularly for Towers—should be top priorities for the district.
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