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Decatur SquarePhoto: Lincolnh · CC BY-SA 3.0
A+
Schools in Decatur · Decatur City School District

Decatur’s public schools outscore 95% of Georgia districts

Math proficiency in Decatur’s districts is 67%, above the Georgia average (37%). The grade covers the public school district serving Decatur, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Georgia, not nationally.

#4of 260 Georgia townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Georgia state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
69%
▲ 29 pts vs GA 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
67%
▲ 30 pts vs GA 37%
2021–22
Graduate on time
94%
▲ 10 pts vs GA 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.0K
▲ 20% vs GA $15.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.6
GA 14.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
17
5,367 students on the public path
In brief

Decatur’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 69% and math 67% in spring 2022, against 40% and 37% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $19,019 per student, against $15,800 across Georgia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Five elementary schools, then two elementary, one middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Thomas More Catholic School (private), The Waldorf School of Atlanta (private), The Friends School of Atlanta (private), Decatur Presbyterian Children's Community (private), Academe of the Oaks (private), Global Village Project (private), The Hirsch Academy (private) and The Ferguson School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Decatur’s grade

A+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

A+: better than 95% of Georgia school districts, #4 of 260 Georgia towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Georgia average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Georgia school districts we grade (220)Better than 95%
Lower resultsHigher results
Georgia towns with similar household incomes (50)Better than 94%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,050 test results and a graduating class of 437 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Decatur’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,038 in math, 3,061 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Decatur, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–25 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
3–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA+
6–8Beacon Hill Middle SchoolDecatur City School DistrictA
9–12Decatur High SchoolDecatur City School DistrictA

Decatur’s public schools are run by Decatur City School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Decatur City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 5,367 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 12.6 per teacher (GA 14.3)
$19,019GA $15,800 · FY2024
A+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading69%
State average 39.6% · 3061 students tested
Math67%
State average 37.4% · 3038 students tested

Decatur vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Georgia towns that share Decatur’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DecaturA+Decatur City
AtlantaC+Atlanta City
Avondale EstatesC−DeKalb County

Every school in Decatur

17 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Georgia’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Decaturby address
Winnona Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
276 students13:1Rate it →
Oakhurst Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
233 students10:1Rate it →
Glennwood Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
184 students10:1Rate it →
Westchester Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
174 students10:1Rate it →
Clairemont Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
162 students10:1Rate it →
Talley Street Upper Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
A+
623 students12:1Rate it →
Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
A+
529 students12:1Rate it →
Beacon Hill Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
1,285 students13:1Rate it →
Decatur High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,901 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Thomas More Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
460 students13:1Rate it →
The Waldorf School of Atlanta
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Nonsectarian
217 students6:1Rate it →
The Friends School of Atlanta
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
174 students4:1Rate it →
Decatur Presbyterian Children's Community
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Religious
97 students24:1Rate it →
Academe of the Oaks
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Nonsectarian
80 students10:1Rate it →
Global Village Project
Elementary · Grades 6–8
Private · Nonsectarian · All-girls
39 students5:1Rate it →
The Hirsch Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Special education
23 students2:1Rate it →
The Ferguson School
Elementary · Grades K–3
Private · Religious
12 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Decatur’s schools

Are Decatur’s schools good?

By Georgia’s own tests, yes: the public schools Decatur children attend outscore 95% of Georgia’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade, #4 of 260 Georgia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 94%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Decatur in?

Decatur City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 5,367 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do Decatur kids go to high school?

Decatur High School, with 1,901 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Decatur’s graduation rate?

94% of the class of 2023 in Decatur City School District graduated in four years, against 84% across Georgia.

How much does Decatur spend per student?

$19,019 in Decatur City School District (FY2024), against $15,800 across Georgia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Decatur?

Yes: St. Thomas More Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 460 students), The Waldorf School of Atlanta (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 217 students), The Friends School of Atlanta (religious, grades PK–8, 174 students), Decatur Presbyterian Children's Community (religious, grades PK–K, 97 students), Academe of the Oaks (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 80 students), Global Village Project (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades 6–8, 39 students), The Hirsch Academy (special education, grades K–8, 23 students) and The Ferguson School (religious, grades K–3, 12 students).

Parents talk

What Decatur families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Decatur → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Georgia. Stars are from neighbors.