Public schools in Decatur, AL
24 open public schools with an address in Decatur, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
24
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
9,891
21 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.4:1
Alabama median 17.2:1
Charter schools
0
2 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Decatur public schools
The federal directory lists 24 public schools in Decatur, AL: 12 elementary, 3 middle, 6 high, 3 combined or other. The 21 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 9,891 students, an average of 471 per school. The largest campus is Austin High School (999 students), and the largest elementary school is Oak Park Elementary School (481).
Decatur City operates the most schools here (22), and 2 regular districts have at least one Decatur campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15.4:1, lower than the statewide school median of 17.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 61% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Decatur
Elementary schools in Decatur
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austinville Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 463 | 16.3:1 | |
| BanksCaddell Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 477 | 16.7:1 | |
| Benjamin Davis Elementary School Decatur City · Magnet | PK–02 | 251 | 13.4:1 | |
| Chestnut Grove Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 436 | 13.4:1 | |
| Eastwood Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 272 | 15.3:1 | |
| Frances Nungester Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 428 | 16.2:1 | |
| Julian Harris Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 349 | 15.5:1 | |
| Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School Decatur City · Magnet | 03–05 | 297 | 17.2:1 | |
| Oak Park Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 481 | 13.5:1 | |
| Walter Jackson Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 251 | 14.9:1 | |
| West Decatur Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 407 | 16.6:1 | |
| Woodmeade Elementary School Decatur City | PK–05 | 361 | 15:1 |
Middle schools in Decatur
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Middle School Decatur City | 06–07 | 727 | 14.7:1 | |
| Decatur Middle School Decatur City | 06–08 | 818 | 16:1 | |
| Priceville Junior High School Morgan County | 05–08 | 483 | 18.6:1 |
High schools in Decatur
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin High School Decatur City | 09–12 | 999 | 16.4:1 | |
| Career Academies of Decatur Decatur City | 09–12 | 269 | 10:1 | |
| Career Technical Center Decatur City · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | — | — | |
| Decatur High Developmental Decatur City · Special Education School | 09–12 | 37 | — | |
| Decatur High School Decatur City | 09–12 | 915 | 13.9:1 | |
| Priceville High School Morgan County | 09–12 | 506 | 18.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Decatur
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Junior High School Decatur City | 08–09 | 664 | 14:1 | |
| BEST Academy Decatur City | PK–PK | — | — | |
| Long Term Case Decatur City · Alternative School | KG–12 | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White32.6%
- Hispanic34.2%
- Black25.9%
- Asian1.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial5.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 21 Decatur schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (9,891 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Decatur
How many public schools are in Decatur, AL?
The current NCES directory lists 24 open public schools with a location address in Decatur: 12 elementary, 3 middle, 6 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 9,891 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Decatur?
Schools with an address in Decatur belong to 2 education agencies, led by Decatur City (22 schools), Morgan County (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Decatur?
Austin High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Decatur, with 999 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Decatur?
No school with an address in Decatur is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Alabama.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Decatur schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Decatur public schools is 15.4:1, lower than the Alabama school median of 17.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Decatur guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Alabama cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Alabama cities