Public schools in Decatur, GA
43 open public schools with an address in Decatur, operated by 6 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
43
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
22,353
43 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13:1
Georgia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
5
5 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Decatur public schools
The federal directory lists 43 public schools in Decatur, GA: 28 elementary, 9 middle, 6 high. The 43 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 22,353 students, an average of 520 per school. The largest campus is Decatur High School (1,901 students), and the largest elementary school is Peachcrest Elementary School (729).
DeKalb County operates the most schools here (30), and 2 regular districts have at least one Decatur campus, plus 4 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 13:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.7:1. 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 5 charter schools, 5 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 75% 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
DeKalb County
Public school district
30 schools in Decatur · 129 total
City Schools of Decatur
Public school district
9 schools in Decatur
Department of Juvenile Justice
State operated agency
1 school in Decatur · 28 total
State Specialty Schools II- DeKalb Brilliance Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Decatur
State Specialty Schools II- PEACE Academy Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Decatur
State Specialty Schools II- The Anchor School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Decatur
Elementary schools in Decatur
28| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Mathis Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 368 | 12.3:1 | |
| Briarlake Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 360 | 10:1 | |
| Canby Lane Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 446 | 14.9:1 | |
| Chapel Hill Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 495 | 13:1 | |
| Clairemont Elementary School City Schools of Decatur | PK–02 | 162 | 9.8:1 | |
| Columbia Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 364 | 10.4:1 | |
| Coralwood Education Center DeKalb County | PK–KG | 218 | 8.4:1 | |
| DeKalb Brilliance Academy State Specialty Schools II- DeKalb Brilliance Academy · Charter | KG–08 | 357 | 15.5:1 | |
| DeKalb Preparatory Academy Charter DeKalb County · Charter | KG–08 | 537 | 14.5:1 | |
| Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School City Schools of Decatur | 03–05 | 529 | 11.7:1 | |
| Flat Shoals Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 373 | 12:1 | |
| Glennwood Elementary School City Schools of Decatur | PK–02 | 184 | 9.9:1 | |
| International Community School DeKalb County · Charter | KG–05 | 501 | 15.2:1 | |
| Kelley Lake Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 302 | 11.6:1 | |
| Laurel Ridge Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 440 | 12.2:1 | |
| McLendon Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 342 | 11:1 | |
| Narvie Harris Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 535 | 14.5:1 | |
| Oak View Elementary DeKalb County | PK–05 | 685 | 13.4:1 | |
| Oakhurst Elementary School City Schools of Decatur | PK–02 | 233 | 10.4:1 | |
| PEACE Academy Charter School State Specialty Schools II- PEACE Academy Charter School · Charter | KG–05 | 241 | 15.1:1 | |
| Peachcrest Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 729 | 14.3:1 | |
| Rainbow Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 337 | 10.9:1 | |
| Ronald E McNair Discover Learning Academy Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 475 | 13.2:1 | |
| Snapfinger Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 356 | 9.9:1 | |
| Talley Street Upper Elementary School City Schools of Decatur | 03–05 | 623 | 12.1:1 | |
| Toney Elementary School DeKalb County | PK–05 | 207 | 9.9:1 | |
| Westchester Elementary School City Schools of Decatur | PK–02 | 174 | 10.4:1 | |
| Winnona Park Elementary School City Schools of Decatur | PK–02 | 276 | 13.1:1 |
Middle schools in Decatur
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon Hill Middle School City Schools of Decatur | 06–08 | 1,285 | 12.7:1 | |
| Cedar Grove Middle School DeKalb County | 06–08 | 685 | 13.7:1 | |
| Chapel Hill Middle School DeKalb County · Magnet | 06–08 | 614 | 13.6:1 | |
| Columbia Middle School DeKalb County · Magnet | 06–08 | 571 | 11.8:1 | |
| Druid Hills Middle School DeKalb County | 06–08 | 985 | 13.7:1 | |
| Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School DeKalb County | 06–08 | 655 | 12.6:1 | |
| McNair Middle School DeKalb County | 06–08 | 701 | 13.5:1 | |
| Miller Grove Middle School DeKalb County | 06–08 | 625 | 13.3:1 | |
| Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers DeKalb County · Magnet | 04–08 | 273 | 17.1:1 |
High schools in Decatur
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia High School DeKalb County · Magnet | 09–12 | 877 | 13.9:1 | |
| Decatur High School City Schools of Decatur | 09–12 | 1,901 | 14.4:1 | |
| DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center Department of Juvenile Justice · Alternative School | 05–12 | 11 | 2.2:1 | |
| Southwest DeKalb High School DeKalb County · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,237 | 15.3:1 | |
| The Anchor School State Specialty Schools II- The Anchor School · Charter | 06–12 | 208 | 13.6:1 | |
| Towers High School DeKalb County | 09–12 | 876 | 16.5:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White18.6%
- Hispanic8.2%
- Black64.3%
- Asian3.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 43 Decatur schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (22,353 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Decatur
How many public schools are in Decatur, GA?
The current NCES directory lists 43 open public schools with a location address in Decatur: 28 elementary, 9 middle, 6 high. Together they reported 22,353 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 6 education agencies, led by DeKalb County (30 schools), City Schools of Decatur (9 schools), Department of Juvenile Justice (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Decatur?
Decatur High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Decatur, with 1,901 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Decatur?
Yes. 5 of the 43 public schools in Decatur are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including DeKalb Brilliance Academy, DeKalb Preparatory Academy Charter, International Community School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Decatur schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Decatur public schools is 13:1, lower than the Georgia school median of 13.7:1. 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 Georgia 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 Georgia cities