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Decatur High School (Georgia)

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Coordinates: 33°46′15″N 84°17′50″W / 33.770932°N 84.297273°W / 33.770932; -84.297273
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Decatur High School
Decatur High School in 2006
Address
Map
310 North McDonough Street

Decatur
,
Georgia
30030-3393

United States
Coordinates33°46′15″N 84°17′50″W / 33.770932°N 84.297273°W / 33.770932; -84.297273
Information
TypePublic High School
MottoCarpe Diem
Established1912
School districtCity Schools of Decatur
PrincipalDuane Sprull
Teaching staff130.90 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,834 (2023–2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.01[1]
CampusUrban
Color(s)Navy and gold   
MascotBulldog
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
Region4 in Class AAAAA (GHSA)
Websitecsdecatur.net/dhs

Decatur High School (DHS) is a high school in Decatur, Georgia, United States. It is City Schools of Decatur's sole high school and was established in 1912.

The school was established in 1912 as a co-ed school until it was divided into the single-sex Decatur Boys High school and Decatur Girls High school in 1932. The two schools stood side-by-side with a fence in between, the Girls in the south-building and the boy's in the north building. The south building had originally been built in 1909 to house the "Central Grammar School". In 1930, the school installed lights to the school stadium, which according to the school district at the time, made it the first lit sports field in metro Atlanta.[2] The school became co-ed in 1953.[3] The current building was built in 1965[4] on the site of the former girl's high school.[5] In 1965, the first 27 African American students integrate the school. After the closing of the nearby Trinity High School, it's primally African student base was merged into Decatur High in 1967.[5] The school was fully desegregated in 1972.[2][6] The campus also hosts a "Performing Arts Center," opened in November 2009, which includes a theatre, basketball court, additional classrooms, a 4,000 seat stadium, rehearsal room, and a range of multi-use spaces.[7] In 2018, the main building was renovated with the addition of a new media center, a cafeteria, a new lobby area, and additional classrooms.[8]

Academics

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The standard core curriculum at Decatur High School is taught at the college-preparatory level, advanced, and the Advanced Placement level may begin in the 10th grade. Students may also enroll in work-study opportunities or internships, and take joint enrollment classes at local colleges. 97% of the class of 2024 attended a four-year college and 81% met the HOPE Scholarship.[9]

The average scores for the PSAT, the SAT, and the Georgia High School Graduation Test are all above the state averages with class of 2024 reporting an average ACT of 24.6 and an SAT of 1169.[10][11] 170 students in the class of 2022 completed the ACT,[12] while 75% of students in the class of 2023 completed the SAT.[13] The school met Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2010–2011 school year. Students also have to take the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)[14] tests three times every year until their senior year.

The school continues the International Baccalaureate middle years programme started at Beacon Hill Middle School through the 9th and 10th grades.[15][16] Sophomores may apply to the IB Diploma Programme or IB Career Programme after completion of the middle years program.[15][16][9] The IB Career Programme courses which Decatur offers include: Architectural Drawing and Design, JROTC, Career & Technical Instruction, Certified Nursing Assistant Certification, Computer Science, Convergence Media/Audio-Visual Technology Film, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Furniture Design, Graphic Design, IB Design Technology, Teaching as a Profession, and Work-Based Learning.[17] The Class of 2025 is estimated to graduate with 107 Full IB Diploma program and 50 IB Career program candidates, along with an additional 50 seniors sitting for IB exams. 100 students of the class of 2025 are reported to be participating in dual enrollment courses.[9]

Athletics

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Athletic activities include Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, E-Sports, Flag Football, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Literary, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Volleyball, Water Polo, and Wrestling.[18]

Accomplishments

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Academic

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2010–2011

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  • Became an AP Honor School and was included in The Washington Post's Challenge Index.[16]
  • Five seniors entered the HerWorld competition and won by designing a smart toothbrush.[16]

2021–2022

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  • The DHS Mock Trial Team won the Georgia mock trial state championship[19]

2023–2024

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  • Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett presented the DHS Ivy League club a certificate of appreciation during a Decatur City Commission meeting for showing commitment to environmental conservation and for contributing to "the community’s natural beauty."[20]
  • The valedictorian for the class of 2024 was selected to be one of among 161 American high school seniors to be recognized as a U.S. Presidential Scholar.[21][22][23]

2024–2025

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  • CSD was ranked first out of 172 participating school districts for ACT scores, and second out of 182 schools for SAT scores in the state[10]

Athletic

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2019–2020

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  • The Boys Cross Country Team won the Class 5A State Championship in 2019, the school's first State Title in Cross County[24][25]

2021–2022

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  • On 14, May, 2022 the girls ultimate frisbee team won the state girls ultimate frisbee championship, ending their season undefeated.[26]

2022–2023

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  • The DHS Boys and Girls Cross County both won the 5A GHSA State Championship respectively. Three runners were named to the Atlanta Track Club All-Metro Cross Country Team.[27]
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Film and television

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  • The 2015 American action-comedy film, Barely Lethal, depicts the school's football stadium and features DHS marching band students as extras[28][29]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Decatur High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Earle, Joe (2010). Images of Decatur. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738586243.
  3. ^ Girard, Elle (October 2, 2022). "The History of Homecoming in Decatur". 3TEN. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  4. ^ "Press Release | Historic Preservation Division -- Georgia Department of Natural Resources". georgiashpo.org. June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Mason, Herman (1998). Images of America: African American life in Dekalb County 1823-1970. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 9780738500348.
  6. ^ "Schools | Decatur GA". www.decaturga.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  7. ^ "Performing Arts Center / Performing Arts Center/Sport Center". www.csdecatur.net. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  8. ^ "Decatur High School Renovation". Uzun+Case. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c "About Us / Academic Profile". www.csdecatur.net. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Seiler, Zoe (October 16, 2024). "City Schools of Decatur ranks first for ACT, second for SAT scores in the state". Decaturish. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  11. ^ Phillips, Jay (October 17, 2024). "Decatur logs top test scores in Georgia". The Champion Newspaper | 404-373-7779 | Georgia. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  12. ^ "Decatur High School Academic Profile: Class of 2022" (PDF). csdecatur.net. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  13. ^ "City Schools of Decatur Ranks in Top 5 Districts in GA for SAT Scores, Highest in Metro" (PDF). csdecatur.net. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  14. ^ "Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)". City Schools of Decatur. City Schools of Decatur. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Renfroe Middle School and Decatur High School International Baccalaureate-Middle Years Program". Decatur High School. City schools of Decatur. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d "CSD Annual Report 2010-2011" (PDF). csdecatur.net. City Schools of Decatur. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 2, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  17. ^ "DCA descriptions.pdf" (PDF). docs.google.com. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  18. ^ "Decatur High School". Decatur High School. January 9, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  19. ^ "Decatur High School mock trial team wins state championship". March 21, 2022.
  20. ^ Seiler, Zoe (December 7, 2023). "Decatur recognizes students for their work removing invasive plants at McKoy Park". Decaturish. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  21. ^ Seiler, Zoe (August 16, 2024). "Decatur High graduate named 2024 Presidential Scholar". Decaturish. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  22. ^ "Four Georgia Students Recognized As U.S. Presidential Scholars". Georgia Public Broadcasting. September 3, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  23. ^ "Scholars for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program: May 2024" (PDF). ed.gov. May 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  24. ^ Tirouvanziam, Adrien. "Decatur boys' cross-country team wins state championship". 3TEN. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  25. ^ "Georgia GHSA Cross Country State Championships - News - Georgia State XC Meet Recap 2019". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  26. ^ Seiler, Zoe (May 16, 2022). "Decatur High School girls ultimate frisbee team wins state championship". Decaturish. Decaturish. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  27. ^ "Decatur High School Cross County Teams wins state championship". December 21, 2022.
  28. ^ "Filmed Here!". Visit Decatur Georgia. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  29. ^ Whisenhunt, Dan (November 6, 2013). "Decatur High School band students will be extras in Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Alba "Barely Lethal" movie". Decaturish. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  30. ^ Kloer, Phil (March 29, 1987). "The Blount Truth". nl.newsbank.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018.
  31. ^ "Former UGA, NFL Offensive Lineman Pete Case Dies At 67". georgiadogs.com. December 24, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  32. ^ "Felipe Claybrooks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  33. ^ Shearer, Ed. "Georgia Tech to face different Vic this time". The Ledger. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  34. ^ Hill, Karen (November 2, 2001). "Proud sports history honored at Decatur". nl.newsbank.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018.
  35. ^ "Obituary for Gordon B. Kelley at Lorne and Sons Funeral Home". www.lorneandsons.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  36. ^ Ellis, Ralph (December 21, 2012). "Georgia Tech Football Great Larry Morris Dies". Midtown, GA Patch. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  37. ^ Dusen, Christine Van (March 1, 2013). "This Story May Contain Spoilers". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  38. ^ Cardoso, Paul (April 21, 2022). "Morgan Saylor – Biography, Family Info, Everything You Need To Know". Buzz. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  39. ^ "David Sims". www.jt-sw.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  40. ^ Sugiura, Ken. "Jordan Walker, state's top prep prospect, could be a first-rounder". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  41. ^ Nislick, Tzali (June 13, 2022). "Georgia-born Herb White is making ghost stories real | Score Atlanta". scoreatl.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  42. ^ "Daniel Wilcox - Director of Player Personnel & Recruiting - Staff Directory". Georgia State University. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
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