schoolsbycounty

DeKalb County Schools & Education

DeKalb County, Georgia

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

75.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

75.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,411

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,405

School Score

38/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 50/100

State Score Position

#124

of 159 counties by score

Education Data Brief: DeKalb County

Measured School Summary

DeKalb County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 75.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

DeKalb County spends $8,411 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 24% below the Georgia average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 12.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read DeKalb County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

153 public schools and 5 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

38/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #124 of 159 Georgia counties with school score data.

Completion

75.4%

12.7 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,411

$1,006 above the state average

School coverage

153

5 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

DeKalb County has 153 public schools across 5 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public SchoolsCompare Counties
Parent decision brief

What DeKalb County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

DeKalb County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 131 of 153 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#124

of 159 Georgia counties with school score data. The county score is 12 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

DeKalb County

Elementary to high school visible

92,368 students

Elementary 82Middle 22High 24Other 3

131 listed schools in this county slice.

City Schools of Decatur

Elementary to high school visible

5,655 students

Elementary 7Middle 1High 1Other 0

9 listed schools in this county slice.

State Charter Schools- Ivy Preparatory Academy- Inc

Elementary school only in this slice

450 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

State Charter Schools II- DeKalb Brilliance Academy

Elementary school only in this slice

171 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

DeKalb County is the largest listed district slice, with 131 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in DeKalb County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different DeKalb County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in DeKalb County, Georgia

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Massive Scale and Diverse Infrastructure

DeKalb County operates a massive infrastructure with 153 public schools serving over 103,000 students. This sprawling system includes 97 elementary schools, 23 middle schools, and 27 high schools.

Significant Investment Amid Performance Challenges

The county invests $8,411 per pupil—well above the Georgia average—to support its diverse student body. While the graduation rate of 75.4% trails the state average, the county provides extensive specialized education and alternative programs.

A Multi-District Educational Hub

Five different districts operate here, led by the DeKalb County district and the City Schools of Decatur. Charter schools are a significant factor, with 13 institutions representing nearly 9% of the total school landscape.

Suburban Environments with Large High Schools

This is a predominantly suburban learning environment, featuring large high schools like Lakeside and Dunwoody that exceed 2,000 students. The average school size across the county is 677 students, reflecting its high-density population.

School Overview

Total Schools

153

in DeKalb County

Reported Enrollment

103,516

153 schools reporting

School Districts

5

districts

Charter Schools

13

8% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary97
Middle23
High27
Other6

5 School Districts in DeKalb County

DeKalb County

Guide
131 schools
92,368 students
Open district guide

City Schools of Decatur

Guide
9 schools
5,655 students
Open district guide

State Charter Schools- Ivy Preparatory Academy- Inc

1 school
450 students

State Charter Schools II- DeKalb Brilliance Academy

1 school
171 students

State Charter Schools II- Georgia Fugees Academy Charter Sc

1 school
163 students

153 Public Schools in DeKalb County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 33 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 153 matching schools

Lakeside High School

DeKalb County

Atlanta, 30345 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,141 students

Dunwoody High School

DeKalb County

Dunwoody, 30338 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,040 students

Decatur High School

City Schools of Decatur

Decatur, 30030 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,853 students

Chamblee High School

DeKalb County

Chamblee, 30341 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,776 students

Sequoyah Middle School

DeKalb County

Atlanta, 30340 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,763 students

Cross Keys High School

DeKalb County

Brookhaven, 30319 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,714 students

Tucker High School

DeKalb County

Tucker, 30084 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,579 students

Lithonia High School

DeKalb County

Lithonia, 30058 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,483 students

Martin Luther King- Jr. High School

DeKalb County

Lithonia, 30038 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,440 students

Clarkston High School

DeKalb County

Clarkston, 30021 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,413 students

Henderson Middle School

DeKalb County

Chamblee, 30341 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,411 students

Druid Hills High School

DeKalb County

Atlanta, 30307 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,358 students

Stephenson High School

DeKalb County

Stone Mountain, 30087 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,354 students

Beacon Hill Middle School

City Schools of Decatur

Decatur, 30030 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,323 students

Southwest DeKalb High School

DeKalb County

Decatur, 30034 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,307 students

Peachtree Middle School

DeKalb County

Atlanta, 30338 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,288 students

Lithonia Middle School

DeKalb County

Lithonia, 30058 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,214 students

Stone Mountain High School

DeKalb County

Stone Mountain, 30083 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,202 students

Tucker Middle School

DeKalb County

Tucker, 30084 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,197 students

Miller Grove High School

DeKalb County

Lithonia, 30058 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,188 students

Additional School Profiles

Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.

13 more profiles

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,411

State avg $7,405

Compare Nearby Counties

Review DeKalb County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Georgia counties have the highest graduation rates?
Oconee County (98.0%), Bleckley County (97.0%), and Haralson County (97.0%) currently lead Georgia among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Georgia?
Across Georgia counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,405. The highest current county values are Towns County ($10,107), Burke County ($9,829), and Quitman County ($9,756). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in DeKalb County?
DeKalb County has a school score of 38/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in DeKalb County?
The high school graduation rate in DeKalb County is 75.4%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does DeKalb County spend per student?
DeKalb County spends $8,411 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in DeKalb County, Georgia — FAQ

What does the school system look like in DeKalb County, Georgia?

DeKalb County operates a massive infrastructure with 153 public schools serving over 103,000 students. This sprawling system includes 97 elementary schools, 23 middle schools, and 27 high schools.

How do schools in DeKalb County perform academically?

The county invests $8,411 per pupil—well above the Georgia average—to support its diverse student body. While the graduation rate of 75.4% trails the state average, the county provides extensive specialized education and alternative programs.

What are the major school districts in DeKalb County, Georgia?

Five different districts operate here, led by the DeKalb County district and the City Schools of Decatur. Charter schools are a significant factor, with 13 institutions representing nearly 9% of the total school landscape.

What is the school experience like in DeKalb County?

This is a predominantly suburban learning environment, featuring large high schools like Lakeside and Dunwoody that exceed 2,000 students. The average school size across the county is 677 students, reflecting its high-density population.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Clarke County

Georgia

-1 pts

38/100

School score

Harris County

Georgia

-1 pts

37/100

School score

Henry County

Georgia

+1 pts

39/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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