Decatur High School is a public high school in Decatur, Alabama, United States. It is one of two high schools in the Decatur City School District. Decatur High offers technical, academic, and Advanced Placement programs, as well as dual enrollment with the John C. Calhoun Community College System.
Serving 1,026 students in grades 9-12, Decatur High School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in Alabama for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 32% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 29%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 34% (which is lower than the Alabama state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 15:1 is lower than the Alabama state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Alabama state average of 49% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,026 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 15:1
- Minority Enrollment: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 90% (Btm 50% in AL)
- Overall Testing Rank: Top 50%
- Math Proficiency: 32% (Top 30%)
- Reading Proficiency: 34% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 38% (Top 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Decatur High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
School Overview
Decatur High School's student population of 1,026 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 69 teachers has grown by 6% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
1,026 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
69 teachers
Year Founded
1950
Colors
Black, Red
School Rankings
Decatur High School ranks within the top 50% of all 1,285 schools in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Decatur High School is 0.71, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#627 out of 1285 schools
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
32%
29%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
38%
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
17:1
American Indian
n/a
1%
Asian
1%
1%
Hispanic
36%
11%
Black
25%
32%
White
32%
51%
Hawaiian
1%
n/a
Two or more races
5%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
90%
88%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
69%
56%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
5%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AL Dept. of Education
School Notes
- Decatur High School, located in Decatur, Alabama under the Decatur City Schools, across Prospect Dr. from Delano Park, is ranked as one of the top academic schools in the state, as well as the nation, with strong Advanced Placement programs and high ACT & SAT test scores that exceed both State and National averages.
- Decatur High, along with western Decatur's Austin High School, are the only International Baccalaureate schools north of Birmingham, Alabama.
- Athletics: Decatur High is well represented each year in the State Playoffs, and has won many state championships in Basketball, Football, Golf, and Cross Country. Decatur's athletic teams consistently compete with those of schools two, three, and four times its own size, each year ranking among the top teams in the state. Decatur High's football, and soccer programs play at the 8,000 seat Ogle Stadium on the southern end of the campus.
- Decatur's football program continues to dominate Northern Alabama's top football teams, each year defeating even the largest high school in the state, Bob Jones High School.
- Decatur has defeated cross-town rival Austin High School, a school twice the size of DHS, many times, with the leading number of wins in the rivalry.
- Due to the AHSAA Class Re-Alignments, Decatur has been moved to class 5A. The drop in class is not due to a shrinking student population, or due to a drop in athletic ability like a large portion of people believe; in reality Decatur High is continuing to grow in student population, and because of the new rules of the AHSAA Class Alignments, the Decatur High Developmental Program was not counted as part of the regular student population.
- Fine arts: The Decatur High School's Chorus and Concert Bands have consistently received superior ratings in both District and State competitions.
- Decatur High has the longest string of District Competition Superior Ratings in Alabama, dating back to the competition's formation in 1947.
- Decatur High also continues to lead in number of Alabama Bandmasters State Competition Superior Ratings at 57, more than any other high school in state history.
- The graduating class of 2006 was awarded more than 5 million dollars in scholarships out of the 8 million dollars offered to students in the Decatur City Schools.
- 99% of the school's seniors passed the Alabama High School Graduation Exam in 2005.
- Decatur high has a graduation rate of 98%.
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Decatur High School's ranking?
Decatur High School is ranked #627 out of 1,285 schools, which ranks it among the top 50% of public schools in Alabama.
What schools are Decatur High School often compared to?
Decatur High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Austin High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
32% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 29% AL state average), while 34% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% AL state average).
What is the graduation rate of Decatur High School?
The graduation rate of Decatur High School is 90%, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 88%.
How many students attend Decatur High School?
1,026 students attend Decatur High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
36% of Decatur High School students are Hispanic, 32% of students are White, 25% of students are Black, 5% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Decatur High School?
Decatur High School has a student ration of 15:1, which is lower than the Alabama state average of 17:1.
What grades does Decatur High School offer ?
Decatur High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Decatur High School part of?
Decatur High School is part of Decatur City School District.
School Reviews
Review Decatur High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.
