Decatur High School (Georgia)

Last updated

Decatur High School
DecaturHSfromFlickr.jpg
Decatur High School in 2006
Address
Decatur High School (Georgia)
310 North McDonough Street

Decatur
,
Georgia
30030-3393

United States
Coordinates 33°46′15″N84°17′50″W / 33.770932°N 84.297273°W / 33.770932; -84.297273
Information
TypePublic High School
Motto Carpe Diem
Established1912
School district City 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   
Mascot Bulldog
Accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Region4 in Class AAAAA (GHSA)
Website csdecatur.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.

Contents

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

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

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

Academic

2010–2011

  • 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

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

2023–2024

  • 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]

2024–2025

  • 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

2019–2020

  • The Boys Cross Country Team won the Class 5A State Championship in 2019, the school's first State Title in Cross County [21] [22]

2021–2022

  • On 14, May, 2022 the girls ultimate frisbee team won the state girls ultimate frisbee championship, ending their season undefeated. [23]

2022–2023

  • 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. [24]

Controversies

Racial discrimination controversy

In May of 2020 a video began circulating showing a DHS student, and son of DHS IB coordinator and instructional coach Cheryl Nahamias, holding a toy gun, using racial slurs and threatening black DHS students. [25] [26] [27] Cheryl Nahamias was demoted and reassigned to a job in CSD's central offices after defending her sons actions. In December of 2020 Cheryl Nahamias, who is white, filed a racial discrimination suit against City Schools of Decatur, stating through her attorney that "[I] believe the City Schools of Decatur has violated Dr. Nahmias' civil, constitutional, and educational privacy rights. We intend to prove that [Superintendent David] Dude and his administration have created a work environment that is hostile to legally protected speech and whistleblowers. ... We intend to hold CSD and its administrators accountable for this egregious conduct.". [28] In January of 2022 it was reported that CSD settled with Cheryl Nahamias out of court and agreed to pay her three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. [29]

Football spectator misconduct

At a football game played in late August 2022 against Flowery Branch High School Decatur High School students spat on members of the Flowery Branch High School band, pulled feathers from the hats of members of the FBHS band and sexually harassed the FBHS majorettes. [30] Additionally students from DHS consumed alcohol and drugs, got into fights, and vandalized the stadium. [30]

Notable alumni

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Decatur High School". National Center for Education Statistics . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 "About Us / Academic Profile". www.csdecatur.net. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  10. 1 2 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 "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. ↑ Tirouvanziam, Adrien. "Decatur boys' cross-country team wins state championship". 3TEN. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Georgia GHSA Cross Country State Championships - News - Georgia State XC Meet Recap 2019". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  23. ↑ Seiler, Zoe (May 16, 2022). "Decatur High School girls ultimate frisbee team wins state championship". Decaturish. Decaturish. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Decatur High School Cross County Teams wins state championship". December 21, 2022.
  25. ↑ "City Schools of Decatur investigates video showing son of Decatur High admin making racist threats". May 28, 2020.
  26. ↑ "White Woman Files Discrimination Suit Against Georgia School District After Being Transferred for Defending Son's Racist Remarks". January 21, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Heartbroken, fearful: Decatur residents say teen's video is latest example of climate of racism in city". May 29, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Decatur High admin whose son made racist video sues school district for racial discrimination". January 20, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Decatur Schools' insurer pays $350k to settle claims of former employee whose son made racist comments". January 12, 2022.
  30. 1 2 "High school sets new policy after principal says kids spit on rival's band members". August 25, 2022.
  31. ↑ Kloer, Phil (March 29, 1987). "The Blount Truth". nl.newsbank.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Former UGA, NFL Offensive Lineman Pete Case Dies At 67". georgiadogs.com. December 24, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Felipe Claybrooks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  34. ↑ Shearer, Ed. "Georgia Tech to face different Vic this time". The Ledger. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  35. ↑ Hill, Karen (November 2, 2001). "Proud sports history honored at Decatur". nl.newsbank.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Obituary for Gordon B. Kelley at Lorne and Sons Funeral Home". www.lorneandsons.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  37. ↑ Ellis, Ralph (December 21, 2012). "Georgia Tech Football Great Larry Morris Dies". Midtown, GA Patch. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  38. ↑ Dusen, Christine Van (March 1, 2013). "This Story May Contain Spoilers". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  39. ↑ Cardoso, Paul (April 21, 2022). "Morgan Saylor – Biography, Family Info, Everything You Need To Know". Buzz. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  40. ↑ "David Sims". www.jt-sw.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  41. ↑ 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.
  42. ↑ Nislick, Tzali (June 13, 2022). "Georgia-born Herb White is making ghost stories real | Score Atlanta". scoreatl.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Daniel Wilcox - Director of Player Personnel & Recruiting - Staff Directory". Georgia State University. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
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