Public school in Decatur, Georgia, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| Decatur High School | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
 Decatur High School in 2006 | |
| Address | |
 | |
310 North McDonough Street , 30030-3393 | |
| Coordinates | 33°46′15″N 84°17′50″W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public High School |
| Motto | Carpe Diem |
| Established | 1912 |
| School district | City Schools of Decatur |
| Principal | Duane Sprull |
| Teaching staff | 130.90 (FTE)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 1,834 (2023–2024)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 14.01[1] |
| Campus | Urban |
| Color(s) | Navy and gold |
| Mascot | Bulldog |
| Accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Region | 4 in Class AAAAA (GHSA) |
| Website | csdecatur.net/dhs |
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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