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 | |
|---|---|
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 Decatur High School in 2006 | |
| Address | |
 | |
310 North McDonough Street , 30030-3393 | |
| Coordinates | 33°46′15″N 84°17′50″W / 33.770932°N 84.297273°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 |
Academics
editThe 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. 87% of the class of 2012 attended a four-year college and 58% met the HOPE Scholarship.[2]
The average scores for the PSAT, the SAT, and the Georgia High School Graduation Test are all above the state averages. 101 students took the ACT, and 149 students took the SAT by the fall 2012 semester. The school met Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2010–2011 school year. Students also have to take the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)[3] 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.[4][5] Sophomores may apply to the Diploma Programme after completion of the middle years programme.[4][5]
Accomplishments
editAcademic
edit2010–2011
edit- Became an AP Honor School and was included in The Washington Post's Challenge Index.[5]
- Five seniors entered the HerWorld competition and won by designing a smart toothbrush.[5]
2021–2022
edit- The DHS Mock Trial Team won the Georgia mock trial state championship[6]
Athletic
editAthletic activities include Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Swimming, Cross Country, and a number of other sports. The Boys Cross Country Team won the Class 5A State Championship in 2019, the school's first State Title in Cross County. On 14, May, 2022 the girls ultimate frisbee team won the state girls ultimate frisbee championship, ending their season undefeated.[7]
In 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.[8]
Controversies
editRacial discrimination controversy
editIn 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.[9][10][11] 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.".[12] 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.[13]
Football spectator misconduct
editAt 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.[14] Additionally students from DHS consumed alcohol and drugs, got into fights, and vandalized the stadium.[15] These events resulted in DHS implementing a new suite of policies intended to curb student misconduct at sporting events; including banning students from standing on the benches, increasing supervision of the event by members of the school staff and disallowing students from bringing bags into stadiums.[16]
Notable alumni
edit- Roy Blount, Jr., writer and humorist[17]
- Pete Case, former professional football player
- Felipe Claybrooks, former professional football player
- DeForest Kelley, actor[18]
- Gorden Kelley, former professional football player
- Larry Morris, former professional football player, College Football Hall of Fame member
- Morgan Saylor, actress
- David Sims, former professional football player
- Jordan Walker, professional baseball player
- Herb White, former professional basketball player
- Daniel Wilcox, former professional football player
References
edit- ^ a b c "Decatur High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "20122013SchoolProfile" (PDF). dhs.csdecatur.net. Decatur High School Counselors Office. Retrieved February 15, 2013.[dead link]
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Renfroe Middle School and Decatur High School International Baccalaureate-Middle Years Program". Decatur High School. City schools of Decatur. Retrieved February 14, 2013.[dead link]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Decatur High School mock trial team wins state championship". March 21, 2022.
- ^ Seiler, Zoe (May 16, 2022). "Decatur High School girls ultimate frisbee team wins state championship". Decaturish. Decaturish. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
- ^ "Decatur High School Cross County Teams wins state championship". December 21, 2022.
- ^ "City Schools of Decatur investigates video showing son of Decatur High admin making racist threats". May 28, 2020.
- ^ "White Woman Files Discrimination Suit Against Georgia School District After Being Transferred for Defending Son's Racist Remarks". January 21, 2021.
- ^ "Heartbroken, fearful: Decatur residents say teen's video is latest example of climate of racism in city". May 29, 2020.
- ^ "Decatur High admin whose son made racist video sues school district for racial discrimination". January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Decatur Schools' insurer pays $350k to settle claims of former employee whose son made racist comments". January 12, 2022.
- ^ "High school sets new policy after principal says kids spit on rival's band members". August 25, 2022.
- ^ "High school sets new policy after principal says kids spit on rival's band members".
- ^ "Principal: Decatur High students drank, destroyed property and made 'sexual comments' at football game". August 23, 2022.
- ^ Kloer, Phil. The Blount Truth." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. March 29, 1987.
- ^ "Proud sports history honored at Decatur." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 2, 2001. F1.