Decatur High School
Decatur High School was established in 1912, but the current building was erected in 1965 and is located in the heart of the City of Decatur, walking distance from the Courthouse Square and MARTA.
Throughout Decatur High School’s proud history there has been a strong emphasis on academic achievement. The students’ consistent above-average performance on standardized tests is a testimony to that focus. Members of the faculty are highly trained professionals who make every effort to ensure the success of all of their students. This is facilitated by a relatively small teacher/student ratio which allows teachers to give special attention to the needs of individual students. Typically, 85% of our graduating seniors continue their education after high school and, of those, 85% qualify for HOPE scholarships. In addition to the academic program, students have a wide variety of athletics and activities with which to become involved.
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Phone: 404-370-4420
Address: 310 N. McDonough Street Decatur, GA 30030
Grades: 9 – 12
Hours: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Principal: Lauri McKain
Carl G. Renfroe Middle School
Carl G. Renfroe Middle School, named for one of our former superintendents, is the newest school building in our school district. It was built in 1972 to service students in grades 6-8. The building originally housed 7th and 8th grades and 6th grade was added later. At the time grades 5 and 6 were served at Beacon Elementary.
It was in 1972 that Decatur received a court order to completely desegregate their schools. The order was given on a Friday and they were given until Monday as a deadline. Districts were changed, desks and books were moved, teachers moved their classrooms and bus routes were redrawn over one weekend.
Dr. Carl Renfroe retired as superintendent in 1975. By this time Decatur had the highest percentage of teachers with Masters or higher degrees than any other school system in Georgia.
The student body at Renfroe Middle School is representative of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds and ability levels which is highly valued and promoted. The faculty members are professionals who are committed to cultivating and nurturing achievement in all students which is evidenced by the school’s consistently high performance on state and national achievement tests.
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Phone: 404-370-4440
Address: 220 West College Avenue Decatur, GA 30030
Grades: 6 – 8
Hours: 8:45 am – 3:45 pm
Principal: Derrick Thomas
Glennwood Elementary
Glennwood has a long history of serving the Decatur City community. Opening in 1913, it is Decatur’s oldest school facility. In the 2011-12 school year we will open our doors as a kindergarten through third grade school. This will be an exciting year as students, teachers and parents work together to build a new Expeditionary Learning school!
Our Crew is working hard this summer to prepare for the 2011-12 school year. Teachers are involved in professional development and planning. Maintenance crews are preparing the building as well as helping teachers move. The Technology Department has been working non-stop to have Glennwood up and running day one. We are grateful for their “whatever it takes” attitudes!
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Phone: 404-370-4435
Address: 440 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
Grades: K-3
Hours: 8:00 am – 2:30 pm
Principal: Dianna Herron-Watson
Clairemont Elementary
Nestled within the Great Lakes neighborhood of Decatur, Clairemont Elementary School is surrounded on all sides by neighborhood homes. There have been changes since Clairemont was built in 1936. In 1951 a lunchroom and 2 classrooms were added. In 2001 a renovation of Clairemont was completed using SPLOST funds. Improvements included new heating and air conditioning, a new media center and new classrooms. In 2005 four new classrooms as well as a new playground and covered P.E. area were added to the facility.
The faculty and staff at Clairemont share a strong commitment to maintaining a challenging, nonjudgmental, cooperative, and friendly school environment, believing that it is in this type of environment that children learn best.??Instructionally, Clairemont focuses on a national school design called Expeditionary Learning, which is a hands-on, project-based, approach to learning. Teachers lead students to be responsible for their own learning in a hands-on experiential manner.??Teachers assess and revise their instruction using the framework from the Schlechty’s Working on the Work to assure that content is challenging and minds-on. All content is based on state and local curriculum requirements.
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Phone: 404-370-4450
Address: 155 Erie Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
Grades: K – 3
Hours: 8:00 am – 2:30 pm
Principal: Erin Wheeler
Oakhurst Elementary
The Town of Oakhurst was annexed into the City of Decatur in 1915. That same year, the city began building a new elementary school to house the children of the Oakhurst community. Oakhurst Elementary boasted nine classrooms and an auditorium. The staff consisted of the principal, Miss Mamie Barnes, and six teachers.
As the population of the school grew, four additional classrooms were added in 1928. Seventy-three years later, Oakhurst Elementary underwent a major renovation. The interior of the building was updated to a modern showcase housing state of the art technology, while the exterior retained its 20th historical charm.
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Phone: 404-370-4470
Address: 175 Mead Road, Decatur, GA 30030
Grades: K – 3
Hours: 8:00 am – 2:30 pm
Principal: Mary Mack
Winnona Park Elementary
Winnona Park School opened its doors on September 17, 1923, housing six grammar school grades for 175 students who had previously attended Decatur’s Glennwood and Oakhurst schools. Until 1935, the auditorium doubled as two classrooms and a lunchroom. The building was designed by architect J.W. Sayward. In 1941 the cost of lunch was 7 cents. In 1943, hot lunch service was provided at a price of 10 cents. The school building has survived two fires, the first in 1959, and then in 1975.
Student enrollment in Winnona Park has remained fairly constant. The exceptional years were 1940-1960. There were 313 students enrolled in 1942, and the school had double sessions from 8 am to noon and from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For many years the grades consisted of one through seven. For a brief period in the 1960s, the seventh grade attended Decatur Junior High School and Winnona Park housed grades one through six. With the addition of kindergarten and the relocation of both fourth and fifth grade to Glennwood Academy, and sixth and seventh grades to Renfroe Middle School, the school currently houses kindergarten through third grades.
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Phone: 404-370-4490
Address: 510 Avery Street, Decatur, GA 30030
Grades: K – 3
Hours: 8:00 am – 2:30 pm
Principal: Gregory Wiseman