Best High Schools in DeKalb County, Georgia
The Best High Schools in DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County is one of metro Atlanta's most diverse and educationally dynamic regions, home to everything from nationally recognized magnet programs to strong neighborhood schools serving communities across a wide range of backgrounds. Whether you're rooted in Decatur, relocating to Dunwoody, or exploring options across the county line, DeKalb offers a surprisingly wide spectrum of public high school experiences — and the differences between schools can be significant.
What makes this list especially interesting is that DeKalb County isn't the only game in town. The City Schools of Decatur operates as its own independent district entirely, and its flagship high school punches well above its weight. The rankings below pull from both systems and reflect real student performance data, giving families an honest, side-by-side look at where DeKalb's high schools actually stand.
1. DeKalb Early College Academy — DeKalb County, Stone Mountain
DeKalb Early College Academy is the clear academic standout in the county, ranking in the 98th percentile overall — with a jaw-dropping 99th percentile in Math and strong scores in English (95th) and Science (96th). This isn't a traditional high school: students earn college credit alongside their diploma, typically graduating with two years of college already under their belt. For academically driven families who want their student challenged from day one, DECA is in a league of its own.
2. DeKalb School of the Arts — DeKalb County, Avondale Estates
Sitting in the 96th percentile overall, DeKalb School of the Arts proves that a focus on creative disciplines doesn't come at the expense of academics. Students here lead with the arts — dance, theater, visual art, instrumental music — but the school's 99th percentile English scores tell you something important: this is a place where communication, critical thinking, and expression are taken seriously across every subject. Families with students who feel boxed in by conventional high school structures often find DSA feels like a revelation.
3. Decatur High School — City Schools of Decatur, Decatur
Decatur High School ranks in the 90th percentile overall, with exceptional scores in both English (93rd) and Science (96th). It's worth noting that Decatur operates under its own independent city school district — separate from DeKalb County — which gives it a distinctive identity and tight community feel that many families find appealing. The city of Decatur has long attracted families who prioritize walkability, local culture, and strong schools, and Decatur High delivers on that reputation.
4. Chamblee High School — DeKalb County, Chamblee
Chamblee High School lands in the 76th percentile overall, with standout English scores (90th) and solid Science performance (84th). It's one of DeKalb County's more academically competitive traditional high schools, drawing families from the Chamblee and Doraville corridors — an area known for its incredible cultural diversity and growing restaurant and arts scene. Families looking for a rigorous public school experience without the magnet application process often land on Chamblee as a top choice.
5. Dunwoody High School — DeKalb County, Dunwoody
Dunwoody High School ranks in the 65th percentile overall, with English scores in the 81st percentile leading the way. Dunwoody sits in one of DeKalb's more affluent zip codes, and the school benefits from an active parent community and strong extracurricular offerings. While Math scores (41st percentile) have room to grow, families who prioritize community involvement, school spirit, and a well-rounded suburban high school experience tend to feel right at home here.
6. Lakeside High School — DeKalb County, Atlanta
Lakeside High School ranks in the 59th percentile overall, with English performance (80th percentile) as its strongest academic area. Located in a leafy stretch of Atlanta just inside the DeKalb border, Lakeside has a long-standing reputation as a neighborhood school with deep alumni loyalty. It's the kind of place where families have been sending kids for generations, and that sense of continuity and community pride is genuinely part of the culture here.
7. Druid Hills High School — DeKalb County, Atlanta
Druid Hills also ranks in the 59th percentile overall, but with a notably different academic profile than Lakeside — its Science scores (83rd percentile) are among the stronger showings on this list, while Math (32nd percentile) is an area where students may need additional support. The school sits adjacent to the historic Druid Hills neighborhood and draws a creative, eclectic crowd. Families who value arts, history, and a school with genuine character often find Druid Hills a compelling fit.
8. Tucker High School — DeKalb County, Tucker
Tucker High School ranks in the 47th percentile overall, with relatively consistent — if modest — scores across English (56th), Math (36th), and Science (55th). Tucker is a school very much tied to its town: Tucker itself has been on an upswing in recent years, with a growing small-business corridor and a community that's increasingly invested in its local institutions. Families new to the area will find a school that's working to build on that momentum.
9. Southwest DeKalb High School — DeKalb County, Decatur
Southwest DeKalb ranks in the 34th percentile overall, with scores in English (50th), Math (26th), and Science (29th) that reflect real academic challenges facing the school and the community it serves. It's worth recognizing that Southwest DeKalb has historically been a hub of student athletics and community pride — the school's culture runs deep, even when the academic metrics lag behind. Families here often have strong ties to the school and the surrounding neighborhoods.
10. Miller Grove High School — DeKalb County, Lithonia
Miller Grove rounds out this list in the 33rd percentile overall, with Math (43rd percentile) actually emerging as a relative strength compared to Science (15th percentile) and English (36th). Located in Lithonia in the eastern part of the county, Miller Grove serves a community that faces significant resource gaps that inevitably show up in these numbers. Like Southwest DeKalb, the school carries a strong identity — particularly in athletics — and families in the area are often deeply loyal to it.
How We Rank Schools
The rankings on The School Advocate are built on publicly available student performance data, weighted to reflect the subjects that matter most for long-term academic success. English accounts for 40% of the overall score, Math accounts for 40%, and Science accounts for the remaining 20%. Percentile scores reflect how each school performs relative to all high schools across Georgia, giving you an apples-to-apples comparison regardless of district size or location. We don't factor in school funding levels, demographics, or subjective reputation — just academic outcomes.
Compare Schools Yourself
Numbers only tell part of the story, and every family's priorities are different. Head over to theschooladvocate.com/compare to build your own side-by-side comparison of any schools on this list. Whether you're weighing Chamblee against Dunwoody or trying to decide if a magnet program is the right fit for your student, the compare tool lets you dig into the data on your own terms.
Top High Schools
| Rank | School | District | City | English | Math | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dekalb Early College Academy | DeKalb County | Stone Mountain | 95 | 99 | 98 |
| 2 | DeKalb School of the Arts | DeKalb County | Avondale Estates | 99 | 92 | 96 |
| 3 | Decatur High School | City Schools of Decatur | Decatur | 93 | 78 | 90 |
| 4 | Chamblee High School | DeKalb County | Chamblee | 90 | 52 | 76 |
| 5 | Dunwoody High School | DeKalb County | Dunwoody | 81 | 41 | 65 |
| 6 | Lakeside High School | DeKalb County | Atlanta | 80 | 36 | 59 |
| 7 | Druid Hills High School | DeKalb County | Atlanta | 71 | 32 | 59 |
| 8 | Tucker High School | DeKalb County | Tucker | 56 | 36 | 47 |
| 9 | Southwest DeKalb High School | DeKalb County | Decatur | 50 | 26 | 34 |
| 10 | Miller Grove High School | DeKalb County | Lithonia | 36 | 43 | 33 |