{{short description|School district in Georgia (U.S. state)}} {{about|the school district in Decatur, Georgia|the school district in Decatur, Alabama|Decatur City Schools}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox school district | name = City Schools of Decatur | image = | logo = DecaturCitySDGAlogo.jpg | logo_size = 170px | motto = | type = | budget = | established = | streetaddress = 125 Electric Avenue | city = Decatur | state = Georgia | zipcode = 30030 | country = USA | grades = Pre-kindergarten – 12 | superintendent = Dr. Gyimah Whitaker | schools = 10 | us_nces_district_id = {{NCES District ID|1301680|district_name=City Schools of Decatur|access_date=28 October 2024|ref_name=NCES}} | faculty = 448.60 (FTE)<ref name="NCES" /> | enrollment = 5,655 (2022–23)<ref name="NCES" /> | ratio = 12.61<ref name="NCES" /> | staff = 374.90 (FTE)<ref name="NCES" /> | conference = | accreditation = Southern Association of Colleges and Schools<br />Georgia Accrediting Commission | free_label = Telephone | free_text = (404) 371-3601 | coordinates = {{Coord |33.770520|-84.301770|display=inline,title|type:edu}} | website = {{URL|https://www.csdecatur.net/|csdecatur.net}} }}

The '''City Schools of Decatur''' is a public charter school district in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charter for City Schools of Decatur |url=https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Charter-Schools/Committee%20Members/Decatur%20City%20Schools-.pdf |access-date=February 19, 2023 |format=PDF}}</ref> It serves and is based in Decatur, Georgia.

City Schools of Decatur has an enrollment of approximately 5,700 students and operates 10 schools: one preschool, five K–2 lower elementary schools, two 3–5 upper elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.<ref name="aboutCSD">{{cite web|title=About City Schools of Decatur|url=https://www.csdecatur.net/domain/494|publisher=City Schools of Decatur|accessdate=August 25, 2017}}</ref> They also run a virtual academy.<ref name=":0" />

== History == The system opened in 1902 serving grades K-8. The districts first high school was originally established in 1912.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Earle |first=Joe |title=Decatur |date=2010 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing Inc |isbn=978-0-7385-8624-3 |series=Images of America |location=Mount Pleasant}}</ref> In 1913, the Glennwood School was built, serving both high school and elementary students.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |title=DeKalb History Center: Decatur City Schools – Scrapbooks |url=https://dekalbhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/dekalb-history-center-decatur-city-schools-collection.pdf |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=DeKalb History Center}}</ref> The Glennwood School ceased hosting high school students in 1915 and became Decaturs only elementary school.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=History of Glennwood |url=https://glennwood.csdecatur.net/our-school/history-of-glennwood |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=glennwood.csdecatur.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1915, Oakhurst Elementary was built.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://oakhurstel.weebly.com/about.html |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Oakhurst ElementaryAn EL Education School}}</ref> Winnona Park school opened on September 17, 1923.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Our School |url=https://winnonapark.csdecatur.net/our-school/history |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=winnonapark.csdecatur.net |language=en-US}}</ref> Clairemont Elementary was opened in 1936.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://clairemontelementary.weebly.com/about.html |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Clairemont Elementary |language=en}}</ref>

Winnona Park school survived two fires, one in 1959, the other in 1975.<ref name=":3" />

Glennwood Elementary was renovated in 2002.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Whisenhunt |first=Dan |date=2014-04-24 |title=Elementary history – Glennwood marks 100 years |url=https://www.decaturish.com/news/decatur/elementary-history-glennwood-marks-100-years/article_b82ec9f6-4a3e-58f2-b3bc-839b04531782.html |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Decaturish |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

In 2004, CSD closed down Westchester Elementary School due to low enrollment numbers. The school later reopened in 2014 due to a "surge in enrollment."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whisenhunt |first=Dan |date=2013-10-28 |title=Reminder: Westchester Elementary zoning meeting is tonight |url=https://www.decaturish.com/archives/reminder-westchester-elementary-zoning-meeting-is-tonight/article_7c952265-e2f4-5edb-8555-35ead313cf4c.html |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Decaturish |language=en}}</ref> In 2013, a new wing was added to Oakhurst Elementary to meet this increased enrollment.<ref name=":2" />

From 2004 to 2011, the building which now houses Glennwood Elementary served as the districts fourth and fifth grade academy. The school was reverted back to serving K-3 grade following the opening of the 4/5 Academy in 2011<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://fave.csdecatur.net/our-school/about-us/history |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=fave.csdecatur.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

On February 14 2013, President Barrack Obama visited the students at the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center, before making a speech at the nearby Decatur Community Recreation Center.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-02-14 |title=Remarks by the President on Early Childhood Education -- Decatur, GA |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/14/remarks-president-early-childhood-education-decatur-ga |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=whitehouse.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, the district opened the Talley Street Upper Elementary School, serving fourth and fifth grade students.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banks |first=Bill |title=New Decatur school set to open Thursday |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/new-decatur-school-set-open-thursday/WrLMbbS5P8G4Gtto2AEcFI/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Decaturish.com |date=2019-08-01 |title=Talley Street Upper Elementary opens in Decatur |url=https://www.decaturish.com/news/decatur/talley-street-upper-elementary-opens-in-decatur/article_aea1fefa-2b59-53d4-9f3c-4fe2fb62fd33.html |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Decaturish |language=en}}</ref> The same years, the district permanently changed its elementary schools to now only service K-2. The third grade students were soon moved to the two upper elementary schools, who began serving grades 3-5.<ref name=":5" />

In 2022, CSD changed the name of the middle school from Carl G. Renfroe Middle to Beacon Hill Middle. The name change was intended to represent Decatur's previously thriving African-American Beacon Hill community and to help preserve the history of the area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seiler |first=Zoe |date=2022-05-11 |title=Decatur School Board renames Renfroe Middle School to Beacon Hill Middle School |url=https://decaturish.com/2022/05/decatur-school-board-renames-renfroe-middle-school-to-beacon-hill-middle-school/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Decaturish |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fonville |first=Christine |date=2022-05-17 |title=City Schools of Decatur board votes on new name for middle school |url=https://thechampionnewspaper.com/city-schools-of-decatur-board-votes-on-new-name-for-middle-school/#:~:text=At%20a%20May%2010%20board,to%20Beacon%20Hill%20Middle%20School. |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Champion Newspaper {{!}} 404-373-7779 {{!}} Georgia |language=en-US}}</ref>

In Spring 2025, CSD held its first Special Olympics competition at the Decatur high school sports stadium. The event featured students with developmental disabilities to participate in events such as soccer, yard bowling, and tug-of-war. The event was open to the public and intended to promote disability awareness to the community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bass |first=Jim |date=2025-03-20 |title=City Schools of Decatur to host inaugural Special Olympics competition on March 26 |url=https://decaturish.com/2025/03/decatur-high-to-host-inaugural-special-olympics-competition-on-march-26/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Decaturish |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Academics == Students perform above the state and national averages on standardized tests at all grade levels. Each year City Schools of Decatur has ranked in the top ten districts in Georgia for SAT performance. Decatur High School has been named an AP Challenge and AP Merit school in Georgia.<ref name="aboutCSD" /> The average amount of experience among teachers is 13 years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About Us / Overview |url=https://www.csdecatur.net/domain/494 |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=www.csdecatur.net |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025, Talley Street School and Beacon Hill Middle School were presented banners by Georgia State Superintendent Richard Woods in recognition of their latest literacy and math scores, respectively. The recognition was based on the 2023-2024 Georgia Milestones Assessments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bass |first=Jim |date=2025-03-26 |title=State Superintendent Woods recognizes Talley Street and Beacon Hill as State Leader Schools |url=https://decaturish.com/2025/03/state-superintendent-woods-recognizes-talley-street-and-beacon-hill-as-state-leader-schools/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Decaturish |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Schools ==

=== Current Schools ===

==== Preschool ==== *College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center

==== Elementary schools ==== *Clairemont Elementary School (K–2) *Glennwood Elementary School (K–2) *Oakhurst Elementary School (K–2) *Westchester Elementary School (K–2) *Winnona Park Elementary School (K–2) *Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School (3–5) *Talley Street Upper Elementary School (3–5)

==== Middle school ==== *Beacon Hill Middle School (6–8) (Formerly: Carl G. Renfroe Middle School)

==== High school ==== *Decatur High School (9–12)

==== Virtual Academy ==== "Virtual instruction is offered via electronic platforms. We use Georgia Virtual School as our main platform for students grades 6-12 and Pearson Connexus as our primary platform for elementary students. Virtual courses in these platforms are provided by Georgia-certified educators. In addition to the coursework, CSD staff provides daily check-ins, advisement, executive functioning support, academic intervention, social skills intervention. We work closely with students, families, and supporting professionals to address the needs of individual students."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decatur Virtual Academy / Homepage |url=https://www.csdecatur.net/Domain/1659 |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=www.csdecatur.net |language=en}}</ref>

=== Former Schools ===

==== Elementary schools ====

* Beacon Elementary School (K-8) (Closed in 1977)

==== High school ====

* Trinity High School (9-12) (Closed in 1967)

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Portal|Georgia (U.S. state)|Schools}} *[https://www.csdecatur.net/ City School of Decatur] {{Decatur, Georgia}} {{Education in DeKalb County, Georgia}}

Category:School districts in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Education in DeKalb County, Georgia Category:Decatur, Georgia