2023 Best Schools in DeKalb County

• Atlanta, GA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  69 reviews

Senior: The teachers at Paideia School are some of the most dedicated and caring people; they work hard to make sure all students understand the material, and it’s not hard to ask for help if needed. Paideia is working in increasing diversity and promoting equity with the help of the students. They are always ready to learn, even if their progress isn’t complete.... Read 69 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,023

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Atlanta, GA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  148 reviews

Alum: Like any other high school student you can always find things to complain about, but looking back a few years post grad I realize how truly lucky I am to have received an education of this quality. Compared to my college peers, I was better prepared to face and conquer college level courses. While friends were struggling with the pace and rigor of the transition into college I was able to balance my social, work, and educational lifestyle with relative ease over my 4 years. I firmly believe that you cannot find more phenomenal educators, facilities, or level of college preparation anywhere in the Atlanta area. Finally beyond the “teen misery” of high school, I will always look back at my Marist days with a familiar fondness and profound gratitude.... Read 148 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,100

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Atlanta, GA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  12 reviews

Parent: Overall, MIS has been a phenomenal school for our child. She has been allowed to grow and blossom in ways that no other school allowed for as they recognize her strengths and gifts and know how to foster and encourage them. The small size of classes allows her to develop trusting relationships with her teachers and allows the teachers to get to know each student so that they may individualize and differentiate the curriculum for each student - amazing! The staff goes out of their way to build relationships with the parents; they are always available for meetings and parent education opportunities. We are so delighted that we have found MIS and are continually impressed with their emphasis on the global world, student talents and giftedness, and the problem solving curriculum. It is a unique and much needed school for the ever-changing world.... Read 12 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 234

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Atlanta, GA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  20 reviews

Parent: My son graduated BFA (class of 2021), he is on the autism spectrum . Not only that BFA got him where he wanted to be (now freshman at Emory- this was his first choice), but also, he feels prepared for college. The classes he is taking now, feel challenging but not overwhelming. I was really worried about him going to college but so far so good, BFA was the right place for us. THANK YOU BFA!... Read 20 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 140

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1

• Atlanta, GA•

• Private School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.62 out of 5  13 reviews

Parent: Opened in 2016 & formerly known as Rivers Academy Atlanta, Capstone is academically rigorous, passionate about students having a balanced life & teachers who are committed to going above & beyond to offer the most well-rounded educational experience possible. The honors level academics are challenging & require a student to be committed to their studies. The 3 day school week is tailored to allow students with outside passions to have time to pursue athletics, acting, music, independent studies & anything else that makes your child who they are! The school is intentionally small to allow for a close knit community. Families thrive knowing their student is developing their academic curiosity, becoming critical thinkers & establishing lifelong relationships with their friends and teachers. Capstone is quickly becoming the school of choice for families looking to break free of the traditional one size fits all approach to school! It’s a game-changer!... Read 13 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 137

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Atlanta, GA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  131 reviews

Senior: I really like Pius because it provides its students with a safe environment where they can pursue their education. Most people are friendly, and the counseling department is awesome!... Read 131 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,077

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Dekalb County Schools, GA•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  206 reviews

Parent: Dekalb School of the Arts is an excellent school. The faculty are wonderful and the students are talented and nice. The review below that claims there are "rodents scurrying across the floors" is a tremendous exaggeration from 3 and a half years ago, when they found one deceased squirrel in a storeroom. All of the maintenance issues have been resolved since the county got in trouble for maintaining all of its schools! This school will help your child grow up in a healthy, accepting environment, and achieve greater confidence and self-understanding.... Read 206 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 411

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Dekalb County Schools, GA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  610 reviews

Alum: I went to Chamblee for all 4 years of high school and overall it was a good experience. Chamblee is a very diverse school and has many different sports and clubs for students to get involved in. Chamblee is a very competitive school academically and it can be very overwhelming at times (don't overload yourself with APs just because all your friends are taking them). There is an overall lack of communication between administration, teachers, and students which caused a lot of frustration and there is a lack of college readiness and support from counselors. There is also a separation of magnet and resident kids which was hard when being a resident kid. I often felt my needs were brushed aside for magnet kids. Overall though, I had a good 4 years. I made lots of friends and had a lot of fun. Remember! Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and advocate for your education because they're lot's of teachers who care for you and want to help you succeed here.... Read 610 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,755

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• City Schools of Decatur, GA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  344 reviews

Alum: Decatur High School houses at most 900 students. As an International Baccalaureate school, worldly perspectives and learning are encouraged. Education is taken very seriously by the teachers, however most of them are helpful and do an excellent job of connecting with the students. There is a good sense of community at DHS because it’s in a small tight knit town where many students grew up with each other since elementary school. Although there is some diversity, Decatur could do a lot more to support and listen to students of color. There is a decent socioeconomic gap between students and this can affect some students scholastic experience. There are different classes for students learning at different rates, however the school could do better with encouragement in this area. Overall, Decatur High School is a good high school with strong academics. It could just use a little more school spirit.... Read 344 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,686

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Decatur, GA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  44 reviews

Parent: My sister is a founding teacher at Academe of the Oaks. She is compassionate, smart, involved, has a chemistry PhD, was a college professor, and is one of the teachers at Academe. Other Academe teachers have masters, PhDs, are from other countries, love their area of study, and are compassionate. Academe faculty have chosen to spend their lives immersing our children in experiences. And the experiences, while directed at the mind & body are conducted by compassionate people who know their subject. Rigorous subject matter is experienced: advanced sciences, Shakespeare, and on campus bee-keeping, goats and chickens, an organic garden, all cared for by the students. Group travel for culture, for science, and extended study abroad are part of the Academe life. And the faculty meet regionally and nationally to share and consider new approaches to the process. Four years of life immersed in learning by experience results in a person curious and excited.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A

• Students 97

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• City Schools of Decatur, GA•

• PK, K-2

• grade A

• Students 360

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• City Schools of Decatur, GA•

• PK, K-2

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: Parent involvement is excellent and teachers/admin are top notch. School is well maintained and classrooms are filled with a variety of learning exhibits and engaging material.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 235

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Dekalb County Schools, GA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  341 reviews

Senior: I like Dunwoody High School's chance for everyone to prevail and truly understand their potential. Not only do students get opportunities like incentives for their improvement in classes, WHAS-UP tutoring , a student-led program for National Honor Society members to tutor other students of various subject areas and classes. With several alums being in prestigious universities, scholarships, and programs, this school offers out-of-school opportunities with school staff involvement. Some programs my friends and I have been acquainted with, through the school, are the Governor's Honors Program, Nation Merit Scholarships, and German Consulate Scholarships.... Read 341 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,148

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• City Schools of Decatur, GA•

• PK, K-2

• grade A

• Students 203

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• City Schools of Decatur, GA•

• PK, K-2

• grade A

• Students 228

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• City Schools of Decatur, GA•

• 3-5

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Parent: It is, in general, a good school. But teacher turn over is HIGH and you play the teacher lottery. Many are great, some are ok but there are several that are not good and a few that are terrible. Also, there is over 900 student currently enrolled. My daughter is in a "module" which is a fancy word for a trailer. Decatur did not plan well for how many people have moved here.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 645

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• City Schools of Decatur, GA•

• PK, K-2

• grade A

• Students 365

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Dekalb County Schools, GA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  200 reviews

Freshman: Dekalb Early College Academy is a wonderful school, not just with academics. DECA provides a wonderful set of admins and teachers who truly care about their students and want the best for them. The students are all fairly behaved and are courteous to other people and things around them. I enjoy seeing the staff and students each day as we all encourage each other to achieve one main goal point. The amount of healthy competition is beautiful and pushes me so hard as a student! Also, the alumni of the school are extraordinary mentors and are very encouraging.... Read 200 reviews

• grade A

• Students 310

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• City Schools of Decatur, GA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 2.43 out of 5  7 reviews

Niche User: As a former teacher at Renfroe, I can attest to the fact that this is indeed an outstanding school. The students are actively involved in engaging, thought-provoking learning activities that help them grow and develop. Exciting programs are implemented at each grade level and keep the students engaged and thinking about the world in a broader context than other schools. The teachers are extremely dedicated to the growth and development of the students there.... Read 7 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,377

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Dekalb County Schools, GA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  498 reviews

Freshman: it is a good school. Lakeside High School is a public high school in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The school is part of the DeKalb County School System. Lakeside is a public school encompassing grades 9-12. The school serves students from the North Druid Hills and Northlake area of the DeKalb County School District. Lakeside High School opened its doors in 1964. It completed a $23 million renovation and addition in the summer of 2012, adding a new classroom wing and a performing arts building. In Newsweek magazine's 2005 list of the best 1,200 public high schools in the nation, Lakeside ranked at 107, the highest in Georgia. In the 2006 edition of the list, which is based on the number of AP and IB tests taken as compared to the number of graduating seniors, Lakeside ranked 135, just below Riverwood High School in nearby Sandy Springs, which ranked 132.... Read 498 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 2,119

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Atlanta Public Schools, GA•

• K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 708

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Atlanta Public Schools, GA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 634

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Dekalb County Schools, GA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  316 reviews

Senior: I am currently a rising senior at Druid Hills. It is truly an amazing experience to go to school here. Never know what’s going to happen next. Due to the age of the building our school was falling apart, but through the hard work of our student body and faculty we petitioned the school board to award us a grant to fix our school. The teachers and culture here is amazing and i couldnt imagine going anywhere else. Go Devils!... Read 316 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,332

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Dekalb County Schools, GA•

• 4-6

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Freshman: Best school of my life! I wanna go back to it. The middle school is horrible though. Club days were the best.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 478

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Dekalb County Schools, GA•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: Wonderful school worh solid focus on education. Teachers strive hard to provide good quality material. We are very happy about the school's new building as well.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 682

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1