Top Rankings
Decatur City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 15 public elementary schools serving 5,844 students in Decatur City School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Alabama.
ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Elementary Schools in Decatur City School District have an average math proficiency score of 29% (versus the Alabama public elementary school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Alabama public elementary school average of 49% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (AL)
# Schools
20 Schools
1,080 Schools
# Students
8,665 Students
515,920 Students
# Teachers
558 Teachers
29,146 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Decatur City School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 145 school districts in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 93% has increased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#74 out of 145 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
28%
30%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
38%
Graduation Rate
93%
88%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.71
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
35%
11%
% Black
29%
31%
% White
29%
51%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,581 is higher than the state median of $13,006. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,752 is higher than the state median of $12,220. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$126 MM
$9,671 MM
Spending
$128 MM
$9,086 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,581
$13,006
Spending / Student
$14,752
$12,220
Best Decatur City School District ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
801 Wilson St Nw
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3056
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3056
Gr: 3-5 | 290 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #22.
Eastwood Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1802 26th Ave Se
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3043
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3043
Gr: PK-5 | 270 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #33.
Walter Jackson Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1950 Park St Se
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3031
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3031
Gr: K-5 | 240 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Frances Nungester Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
726 Tammy St Sw
Decatur, AL 35603
(256) 552-3079
Decatur, AL 35603
(256) 552-3079
Gr: PK-5 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Julian Harris Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1922 Mcauliffe Dr Sw
Decatur, AL 35603
(256) 552-3096
Decatur, AL 35603
(256) 552-3096
Gr: PK-5 | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #66.
Woodmeade Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1400 19th Ave Sw
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3023
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3023
Gr: PK-5 | 351 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #77.
Chestnut Grove Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3205 Cedarhurst Dr Sw
Decatur, AL 35603
(256) 552-3092
Decatur, AL 35603
(256) 552-3092
Gr: PK-5 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #88.
Decatur Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1011 Prospect Drive Se
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3035
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3035
Gr: 6-8 | 792 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Austin Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2715 Danville Rd Sw
Decatur, AL 35603
(256) 552-4622
Decatur, AL 35603
(256) 552-4622
Gr: 6-8 | 713 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Bankscaddell Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
211 Gordon Dr Se
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3040
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3040
Gr: PK-5 | 447 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Austinville Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2320 Clara Ave Sw
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3050
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3050
Gr: PK-5 | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Oak Park Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1218 16th Ave Se
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3033
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3033
Gr: PK-5 | 517 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #1313.
West Decatur Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
708 Memorial Dr Sw
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3027
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3027
Gr: PK-5 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: n/an/a
Benjamin Davis Elementary School
Magnet School
417 Monroe Dr Nw
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3025
Decatur, AL 35601
(256) 552-3025
Gr: PK-2 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
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