Decatur City School District
School District · Decatur, Alabama
Avg Rating
7.2
out of 10
Schools
18
12 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,832
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Avg Rating
7.2
out of 10
Schools
18
12 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,832
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Evaluating Decatur City?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Decatur City as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School
Decatur · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Eastwood Elementary School
Decatur · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Walter Jackson Elementary School
Decatur · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Alabama rank
#32 of 141
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.8
above Alabama avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,832
+$2,024 vs Alabama median
District size
8,665 students
Much larger than Alabama median
The short answer
Decatur City ranks #32 of 141 Alabama districts by overall school rating. Decatur City's schools with real test data average 7.1/10 across 17 schools. Its top-rated schools are Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School (9.3/10), Eastwood Elementary School (9.1/10), and Walter Jackson Elementary School (9.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.1/10 despite 71% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Decatur City schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Decatur City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (17 of 18). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Eastwood Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Walter Jackson Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Frances Nungester Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Julian Harris Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Austinville Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Bankscaddell Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Chestnut Grove Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Woodmeade Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Oak Park Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
See all 18 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Decatur City
Decatur City is a Decatur, Alabama school district serving 18 schools. The district educates 8,665 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1. The district invests $14,832 per student annually.
With an average rating of 7.2/10, Decatur City is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School, which has a composite score of 9.3/10.
In standardized testing, Decatur City students show an average math proficiency of 52.6% and ELA proficiency of 54.1%.
The district includes 12 elementary schools , 2 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Decatur City, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Decatur City with test data.
Schools in Decatur City
18 schools Elementary Schools 12
Middle Schools 2
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Alabama
- City
- Decatur
- Total Enrollment
- 8,665
- Teachers (FTE)
- 555
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Decatur City?
Decatur City has 18 schools in total — 12 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Decatur City?
The average composite rating for Decatur City is 7.2/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Decatur City?
Decatur City spends $14,832 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Decatur City?
The average student-teacher ratio in Decatur City is 15.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Decatur City?
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Decatur City with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What are the test scores in Decatur City?
Across schools in Decatur City with test data, the average math proficiency is 52.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 54.1%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Decatur City compare to other districts in Alabama?
Decatur City has an average school rating of 7.2/10 across 18 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Alabama by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 52.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 54.1%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in AL
Compare Decatur City with neighboring districts in the state.
- Mobile County (92)
- Jefferson County (57)
- Montgomery County (52)
- Birmingham City (49)
- Huntsville City (45)
- Baldwin County (44)
- Tuscaloosa County (36)
- Shelby County (33)
- Madison County (30)
- Cullman County (27)
- Etowah County (24)
- Tuscaloosa City (21)
- Calhoun County (20)
- St Clair County (20)
- Hoover City (18)
- Dothan City (18)
- Jackson County (18)
- Morgan County (18)
- Talladega County (18)
- Walker County (18)
- Blount County (17)
- Elmore County (17)
- Limestone County (17)
- Houston County (16)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Alabama Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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