- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Decatur, AL
Decatur High School
Federal NCES profile for Decatur High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010117000429
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 54
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Decatur High School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #3 of 4
- high schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 63.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Decatur High School has class sizes smaller than 83% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur High School ranks #3 of 4 high schools in Decatur, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Decatur High School held near 1,026 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 61.5 → 68.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 010117000429 · Decatur, AL High · MID · TRAD
915 enr · 15:1 · 63.2% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Austin High School (999 students)
Decatur High School held near 1,026 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 61.5 → 68.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Decatur High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Austin High Sc
Austin High School
999 students
- This school
Decatur High School
915 students
- Decatur Middle
Decatur Middle School
818 students
- Austin Middle
Austin Middle School
727 students
- Austin Junior
Austin Junior High School
664 students
- Oak Park Eleme
Oak Park Elementary School
481 students
What this shows Decatur High School reports 915 students on the CCD universe file.
How Decatur High School compares
Decatur High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | ▼ 15% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.2% | ▲ 7% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 915 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
915
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 17% in Alabama - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,832
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 229 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
250
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 27.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 39.5%
White 30.9%
African American 24.6%
Two or More 3.6%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 39.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.7, Decatur High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
District finance for Decatur City reports $14,832 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Decatur High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Decatur Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Austin Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Austin Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oak Park Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Decatur High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 664
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 481
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Decatur
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~915 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15:1)
Frequently asked questions about Decatur High School
How many students attend Decatur High School?
Decatur High School has 915 students enrolled. It is a high school in Decatur, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,040 (2022-23) → 1,026 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Decatur High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Decatur High School is 15:1, which is 15% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Decatur High School?
63.2% of students at Decatur High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Decatur High School?
The largest demographic group at Decatur High School is Hispanic or Latino at 39.5% of enrollment, in Decatur, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Decatur High School?
Decatur High School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Decatur High School rank among high schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur High School ranks #3 of 4 high schools in Decatur, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Decatur on the city page.
What other schools are in Decatur City?
Besides Decatur High School, Decatur City also operates Austin High School (999 students), Decatur Middle School (818 students), and Austin Middle School (727 students). See the Decatur City district page for the complete list.