Decatur City Schools

Decatur's spending per student is one of the highest in the state, and higher than many places in the nation.

The Decatur City School District was the first in North Alabama to offer the International Baccalaureate Programme. The system contains two IB Diploma Programme schools in the high schools, and two IB Primary Years Programme schools in the two magnet schools and three IB Middle Years Programme schools in the three middle schools. The Primary Years accredited schools are the first, and currently only, in Alabama. The Middle Years accredited schools are also the first and currently only in Alabama.

Source:

• Decatur City Schools was the first school system in Alabama to join a partnership with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
• High school bands have a longstanding history of superior ratings:
  • Decatur High School leads the state of Alabama with the most Superior Ratings at State Competition, with 57 superiors, since the competition's formation in 1946.
  • Decatur High School also has never received less than a Superior Rating at any District Competition since its formation.
  • Austin High School has the longest string of Superior Ratings at State Competition.
• The school system contained more International Baccalaureate Accredited schools than any other system in the State of Alabama.
  • It was the only system with two IB Diploma high schools.
  • It is the only system in the state that houses any elementary schools that have received IB Primary Years accreditation.
  • It was the only system in the state that houses any elementary schools that have received IB Middle Years accreditation.