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DeKalb High School Named Georgia School of Excellence

September 6th, 2013

State officials choose 28 Schools of Excellence each year: 2 from each of Georgia’s 14 congressional districts. State Superintendent John Barge said a school can be chosen for one of two reasons. The first is having the highest score on a state-issued report card.

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“The second way a school is chosen as a Georgia School of Excellence is being the school in the congressional district that makes the highest progress from year to year in improving student achievement,” Barge said.

That’s why DeKalb Early College Academy was chosen. At DECA, as it’s called, students are “scholars” and teachers “professors.” Sophomore Amira Daugherty credited her professors for the school’s success.

“They give us a lot of work but it’s to help us better understand the material,” she said. “And then they’re willing to assist you in class if you don’t understand something. So, they always give you the opportunity to succeed, which leads to excellence. And I feel that that’s why we were recognized as a School of Excellence.”

Through a partnership with Georgia Perimeter College, DECA offers college level courses to juniors and seniors. So, most students leave high school with a diploma and an Associate’s Degree.

DECA’s graduation rate was about 95% last year. That’s the highest in the DeKalb schools and well above the state average of 69%. They also received the Best High School Bronze Award from U.S. News and World Report.