Miseducation | Decatur City School District | ProPublica

This database was last updated in October 2018, and its latest data is from the 2015-16 school year. Researchers can find more recent data at the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection site.

Miseducation » Alabama

Decatur City School District

302 4th Ave NE, Decatur, AL 35601

8,703 Students | 574 Teachers | 18 Schools | Under Desegregation Order

Compare This District to Other Districts

nearby

with higher/lower poverty rates

with more/fewer nonwhite students

District Composition
The Racial Divide

ProPublica has found that in school districts across the country, Black and Hispanic students are, on average, less likely to be selected for gifted programs and take AP courses than their white peers. They are also more likely, on average, to be suspended and expelled. Another measure of disparities is how segregated schools are in a district. Explore if disparities exist at this school across all racial groups. The first scores shown below are for racial groups with the highest disparities.

Opportunity

7x 

White students are 7 times as likely to be enrolled in at least one AP class as students of Two or More Races.

White students are 6.9 times as likely to be enrolled in at least one AP class as Black students.

White students are 5.6 times as likely to be enrolled in at least one AP class as Hispanic students.

A comparison between Asian, Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian students and White students enrolled at least one AP class is not available.

A comparison between Native American or Alaska Native students and White students enrolled at least one AP class is not available.

Discipline

 

No Hispanic students have been suspended, so cannot compare them to White students.

A comparison between Black students and White student suspensions is not available.

A comparison between Asian, Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian students and White student suspensions is not available.

A comparison between students of Two or More Races and White student suspensions is not available.

A comparison between Native American or Alaska Native students and White student suspensions is not available.

Segregation Index

Medium

Segregation between Black students students and White students is Medium, indicating that the distribution of these two racial groups among schools in this district is relatively uneven

Segregation between White students and Hispanic students is High, indicating that the distribution of these two racial groups among schools in this district isrelatively uneven

Achievement Gap

2.5 grades

Black students are, on average, academically 2.5 grades behind White students.

Hispanic students are, on average, academically 2.4 grades behind White students.

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Opportunity

School districts offer a variety of curricula and enrichment programs. Explore what advanced courses and specialized staff members are available for students in this district.


AP Course Composition

Gifted & Talented Composition

This District

State

Students

60% Nonwhite Students

54% Students Who Get Free/Reduced-Price Lunch

87% High School Graduation Rate

10% High School Students Taking at Least One AP Course

239 students

5% Students in a Gifted & Talented Program

407 students

34% Students Taking the SAT or ACT

835 students

3% Students Enrolled in Physics

72 students

18% Students Enrolled in Advanced Math

437 students

26% Students Enrolled in in Geometry

649 students

29% Students Enrolled in Biology

710 students

13% Students Enrolled in Chemistry

315 students

2% Students Enrolled in Calculus

40 students

2% Students Enrolled in 8th-Grade Algebra

163 students

Teachers & Resources

15.2 Students for Every Teacher

3% Inexperienced Teachers

47% Chronically Absent Teachers

(Missed more than 10 days in a 180-day school year)

12 Average Number of AP Courses per School

3.2 Social Workers, Psychologists & Counselors per 1000 students

2 Schools With Credit Recovery Programs

2 Schools With Dual Enrollment Programs

15 Schools With Gifted & Talented Programs

1 School With International Baccalaureates

This District

State

Discipline

School districts differ in how they discipline students. Explore how often this district punishes its students with suspensions, expulsions and corporal punishment.


Out-of-School Suspension Composition

Expulsion Composition

This District

State

Students

38 Total Out-of-School Suspended Students

< 1% of all students in this district

1,507 Total In-School Suspended Students

17% of all students in this district

51 Total Expelled Students

< 1% of all students in this district

Outcomes & Resources

4 Average Days Missed to Out-of-School Suspension, per School

3.9Average Number of Days of an Out-of-School Suspension

40 Total Arrests

2 Average Arrests, per School

60 Total Referrals to Law Enforcement

3 Average Referrals to Law Enforcement, per School

2 Average Transfers to Alternative Schools, per School

0.8 Security Guard or Law Enforcement Officer per 1000 students

This District

State

Civil Rights Coordinators

Districts are required to designate specific employees to ensure schools are in compliance with federal civil rights laws. Here are the designated civil rights coordinators for this district.

Civil Rights: All Forms of Discrimination
  • Stefanie Underwood
  • (256) 552-3000
  • Email
All Schools

Explore the disparities in discipline and academic opportunities across all schools in this district.

BlackBlack

HispanicHispanic

AsianAsian, Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian

Native Am.Native American or Alaska Native

Two+ RacesTwo or More Races

School Name City Nonwhite Students Students Who Get Free/Reduced-Price Lunch High School Graduation Rate Opportunity (White students are this number of times as likely to be in an AP class, compared with Black students) Discipline (Black students are this number of times as likely to be suspended, compared with White students)
Austin High Sch Decatur 61% 55% 90% 10.4x

Not available

Austinville Elem Sch Decatur 84% 60%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Banks-Caddell Elem Sch Decatur 81% 56%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Benjamin Davis Elem Sch Decatur 44% 44%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Brookhaven Middle Sch Decatur 91% 54%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Cedar Ridge Middle Sch Decatur 52% 53%

Not Available

Not available

No White students suspended

Chestnut Grove Elem Sch Decatur 44% 43%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Dev Decatur 57% 84% Less than 50%

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Sch Decatur 53% 56% 88% 4.9x

Not available

Eastwood Elem Sch Decatur 27% 35%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Frances Nungester Elem Sch Decatur 80% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Julian Harris Elem Sch Decatur 43% 50%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Leon Sheffield Magnet Elem Sch Decatur 36% 41%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Oak Pk Middle Sch Decatur 51% 64%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Somerville Road Elem Sch Decatur 77% 62%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Walter Jackson Elem Sch Decatur 39% 58%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

West Decatur Elem Sch Decatur 85% 55%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Woodmeade Elem Sch Decatur 82% 47%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

School Name City Nonwhite Students Students Who Get Free/Reduced-Price Lunch High School Graduation Rate Opportunity (White students are this number of times as likely to be in an AP class, compared with Hispanic students) Discipline (Hispanic students are this number of times as likely to be suspended, compared with White students)
Austin High Sch Decatur 61% 55% 90% 3.6x

Not available

Austinville Elem Sch Decatur 84% 60%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Banks-Caddell Elem Sch Decatur 81% 56%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Benjamin Davis Elem Sch Decatur 44% 44%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Brookhaven Middle Sch Decatur 91% 54%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Cedar Ridge Middle Sch Decatur 52% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Chestnut Grove Elem Sch Decatur 44% 43%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Dev Decatur 57% 84% Less than 50%

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Sch Decatur 53% 56% 88% 5.6x

Not available

Eastwood Elem Sch Decatur 27% 35%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Frances Nungester Elem Sch Decatur 80% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Julian Harris Elem Sch Decatur 43% 50%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Leon Sheffield Magnet Elem Sch Decatur 36% 41%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Oak Pk Middle Sch Decatur 51% 64%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Somerville Road Elem Sch Decatur 77% 62%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Walter Jackson Elem Sch Decatur 39% 58%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

West Decatur Elem Sch Decatur 85% 55%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Woodmeade Elem Sch Decatur 82% 47%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

School Name City Nonwhite Students Students Who Get Free/Reduced-Price Lunch High School Graduation Rate Opportunity (White students are this number of times as likely to be in an AP class, compared with Asian, Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian students) Discipline (Asian, Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian students are this number of times as likely to be suspended, compared with White students)
Austin High Sch Decatur 61% 55% 90%

Less likely

Not available

Austinville Elem Sch Decatur 84% 60%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Banks-Caddell Elem Sch Decatur 81% 56%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Benjamin Davis Elem Sch Decatur 44% 44%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Brookhaven Middle Sch Decatur 91% 54%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Cedar Ridge Middle Sch Decatur 52% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Chestnut Grove Elem Sch Decatur 44% 43%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Dev Decatur 57% 84% Less than 50%

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Sch Decatur 53% 56% 88%

Not available

Not available

Eastwood Elem Sch Decatur 27% 35%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Frances Nungester Elem Sch Decatur 80% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Julian Harris Elem Sch Decatur 43% 50%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Leon Sheffield Magnet Elem Sch Decatur 36% 41%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Oak Pk Middle Sch Decatur 51% 64%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Somerville Road Elem Sch Decatur 77% 62%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Walter Jackson Elem Sch Decatur 39% 58%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

West Decatur Elem Sch Decatur 85% 55%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Woodmeade Elem Sch Decatur 82% 47%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

School Name City Nonwhite Students Students Who Get Free/Reduced-Price Lunch High School Graduation Rate Opportunity (White students are this number of times as likely to be in an AP class, compared with Native American or Alaska Native students) Discipline (Native American or Alaska Native students are this number of times as likely to be suspended, compared with White students)
Austin High Sch Decatur 61% 55% 90%

Not available

Not available

Austinville Elem Sch Decatur 84% 60%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Banks-Caddell Elem Sch Decatur 81% 56%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Benjamin Davis Elem Sch Decatur 44% 44%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Brookhaven Middle Sch Decatur 91% 54%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Cedar Ridge Middle Sch Decatur 52% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Chestnut Grove Elem Sch Decatur 44% 43%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Dev Decatur 57% 84% Less than 50%

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Sch Decatur 53% 56% 88%

Not available

Not available

Eastwood Elem Sch Decatur 27% 35%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Frances Nungester Elem Sch Decatur 80% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Julian Harris Elem Sch Decatur 43% 50%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Leon Sheffield Magnet Elem Sch Decatur 36% 41%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Oak Pk Middle Sch Decatur 51% 64%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Somerville Road Elem Sch Decatur 77% 62%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Walter Jackson Elem Sch Decatur 39% 58%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

West Decatur Elem Sch Decatur 85% 55%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Woodmeade Elem Sch Decatur 82% 47%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

School Name City Nonwhite Students Students Who Get Free/Reduced-Price Lunch High School Graduation Rate Opportunity (White students are this number of times as likely to be in an AP class, compared with Two or More Races students) Discipline (Two or More Races students are this number of times as likely to be suspended, compared with White students)
Austin High Sch Decatur 61% 55% 90%

Not available

7.1x
Austinville Elem Sch Decatur 84% 60%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Banks-Caddell Elem Sch Decatur 81% 56%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Benjamin Davis Elem Sch Decatur 44% 44%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Brookhaven Middle Sch Decatur 91% 54%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Cedar Ridge Middle Sch Decatur 52% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Chestnut Grove Elem Sch Decatur 44% 43%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Dev Decatur 57% 84% Less than 50%

Not available

Not available

Decatur High Sch Decatur 53% 56% 88%

Not available

Not available

Eastwood Elem Sch Decatur 27% 35%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Frances Nungester Elem Sch Decatur 80% 53%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Julian Harris Elem Sch Decatur 43% 50%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Leon Sheffield Magnet Elem Sch Decatur 36% 41%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Oak Pk Middle Sch Decatur 51% 64%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Somerville Road Elem Sch Decatur 77% 62%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Walter Jackson Elem Sch Decatur 39% 58%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

West Decatur Elem Sch Decatur 85% 55%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Woodmeade Elem Sch Decatur 82% 47%

Not Available

Not available

Not available

Sources & Notes

Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, Stanford University's Center for Education Policy Analysis, EDFacts, U.S. Department of Education’s Common Core of Data. Maps courtesy of Mapbox Community. Read our methodology

Notes: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights occasionally updates the underlying dataset. ProPublica may update the interactive’s data in response.

Disparity scores are not available if there are too few students in a specific racial group to make a statistically significant calculation. They are also not available if data about a particular racial group was not reported. Some schools or districts reported an overcount of students in a disparity category (such as suspensions or AP courses) when compared with the total enrollment of that particular student group. In such cases, we also omit the disparity score.

Due to rounding, demographic breakdowns in composition charts may add up to more than 100 percent.

The racial categories we show data for are: Black, Hispanic, White, Asian/Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, Two or More Races, and Native American or Alaska Native. In some cases, we abbreviate the last three of these racial groups to Asian, Two+ Races, and Native Am.

Due to a technical issue with the Office for Civil Rights’ collection of data on sworn law enforcement officers in schools, the data for security staff may be an undercount.

As with any self-reported data, there may be errors in the federal Civil Rights Data Collection. Though districts are required to ensure the accuracy of their data, some may still report incorrect figures. Additionally, for some variables, the CRDC rounds the number of students for privacy reasons. In these cases, groups of students may represent a slight undercount or overcount.

Find errors? Have tips? Email [email protected].

Data specific to high school testing or high school level courses (including geometry, biology, calculus, AP enrollment, SAT testing rates, etc.) is calculated out of total high school enrollment, while data for other classes (such as eighth-grade algebra) is calculated out of total student enrollment. Read more about our data in our methodology

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