There were 6,129 12th grade students enrolled in DeKalb County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.3% more than the previous year, according to reports from the Georgia Department of Education.
Dunwoody High School welcomed the largest number of 12th grade students among county schools, registering 460 students during the 2023-24 school year.
Within DeKalb County schools, the highest student count was found in ninth grade, with the smallest class sizes seen in 12th grade.
Statewide, DeKalb County ranked fourth in enrollment numbers, with a total of 97,341 students enrolled in the 2023-24 school year. It was also ranked fourth the year before.
According to the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2025-3 report, over 1.7 million students were enrolled in Georgia’s public schools. The state boasted a diverse and closely distributed student body across grade levels, with approximately 806,891 students (46.5%) in elementary school, 393,308 (22.7%) in middle school, and 536,379 (30.9%) in high school.
Chronic absenteeism remains a major issue in Georgia schools post-pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, GaDOE launched a statewide initiative including a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness campaign, and targeted support for high-need districts to boost daily attendance.
In 2025, Georgia lawmakers passed a bill updating school attendance laws to ban expulsion solely for absenteeism. The law also adds new reporting requirements and aligns with programs that help students earn diplomas through alternative paths.
As of 2025, Georgia has an average student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 14:1, which is better than the national average of 15:1. The state’s best ratios are found in preschool, with an average of 13:1, and in elementary and middle school grades, both at 14:1, while high schools have a higher average ratio of 16:1.
| School name | # of 12th Grade Students Enrolled | % of Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunwoody High School | 460 | 23.6% | 1,952 |
| Lakeside High School | 443 | 20.6% | 2,147 |
| Decatur High School | 438 | 23.8% | 1,840 |
| Chamblee Charter High School | 387 | 21.7% | 1,785 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. High School | 318 | 23.2% | 1,369 |
| Tucker High School | 316 | 20.7% | 1,528 |
| Druid Hills High School | 314 | 22.2% | 1,417 |
| Cross Keys High School | 301 | 17.7% | 1,699 |
| Lithonia High School | 297 | 20.3% | 1,462 |
| Stephenson High School | 279 | 21.7% | 1,285 |
| Southwest DeKalb High School | 277 | 23.3% | 1,187 |
| Clarkston High School | 266 | 19.8% | 1,341 |
| Arabia Mountain High School – Academy of Engineering- Medic | 259 | 21% | 1,231 |
| Miller Grove High School | 230 | 21.9% | 1,050 |
| Stone Mountain High School | 229 | 19.1% | 1,200 |
| Cedar Grove High School | 222 | 20% | 1,108 |
| Redan High School | 203 | 21% | 967 |
| Columbia High School | 192 | 21.8% | 881 |
| Towers High School | 153 | 20.3% | 754 |
| McNair High School | 136 | 19.1% | 712 |
| Charles Drew Charter JA/SR Academy | 109 | 11.9% | 917 |
| Elizabeth Andrews High School | 74 | 47.1% | 157 |
| DeKalb School of the Arts | 69 | 23.1% | 299 |
| Dekalb Early College Academy | 66 | 22.8% | 290 |
| Tapestry Public Charter School | 30 | 10.1% | 296 |
| Atlanta Area School for the Deaf | 23 | 31.1% | 74 |
| DeKalb Alternative School | 16 | 7.6% | 211 |
| Margaret Harris Comprehensive School | 12 | 54.5% | 22 |
| Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School | 10 | 6.3% | 160 |
| UHS of Laurel Heights | 0 | 0% | 15 |
