Decatur High School

Was this school always filled with the murmur of teenage voices? Decatur High School first opened its doors in 1912, but not as the unified institution we see today. Back then, the idea of co-education was a distant whisper, a controversial topic debated in hushed tones. Decatur High School began its journey as two separate entities: Decatur Boys High School and Decatur Girls High School. A physical fence separated the two buildings, symbolizing the stark division of the era. The south building, originally housing the “Central Grammar School,” became the domain of young women. Imagine the scene: giggling girls in bobby socks navigating hallways filled with the scent of chalk and anticipation. In 1930, a beacon of progress illuminated Decatur. The school installed lights on its athletic field, a move that made it the first in metro Atlanta to boast a lit sports field. This innovation wasn’t just about athletics. It represented a step towards modernity, a foreshadowing of the changes to come. It wasn’t until 1953 that the walls, both physical and metaphorical, finally crumbled, and Decatur High School became a truly co-educational institution. And as we stand before the modern Decatur High School today, remember the echoes of laughter, the whispers of change, and the enduring spirit of progress that echo through its halls.