Druid Hills Middle School in Decatur

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	5/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Georgia Milestones End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment data from Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement, and using 2025 Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade (EOG) Assessment data from Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement.
Student Growth	4/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement.

Posted: July 23, 2026

Horrible staff and committee , no respect or morale from teachers , principals or other employees

Posted: July 23, 2026

Posted: May 22, 2026

DO NOT take your children to this school first I have had multiple issues here as well as kids being caught doing drugs or having vapes their metal detectors are not a student was able to bring a metal wrench in her purse to the school and it did not detect it their are multiple fights every month even kids planning to fight on the last day of school because they think it wont be on their record the principal and assistant principals are not helpful especially the 7th grade principal I feel like his job and DHMS should be ceased he is not helpful what so ever he always sides with teachers before students and then jokes around with the students in a disrespectful attitude AGAIN their are fights EVERY month and it is constant back and forth until physical alterations happen and students only get suspended for 2 days max usually its not safe and very dangerous behavior is made at this school but its not just the students the teachers are very disrespectful one even being RASCAL towards students the think giving them silent lunch does something even though its just making stuff worse just not okay and should not happen ever inside a school building

Posted: May 22, 2026

Posted: April 16, 2026

They really need to retrain the teachers at this school on how to handle behavior issues. If they aren't yelling at the students, then they are simply ignoring student bullying. Students are getting choked and hit and parents are NOT being notified. Teachers also carry out inappropriate conversations in front of students and nothing is done. Don't even get me started on whether special needs students are being served correctly. The assistant principal disciplined my child in front of the other students demanding the teacher call their parent, clearly not realizing they had an IEP and was on the spectrum. Communication is also A JOKE. Messages do not get responses from staff. We never know what is going on from day to day. Clubs get canceled and parents aren't told, resulting in my child sitting OUTSIDE for two hours waiting for parent pick up. NOT every child has a cell phone, parents should notified in some way. Teachers never know where students are at dismissal causing parents to have to wait and sometimes even having to pull in and park so they can go to the office to call for them. Students miss work and are failing and you would never know because you don't get any emails until grades are actually put in. So you have to constantly email the teachers and hope they respond to you with what is going on in your child's school career. Dekalb really needs to put a new principal in here and revamp communication, behavior, discipline, and school climate.

Posted: March 16, 2026

its a pretty good school got friends teachers in 7th grade are nice

Posted: March 16, 2026

Posted: March 3, 2026

The teachers are very rude and talk bad about their own students. They also play favorites and they don't even teach. All they do is give you computer assignments and don't even actually teach the class.

Posted: March 3, 2026

Posted: September 16, 2025

For the 2025-2026 school year so far I can say my child is having a good experience because of peace at home and being a social butterfly. At school, the classes seem to be challenging enough and are teaching my child more responsibility and accountability. However, not all the teachers uphold the same values. The art teacher ignores parent emails but puts 5 grades in a week, showing that she is more focused on appealing to admin and job security over student/parent experience. Understandable, but she needs a better balance. The front office ignores emails and requests from parents as well. Something was stolen from my child and staff ignored the issue. They are not proactive and I'm pretty sure they would react if it turned into a fight, blaming the students. My child even went to the art teacher when the situation happened and she told him it wasn't a big deal, minimizing a negative experience my child was having. Also, some of the football coaches are terrible. They curse at the students in the school building and on the field causing players to mirror those same behaviors and creating bullies on the football team. Overall, in my opinion, students are behaving a lot better than the adults in the building. Staff do better.

Posted: September 16, 2025

Posted: February 27, 2025

My sibling went to this school and had a horrendous experience!

Posted: February 27, 2025

Posted: February 5, 2025

Dont bring your kids here this school is horrible!!

Posted: February 5, 2025

Posted: May 10, 2023

We had high hopes for DHMS based on other peoples experiences we had heard, but the focus at the school is all wrong. The teachers spend more time dress coding girls than teaching. And none of the teachers are on the same page as to what is acceptable. My child has been removed from class many times due to leggings that one teacher thought were unacceptable yet later told by another teacher that they are acceptable. There is little to no respect given to the students by most teachers. Middle school is tough and an awkward time and we must remember the students are children. They deserve to be treated with respect. There are teachers that really should be fired, but due to their tenure, Im sure they are untouchable. Screaming at children and making them feel less than is unacceptable in my opinion! Bullying is full force. Teachers do not treat all children equally. Counselors were very little help to me when I reached out. Shocking how many fights my child sees in the halls. The vibe feels more like a juvenile detention center rather than a nurturing educational facility. I think the school could make a big difference if only their teachers werent treating students like criminals.

Posted: May 10, 2023

Posted: December 12, 2022

this school is so fun and cool

Posted: December 12, 2022

Posted: September 1, 2021

Let's just day that a bunch of the reviews are correct. Disappointed is not an understatement for our family. It seems that some of the teachers have been at the school for decades and that creates an environment or prejudgement, know it all vibes mixed with rude to the students. It's like visiting your mean grandma that gets to grade you that has a touch of OCD. Bullying is a part of middle school but how it's handled it what counts. Some parts we love, some teachers we love, lunch is horrible and the kids are hungry maybe it's a COVID issue. Educational Environment mixed with home environment creates Scholars ..hating teachers, getting bullied, not feeling safe creates a hostile work environment but kids can't quit Middle school.

Posted: September 1, 2021

Posted: July 27, 2020

DHMS may not be in a fancy school building or have lots of resources at its disposal, but the wonderful administration and hard-working teachers/staff could not be more dedicated. Their focus is on academics, literacy (amazing media center and award-winning media specialist), and music (fantastic band, orchestra and chorus programs!).

I love that the school is diverse in every way - there are kids from more than 47 countries represented at DHMS, and from all races and socio-economic backgrounds. It is the perfect place our children to learn about each other, appreciate their similarities and build respect for each others differences.

Posted: July 27, 2020

The administration is extremely hard-working, and eager to help whenever needed. They genuinely care about the students, their teachers and staff, and work in earnest to keep this great school running at its best!

Posted: July 27, 2020

My daughter feels extremely comfortable approaching the guidance counselors whenever she has a friend issue, trouble with another student, or just has a lot on her mind. Students are encouraged to come forth if there is a bullying issue and it is dealt with swiftly.

Posted: April 14, 2019

Ms. Taylor really doesn't know what is going on with her students. I've e-mailed her and she never responded

Posted: April 14, 2019

They recommend things like tutoring in the morning or during lunch and the 6th grade teachers don't follow through with their own recommendation leaving children to lack in certain subjects.

Posted: April 14, 2019

My child was sexually harassed and bullied on more than one occasion and not one child was held responsible( ISS, silent lunch.....). Instead I was told that boys will be boys. I'm sure not one parent was called.

Posted: April 14, 2019

They give less attention to kids of color/IEP's. They are all about the kids that make the school look good.

Posted: April 14, 2019

I wish that all the children were treated equally. They pick and choose what child they like and they work with them diligently. Unfortunately, my child doesn't fall in that category.

Posted: August 26, 2018

Our family (three kids) enjoyed this school very much. In our experience, teachers care deeply about students and get to know them well while also challenging them academically and cultivating curiosity. The students are really wonderful - interesting, curious, and beautifully diverse. My kids have made many new friends from different backgrounds, and this has enhanced their education tremendously. Parents are very involved, and we are impressed by how many teachers volunteer for extracurricular and additional learning opportunities. The library is wonderful too with a very creative and energetic librarian. Other highlights include fantastic band and art teachers, responsive administrators and counselors, and fun sports opportunities.

Posted: April 12, 2018

Great school environment. Teacher and administrators who care. Teacher strive to have safe classroom environments. High academic and character standards for students. Great parental support. DHMS is a very diverse school. Students learn a lot from each other and get to experience each others cultures and learn respect for each other no matter what we look like, where you're from, or your socio-economic status.

Posted: April 12, 2018

Posted: January 4, 2018

Great teachers and administrative staff. A safe environment with support and respect for others. Effective teaching helping students reach educational goals.

Posted: October 17, 2017

Druid Hills Middle School is a school on the rise. The Principal Jackie Taylor is a strong leader. Our 3 kids received a solid education attending DHMS and we especially appreciate the diversity of the school and the value that brings to build our kids world view. Private schools cannot offer the diverse experience our kids gain at schools like DHMS that set them up for success in life.

Posted: October 17, 2017

Posted: August 16, 2017

Horrible experience, multiple reasons. Some of the complaint below are similar.

Posted: July 6, 2017

I did not have a good experience at this school there was a lot of bullying.

Posted: July 6, 2017

Posted: January 23, 2017

Posted: September 11, 2016

There's a lot of bullying there, that the teachers never really know about. I'm currently in 8th grade and the counselors don't really seem happy to help me, but rather shoo me out and don't call me back. Some of the students seem to not have the best behavior, and the teachers don't usually handle that well. But in the topic of education, the teachers give good lessons, and I feel knowing some of what I know is completely necessary for a successful future. But I also believe students should have a safe learning environment where they can focus solely on their progress rather than facing problems on the campus.

Posted: September 11, 2016

Posted: November 19, 2015

When either of my children have ever encountered a social or an academic dilemma, teachers and counselors have handled the situation beautifully. Each of the three counselors is wonderful.

Posted: November 19, 2015

My second child is now almost done with her first semester at DHMS. Her experience has been nothing short of fabulous. The academics, the organizational skills and personal responsibility, and social and world awareness she's developing are truly invaluable. She's made so many new friends from different elementary schools and both she and I adore the vast majority of her teachers. As for the principal, I concur with other reviewers: Mrs. Taylor is as good as principals come - she is a rock star in the eyes of students and parents!

Posted: September 17, 2014

DHMS has exceeded my expectations and my son is clearly learning and happy there. He is in 7th grade. When he was mildly bullied at the beginning of 6th grade I informed his teachers. They responded in a way that was both effective and sensitive... and enrolled the bully in a sensitivity program. The "bully" came up to my son and gave him a sincere apology 10 days later, and the two have been good friends ever since. Amazing! Middle schoolers can and will be mean, but the school's response was stellar. I have been very impressed by the new principal Jackie Taylor and the team system has been great for my son. The "connections" classes (French, Music, etc) have also broadened his horizons. I think DHMS is an excellent middle school.

Posted: September 17, 2014

This is a really good school, contrary to what a select few say, as well as many people who have never set foot in the front door. My daughter is a straight A student and still feels challenged.

Posted: September 16, 2014

So far we have been very impressed with the new Principal, Ms. Taylor and what she has been doing for this school. She took over last year (2013) and already we see change in the air! As two Doctoral level parents, we strongly feel education the key to the future of our children and the foundation of, well, everything. I personally am on a mission to get more parents involved and really make this school great.

Posted: September 16, 2014

Druid Hills Middle (DHMS) has had several years of excellent principals and very active parent/PTO involvement, a proven formula for success. DHMS is one of the most diverse schools in the nation, offers IB pathway, and broad extracurricular offerings. The campus, a former high school, has ample athletic fields, one of the best cross country courses in the metro area. Counselors, special education are outstanding. While middle school years are rough at all schools, DHMS has something to offer each child, keep them busy, educate them, and hopefully have some fun along the way. Look out for the annual Ossabaw Island marine science trip at Skidaway/MAREX facility near Savannah each year.

Posted: September 16, 2014

My school is diverse. The teachers are nice. The trip to Ossabaw in 7th grade was awesome. The Beta Club trips are fun. In 8th grade there are opportunities to take some classes for high school credit.

Posted: September 16, 2014

Druid Hills Middle has an excellent group of teachers who really go out of their way to make this school a better place. Although my children moved onward and upward several years ago, teachers who had them frequently ask about them by name when I meet them. The new principal, Jackie Taylor, has been an acknowledged leader in our feeder pattern for several years, and she is a real proponent for getting new parents involved. DHMS brings together kids from an astounding variety of social, ethnic, and racial backgrounds and does a good job of motivating all of the students.

Posted: June 12, 2014

Don't waste your child's time with this school. The program is thoroughly unchallenging to a driven student. Much of the student body and even a few teachers are wholly unmotivated. Even the gifted and high achiever classes can be out of control due to lack of administrative support and effective discipline. Due to the lack of control, any students who truly want to learn are required little effort to maintain stellar grades. Such students are also in danger of ridicule from their peers, just for trying hard. In my time at DHMS, I made straight A's with little or no effort learned little. Some students were entirely ugly to me simply because of who I am, the grades I earned, and the recognition I received from teachers. My personal experience in my two years at DHMS tells me that this is not the way a school is meant to be. I have attended public school all my life and DHMS is by far the worst. Lack of funding does not merit lack of effort, nor is fist fighting, verbal violence and other ugliness among students acceptable. If you are a parent and are considering sending you child to this school, I sincerely urge you to consider any other options. --A former student

Posted: June 3, 2014

Druid Hills Middle School serves a diverse population with a wide range of student capabilities. As other reviewers have noted, the Accelerated Math and Carnegie foreign language instruction is excellent (the 8th grade Accelerated Math class had a 100% EOCT passing rate on a test that only 37% of Georgia students pass). Teachers in other areas are good to excellent with the occasional teacher who is not (and I challenge any school to demonstrate that 100% of their teachers are great). Discipline has improved over the last few years as the school system's poorly executed merger of another middle school into DHMS has now run its course. And, there is new leadership in the building which both the faculty and parent population support.

Posted: May 8, 2014

My child is a straight A student my other child has won prestigious awards and attends a rather prestigious college. i have tried all of my life to be a good parent. My child had a sick period and they called a social worker on me. I don't think i deserved that. Teachers clump up and grade together, i don't understand how everyone gets around the same grade for the same child. The AP was threatening towards us for almost running over a cone. The health teacher called and was extremely belligerent scarily so. Sometimes i wonder if this is a nest of substance abusers or crazies.

Posted: April 27, 2014

My daughter is finishing up her first year at DHMS, and our family has been thoroughly pleased with her experience. Her teachers, with rare exception, are bright, friendly, and extremely responsive to both students and parents. Even the one teacher she has who is less-than-stellar nonetheless teaches the content, and her students are learning how to navigate a class when the teacher is not the clearest communicator, which is a skill that these kids will use in high school, college, and beyond. We've also had great experiences with the principal, who is doing a bang-up job in her first year as principal. Academically, DHMS and its teachers are giving our daughter everything she needs right now, and the school's demographic diversity is providing her invaluable insight into, and preparation for, life as a teenager, a college student, and an adult.

Posted: April 1, 2014

I am pretty happy with DHMS. I have a 6th grader there in the high achiever program. The school is very diverse. The teachers show a lot of concern and call me for any issue. My son is happy there. He enjoys the orchestra program and the technology club. He comes home every day excited to tell me about things he learned that day.

Posted: January 13, 2014

I am a student at DHMS and i really dislike this school. The teachers are never helpful and they are rude.I raise my hand and my english teacher just looks at me when im raising my hand and just ignores me. In six grade it was much more relaxing and organized but now its just painful and i come home tired and dont have any energy to do anything like homework. I have heard tucker middle school is way better.

Posted: November 5, 2013

i love this school this school is just so different there is a wide variety of people and many things to learn this school may seem bad but it isn't I know because i'm in 7th grade and by the way NO ONE GETS PREGNANT yes most people say that this school has kids doing drugs(that is a lie) there are some peole who do do drugs but they get expelled pretty fast and the teachers are amazing they are so helpful and kind i just simply love this school so far there are so many great people around the building to help you with any this and every school does have its bad but that's middle school druid hill is the best place to think about what type of a person=n i want to be and that is why I love DHMS

Posted: October 28, 2013

well i go to this school it has good education but some of the teacher could be more better then just think that that the student knows the stuff they should teach each student what to do and explain it better also some of the student who were in general go move into high achiever and gifted

Posted: October 14, 2013

Druid Hills Middle has many great opportunities but it's lacking in many areas. I was a student there and I found that I wasn't being challenged at all. I've moved on to a magnet school that is ranked second in the state and it is so much different. At DHMS I wasn't having to work hard to maintain good grades. My lowest grade last year was a 97 and I was hardly having to do any more than pay attention and do my (easy) homework assignments. The only classes that were challenging were Carnegie Spanish, and accelerated math. The faculty does their best but many students don't care and don't respect them so their job is very hard. I also struggled with being bullied for the fact that I tried in school. I was called mean words because I participated in class and did well. I think that experience was valuable but it was hard at the time. Something that I really enjoyed was the school's extracurricular programs. Especially the improv troupe! I think that DHMS was an important experience in my life because I learned many things about different types of people, but the quality of education and the students work ethics weren't what I think should be expected at a school.

Posted: September 21, 2013

So far, I am happy with this school. I do drive out of district to take my son each day, but so far, it has been well worth it. The teachers seem to be up to par & passionate about teaching. I do understand that there is 1 teacher that can't really handle disruptive students, but nowhere is perfect, right? My son's grades & understanding of subject matter is well beyond what he had in elem. school. The principal and vice-p are wonderful. My son had an on-going issue with another boy & went through all means to handle the situation himself, but the other child wouldn't give, so we went to the v-p, & no more problems. The situation was handled. While we may be considered from a "not-so-nice" neighborhood, our family goal is to provide the best that we can for our child, who appreciate the long commutes. Collectively, the parents, teachers & students make up the school, not necessarily where they come from. Even those in "good" neighborhoods have the same issues. Diversity has its pros and cons, but considering that we are in a diverse nation, it is imperative that children learn to accept & deal with others that are different. This is how we ultimately get rid of racism.

Posted: September 10, 2013

So far, I am thoroughly pleased with this school. My daughter is motivated to earn straight A's. Majority of her teachers have over 15 years teaching experience. The diversity makes the school what it is.

Posted: August 3, 2013

The school has a new principal that is really great. They obviously have some struggles since they are located in DeKalb County and they are a middle school, but really offer a lot including: professional teachers, lots of clubs and activities, great cultural and socioeconomic diversity. If you want your child to go to school with only kids that are just like them, this isn't the school for you. However, if you want your child to be prepared for the real world, it is a good place.

Posted: August 1, 2013

If I could give this school a rating smaller than one star, I would. I can't because then it won't post my review. I was a student here, and I had to leave mid-year to be home-schooled. Although there is a gifted class, the only difference between it and regular classes is the amount of homework, and no discipline problems. The regular classes do have discipline problems, and some teachers can't handle them. I witnessed several fights and being in such an environment was terrible. Because of the behavioral issues, teachers don't have the time or energy to actually TEACH. If you enjoy learning and don't like having to deal with the "bad" kids, don't go to this school. The only good thing I have to say about it is the Accelerated Math program, it was challenging and the teacher is very experienced in her subject and in dealing with different students. But otherwise, it's not a good school, AT ALL.

Posted: June 9, 2013

This school used to be called Shamrock Elementary School until last year. It's in a decent neighborhood, not great, but decent. It feeds from Briar Vista, Fernbank, Briarcliff and other elementary schools that were affected by the new re-zoning plan that took place last year. The truth: 1. A lot of diversity. 2 There are drugs and police dogs. 3. Girls do become pregnant. 4. Bullying runs rampant and administration will do nothing to help your child, nor will Dekalb County. That happens at all schools, right? The problem is "those" schools are in the not-so-great neighborhoods and generally speaking, people say to themselves, well I'd expect that. The difference here, is that a very small percentage of the kids here are placed in accelerated classes or gifted classes who transfer with above-average CRCT "testing" results from their local elementary school, like Fernbank for example. So, if you were "in" with the elementary school administration, more than likely they will place your child in nice and small accelerated classes. And if not, your child will be in regular classes with kids zoned in from the not-so-nice neighborhoods. My advice is to look at Cobb County or go private .

Posted: May 8, 2013

This school is a joke. The administration is ineffective, choosing to focus on minor issues (such as an untucked shirt) while serious issues (bullying, threats of physical violence) go without notice. The principals don't bother to get to the heart of any problems. They simply dole out punishments and try to get the kids and their issues out of the office as quickly as humanly possible. I am taking my child out of this school. He used to be a straight A student who loved to learn. Now he simply thinks there is no point in trying. At first I wondered if it was just a phase my child was going through, but then I heard strikingly similar stories from many, many parents. Keep your kids out of here at all costs.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Overall Rating	Distance
1	Garden Hills	Condominium/Townhouse	Atlanta	GA		6.3 mi
2	Heritage Farms	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Marietta	GA		20.3 mi

Base	Distance
Fort Gillem	13.9 mi.
Dobbins ARB	15.4 mi.

Druid Hills Middle School

Decatur, GA 30033

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Druid Hills Middle School

Decatur, GA 30033

School Ratings

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