The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Social studies. The lowest is 11% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Montclair Elementary School
Montclair Elementary is a small, neighborhood-based school in Brookhaven serving pre-K through fifth grade. The enrollment is distributed across the grade band, with slightly larger cohorts in the mid-grades and smaller classes in the upper elementary, the school sits in a residential area of the city and operates as a regular public school within the DeKalb County School System.
The student body is predominantly Latino, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting both the demographics and economic profile of the immediate attendance area. The school serves a community with significant language diversity and economic variability within Brookhaven's broader mix of affluent and working-class neighborhoods.
State testing results from the most recent year show that proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades are low. In math, proficiency ranges from single digits in the highest tested grade to low double digits in the lower tested grades. In English language arts, rates are similarly low across third, fourth, and fifth grades. Science proficiency in fifth grade is also in the single digits. These results place Montclair below the midpoint for overall proficiency when compared to other districts in DeKalb County. A parent may want to look into what supports the school offers for reading and math instruction, and what professional development or curriculum changes are underway to address these gaps.
The school does not serve grades where students take the state's high school graduation or college-and-career readiness assessments, so no data on those outcomes is available. Special populations data—such as the number of students in special education or English learners—was not provided and should be requested directly from the school or district office.
Brookhaven itself is a young, fast-growing suburb just northeast of Atlanta, incorporated in 2005 and experiencing rapid development. Two major healthcare and higher education campuses (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Arthur M. Blank Hospital and an Emory medical campus) opened or are opening near the school's area, and this development is driving residential infill, new mixed-use projects, and population growth. Housing costs in the area are above the state benchmark and have been rising, though rental affordability is somewhat better positioned than purchase affordability. The Buford Highway corridor near Brookhaven has become a hub for immigrant-owned businesses and cultural diversity, shaping the neighborhood texture.
The DeKalb County School District is managing significant changes that could affect where this school stands in the coming years. A multi-year Student Assignment Project launched in 2024 is evaluating school closures and consolidations to address excess capacity; while no specific recommendation for Montclair has been reported, families choosing a home in the area should track the district's announcements. At the same time, the district is using bond proceeds to rebuild or create new schools in other clusters, including new middle and high schools and academies focused on performing arts, cyber technology, and career pathways. Property taxes in DeKalb have been rising in absolute terms despite rate rollbacks, a factor homebuyers should factor into affordability calculations.
For families considering Montclair, the school's low proficiency results are the most pressing consideration. A parent should ask the principal and teachers directly about reading and math interventions, the school's literacy and numeracy frameworks, instructional staffing, and what trend data (if any) show about student progress over time. The school's position as a neighborhood elementary in a rapidly developing, increasingly diverse community with strong family demand may offer stability, but academic outcomes warrant close attention and direct conversation with school leadership before committing to the area.
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