Narvie Harris Elementary School, Decatur GA

Original Research by School Decision on Narvie Harris Elementary School

Narvie Harris Elementary is a small public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Decatur, a compact, walkable city just east of Atlanta. The school's enrollment is made up almost entirely of Black students, with a high share of families qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic and demographic makeup of this particular neighborhood within DeKalb County.

Test performance is below the midpoint among county districts. Across grades three through five, proficiency rates in English language arts range from low in grade four to moderate in grade five. Math proficiency is similarly distributed across the grades tested. Science results, available only for grade five, show proficiency near the middle of the county's schools. These patterns suggest that academic progress is uneven across grade levels; a parent should look into what classroom supports and instruction look like at the grade their child would enter. The school does not report separately on English learner populations or students with IEPs, so detailed information about specialized services is not available from the data here.

Decatur itself is a distinct kind of place within the greater Atlanta metro. It is a compact, tree-lined city centered on a historic courthouse square that serves as the civic hub, with walkable neighborhoods radiating outward, restaurants and shops accessible on foot, and three MARTA transit stations within city limits. The downtown area has seen sustained infill development over the past two decades—condominiums, townhouses, and apartments built within walking distance of downtown amenities. More recently, affordable housing projects like Village at Legacy are adding intentionally below-market-rate units, though housing costs remain substantial. Families in the area tend to prize walkability, civic engagement, and proximity to urban services.

The broader DeKalb County School District context matters for any family considering this school. The district is in the middle of a Student Assignment Project that could reshape school boundaries and potentially close or consolidate dozens of schools over the next six to eight years due to declining enrollment and significant empty seats. A final recommendation to the Board of Education is expected in December 2026. The district is also executing a major capital program funded by E-SPLOST VI, including construction of new schools and conversion of existing high schools into specialized academies focused on performing arts, cyber technology, and career technical education. These are long-term shifts that could affect where the district assigns students and what options become available as students progress to middle and high school.

Property taxes in DeKalb have been slowly rolling back after years as one of the highest millage rates in the state, though actual tax bills have continued to climb due to rising property values. These are the ongoing financial considerations families weigh when buying in the district.

Narvie Harris appears to be a neighborhood school reflecting the demographics and economic conditions of its attendance area. It fits families drawn to Decatur's walkable, civic-minded character who are seeking an elementary option close to home and downtown. Parents considering the school would benefit from speaking directly with staff about classroom instruction, how the school supports students at different performance levels, and what transition planning looks like as students move on to middle grades.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 34% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 443%

School 43% · District 35% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 551%

School 51% · District 32% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 30% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 30% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 35% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Science

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 33% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Social studies

Grades 3-886%

School 86% · district not reported

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

This schoolDeKalb County, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.