CSD Weekly: January 15, 2026

• Did You Know?
• Mark Your Calendars: BOE Community Meeting and Superintendent's Listening Sessions

• Around CSD: CTAE Records 2025 Graduation Rate of 98.99%, Thirteen DHS Musicians Selected for Prestigious GMEA All-State Band, Varsity Boys' Wrestling Takes Second in Region Duals, Kindergarteners Explore Reading at Glennwood

• Information & Resources: CSD and COD School Safety & Security Summit

• Community Partner News: Register for COD Spring Sports and Summer Camp

Find out what's happening in CSD schools by clicking on your school's newsletter name.

College Heights Connection

Clairemont Bulldog

Glennwood Eagle Edition

Oakhurst Weekly

Westchester Weekly

Winnona Park Wildcat Weekly

F.Ave Falcon Flyer

Talley Street Update

BHMS Weekly Update

DHS Weekly Update

The Georgia Department of Education's recently released CCRPI results indicate CSD has a Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) overall district accountability score of 94.4, one of the highest in the state, and CSD's highest score ever. The accountability score for CSD was 85 when the state started measuring CCRPI in 2018.

The College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) is the state's assessment and accountability system, measuring schools' performances across GaDOE's standards for content mastery, student progress, closing achievement gaps, and college and career readiness.

Just this week, the Georgia Department of Education announced that the 2025 Career and Technical Education (CTAE) Pathway Graduation rate for the Decatur Career Academy at DHS was an impressive 98.99%, exceeding the statewide CTAE graduation rate and the district's graduation rate by 0.54%.

The Decatur Career Academy is one of the premier career academies in the southeast, offering technical education and training in alignment with Georgia's workforce priorities for over 500 students. The training helps prepare students for college or entry-level employment in in-demand career fields, such as nursing, computer science, culinary arts, AV tech/film, engineering, graphic design and early childhood education. According to recent data, DHS students who take DCA courses are 9% more likely to graduate and 3.6% more likely to enter postsecondary education.

Bravo to all the DHS band students who were selected for the GMEA All-State Band this year. DHS had the most students who advanced to the final audition round of any high school in its cohort, which includes all schools in DeKalb, Rockdale, Newton, Morgan, Jasper, and Butts counties. Thank you to band director Dr. Ira Jenkins and assistant band director Russ Thompson for their guidance of these students.

DHS students selected for the 2026 GMEA All-State Band:

Anaiah Calhoun (bass clarinet), Evelyn Custer (baritone), Sho Furuta (trombone), Lydia Girard (trumpet), Isaac Guessous (bassoon), Benjamin Gurch (baritone), Ian Kang (clarinet), Caroline LeMon (alto sax), Albert Li (clarinet), Josephine Threlkeld (flute), Nathan Wakefield (horn), Carmella Werner (flute), and Jason Zgonc (trumpet)

Congratulations to the DHS Varsity Boys' Wrestling team, who demonstrated incredible skill and determination this season, culminating in their outstanding performance at the Region Duals. The Bulldogs finished in second place, securing them a spot in the State Duals, marking the first time in five years that they have qualified for this event. Let's continue to cheer on our Bulldogs as they prepare for the state tournament. Thank you to wrestling coaches Nicco Salvador (head coach), Daydrin Shell, Joe Ward, and David Zisook.

DHS Varsity Boys' Wrestling Team

Megene Chibuyu, Ian Cooper, Liam Elek, Milly Garcia, Tyrique Goodson, Wyatt Harris, Celie Howard, Wes Jenkins, Moyaby Koné, Aerial Longmire, Mark Roberts Jr., Zain Sidor, Ronin Simms, Charles Thompson, Gerald Winkler, and Gavin Young

CSD hosted a Spelling Bee for grades 3-8 last week, showcasing the hard work and dedication of nine talented students from across the district. The competition included 23 intense rounds that tested the participants' spelling, vocabulary and understanding of word meanings. Sixth-grader Ryan Zhou emerged as the winner after successfully spelling the word hydrophobia.

Congratulations to Ryan, as well as competition runner-up Aizah Zafrullah (eighth grade) and alternate River Siegler (sixth grade). Job well done to spelling bee participants Isla Andre, Kenji Bhatt, Charlie D'Avis, Kathryn D'Avis, Kaitlyn Harris, and Inaya Kazi.

Thank you to those who helped put on the program, including spelling bee coordinator Elizabeth Walker, Nikki Brown, Lindsey Combs, Vivian Dawson, Ian Gillham, Ashley Long, and Angelina Prophet.

Kindergarten exploration was in full effect at Glennwood this week. Students in Lily Ronco's class spun the wheel to answer who/why/where questions after reading When I Was Young in the Mountains, a Caldecott Honor-winning book from the Wit & Wisdom curriculum. Across the hallway, Missy Rose's class, assisted by paraprofessional Mike Calanan, read the same book and participated in a scavenger hunt, finding key objects from the book and discussing their meaning.

GENTS (Gentlemen Excelling with the Necessary Tools for Success) clubs across CSD met over December and January to learn about leadership, HBCUs, etiquette, and to relax and have fun. F.Ave principal Derrick Thomas put together the semester showcase for parents, Communities in Schools liaison Antonio McGaha hosted a "Breaking Bread, Building Bonds" event at Talley Street, DHS GENTS participated in a HBCU college fair, and BHMS teacher Johnnie Stroy organized a Wildcard Weekend Fellowship. Thank you to GENTS leaders across the district for your support of the GENTS Clubs.

This week, Madelyn McElroy (DHS class of 2023) visited DHS from Yale University with her Improv Troupe, The Yale Exit Players. The troupe conducted a 90-minute improv workshop with students from Advanced Acting & Advanced Musical Theatre classes, teaching them fun games to practice improvisation skills and quick, creative thinking. Students enjoyed the workshop filled with laughter and collaboration. Many thanks to Madelyn for sharing her experiences with DHS students.

Well done to the DHS HOSA club for future health professionals, which held a blood drive in partnership with LifeSouth, collecting 46 pints of blood. Fifty student volunteers supported 64 generous donors, including 59 first-time donors, to collect blood that can provide lifesaving support for up to 138 patients. Thank you to these students for their dedication to this cause and to Dr. Cassy Smith for her guidance of the HOSA club.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (CSD schools and offices closed), January 19

• Board of Education Community Meeting, January 21, 6:30 p.m., Talley St.
• Dr. Whitaker's Winter Listening Session (virtual), January 22 (new date), 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Early Release Day, January 28
• 2026-2027 K-12 Student Registration Opens, February 2
• CSD Safety Summit, February 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m., DHS Performing Arts Center
• Dr. Whitaker's Winter Listening Session, February 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m., DHA Community Resource Center

School safety remains a top priority of our school district and a major, ongoing priority for the Georgia General Assembly. Events across the country and locally continue to remind us of the critical importance of remaining vigilant in working together to maintain safety in and around our schools and community.

City Schools of Decatur (CSD) and the City of Decatur (COD) are preparing to co-host the second annual School Safety & Security Summit on Wednesday, February 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center of Decatur High School (310 N McDonough Street). This event is open to the community, and students, staff, and families are encouraged to attend.

The summit will feature:

• An overview of CSD's response to recent safety-related legislation
• Information on both psychological and physical safety for students
• A panel discussion with safety leaders from the district and city
• Resources on how families can contribute to enhancing safety in our schools

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions or topics they would like to see addressed in advance of the meeting via this form. Even if you have no specific items for discussion, completing the form will help assess attendance and ensure a successful gathering.

We look forward to seeing you at the CSD and COD Safety & Security Summit on Wednesday, February 4.

Students who will be new to CSD for the 2026-2027 school year, including rising Pre-K and Kindergarten students and those interested in nonresident tuition, may apply starting February 2. Registration information is on the CSD website, and more information will be available in the coming weeks. Pre-K applicants should refer to this webpage for application instructions.

Vote here for Dr. McAdoo for the 2025 NFL Fan of the Year! CSD's own Dr. Charlie McAdoo, One Goal program director at DHS and former CTAE teacher, was named the Atlanta Falcons Fan of the Year for 2025! Now he's heading to Super Bowl LX and is competing for the NFL Fan of the Year award! Vote as many times as you want, and let's get Dr. McAdoo and Atlanta some well-deserved national recognition!

Please take a moment this week to make your voice heard and participate in the Georgia Department of Education climate survey for your school! Your participation and feedback are greatly appreciated. The data collected will help determine the School Climate Star Ratings for the 2026-27 school year, which will enable schools to improve or build upon their successes.

(Note: GaDOE administers climate surveys for K-12 schools. College Heights ECLC is not eligible.)

Clairemont Elementary School Family Survey

Glennwood Elementary School Family Survey

Oakhurst Elementary School Family Survey

Westchester Elementary School Family Survey

Winnona Park Elementary School Family Survey

Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School Family Survey

Talley Street Upper Elementary School Family Survey

Beacon Hill Middle School Family Survey

Decatur High School Family Survey

Influenza (flu) season is upon us, and cases are rising in the metro Atlanta area. Maintaining a healthy school environment requires working together to mitigate the spread of this highly contagious respiratory illness. We urge parents and guardians to monitor their child(ren) for signs of illness before sending them to school.

Flu Symptoms

• Fever, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, headache

• Fatigue, runny or stuffy nose, (vomiting and diarrhea are common in children)

Stay Home When Sick

• Fever more than 100.4 degrees within the last 24 hours

• Vomiting 2 or more times in the past 24 hours

• Diarrhea (incidents involving loss of body control, bloody stools, or two or more episodes above what the child normally experiences in 24 hours)

• Continuous coughing not relieved by medication

• Any student who is too ill to participate in classroom learning activities

Return to School/ Normal Activities: Respiratory Viruses

You can return to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:

• Your symptoms are getting better overall, and

• You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

Promote Healthy Habits

• Practice proper respiratory etiquette (coughing and sneezing into an elbow or a tissue).

• Frequent handwashing (for at least 20 seconds) with soap and water, or the use of sanitizer

• Maintain proper hydration with water and healthy fluids.

• Do not share food or eating utensils.

• Eat healthy foods and get quality rest.

For more information, please see the DeKalb Public Health Winter Illness Report, which highlights respiratory data trends across the Metro Atlanta area. For more information, see the CDC's flu webpage.

An ongoing speaker series from DEF, Decatur Prevention Initiative and the Decatur Parents Network returns Thursday, January 22, with a documentary viewing and panel discussion on "Navigating the Changing Drug Landscape: Talking to our Kids About Dangerous Substances." This event is free and open to any adult. Find more information and register in advance here.

Thursday, January 22, 6:30-8 p.m., DHS Learning Commons (Library/Media Center). Enter the bus drop-off area off of Commerce Drive.

City of Decatur Parks and Recreation commits to providing exceptional experiences that foster healthy living and meaningful community connections. Please visit the DPRD programs website for information about after-school programs, school holiday programs, and summer camps. Follow Decatur Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter here.

Summer Camp Registration Is Open — Spots Still Available!
Looking for an unforgettable summer experience? Legacy Park Adventure Day Camp is perfect for outdoor-loving kids, focusing on adventure, teamwork, and leadership through active play and exploration. Prefer variety and creativity? iDiscover Camp invites campers to explore weekly themes through hands-on activities, arts, science, movement, and more. Both camps run 8 a.m.-4 p.m., June 1-July 3. Register on CommunityPass.

Spring Athletics Registration Is Now Open!
Get in the game this spring with Decatur Parks & Recreation! Youth athletes can build skills and confidence in Boys Flag Football, Coed Soccer. New this season is Girls Flag Football and Girls Volleyball, perfect for beginner to intermediate players. Registration opened January 5. Spots fill quickly. Register on CommunityPass

The CSD Board of Education officially welcomed its newest member, Lorraine Irier, during a swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, January 13. Irier is now the board member-at-large, succeeding Dr. Jana L. Johnson-Davis, who retired after six years of dedicated service. Board members Dr. Carmen Sulton and Hans Utz ran unopposed and returned to the board for another term. Irier, Sulton, and Utz were sworn in and given their oaths of office by DeKalb County Magistrate Court Judge Matthew J. McCoyd in the Elizabeth Wilson Student Support Center board room.

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