Druid Hills High: Modernization or Relocation?
- Hillary Kilfeather
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 11
September 10, 2025
In May 2022, after a successful student-led advocacy effort, the DeKalb County School
Board voted to modernize Druid Hills High School. This was in response to long-
standing maintenance concerns at the school, which the district acknowledges can only
be fully addressed through extensive renovation. The architectural firm PBK was hired
in 2023 to develop conceptual drawings for this modernization, which were shared with
the community during fall 2024 and spring 2025.
During discussions with parents, staff, and students regarding the modernization,
concerns were raised over the district plan to modernize the school at a capacity of
1200 students, which does not accommodate the current 1450 student population or
expected future growth in the area. Concerns were also raised over whether the current
Druid Hills High site (11 acres) could accommodate all the programs associated with a
modern high school, including full athletic facilities.
In response to these concerns, the School Board authorized exploration of three
alternative sites for Druid Hills High: Druid Hills Middle (formerly Shamrock High),
DeKalb School of the Arts (formerly Avondale High), and DeKalb Arts Academy
(formerly Avondale Middle). Those architectural renderings are now complete, and the district has stated they will be shared with the community in the next few months.
The site designs for Druid Hills High at DHMS, DSA, and DAA will be added after the
community meetings have taken place.
To share your feedback on the Druid Hills High modernization (or possible relocation),
we recommend contacting ALL district decision makers:
Board Members –
Superintendent – Devon_Horton@dekalbschoolsga.org
Chief Operations Officer – Erick_Hofstetter@dekalbschoolsga.org
Director of Capital Projects – Keith_Ball@dekalbschoolsga.org
Director of Student Assignment – Sarita_Smith@dekalbschoolsga.org
Please remember to address your comments to all decision makers, not just the Board
Member for Druid Hills (Whitney McGinniss). You can also sign up to speak at an
upcoming Board meeting. Those instructions are available here: