Druid Hills High: Modernization or Relocation?
- Hillary Kilfeather
- Sep 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 8
Post Update: October 8, 2025
In 2022, following a successful student-led effort, the DeKalb County School Board voted to modernize Druid Hills High School to address long-standing maintenance concerns. Conceptual designs for the modernization were shared with the community throughout 2024 and 2025. During this process, community concerns were raised about the proposed capacity of 1,200 students (below current enrollment) and whether the 11-acre site can accommodate a modern high school program and athletic facilities.
In response, the district recently evaluated three alternative sites, and updated a plan for modernizing the current campus. Three options with renderings have been shared, and community feedback is being collected. DHHS and Fernbank Elementary’s parent leadership groups have voiced strong support for keeping Druid Hills High at its current location, citing its central position within the cluster, the stability it provides to feeder schools, and the strong community engagement that contributes to its academic success and diversity. They argue that relocating the school could disrupt long-standing partnerships and diminish the family and neighborhood connections that help make DHHS one of DeKalb’s most successful public high schools. Many neighborhood residents worry that relocating the school could drive families toward private options, reducing public school enrollment and impacting local property values.
The DeKalb County School Board will make a decision on the future of Druid Hills High School at its November board meeting. DHCA is encouraging all residents to review the proposed options for the school, and provide your feedback to the school board as soon as possible. All related materials and instructions for providing feedback can be found here. Talking points produced by Fernbank Elementary’s parent leadership groups are available here. Decaturish reported on the DHHS Modernization meeting held at the high school on Sept. 30th here.
Original Post: 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:
