DeKalb County's greatest contribution to metro Atlanta is its talented workforce, Dekalb students. Pre-Kindergarten through post-graduate are served by one of the region's most influential networks of educational institutions. Many schools offer additional skills training to meet the needs of local employers. Each system and institution makes a distinctive contribution to DeKalb businesses in the quality of its graduates.

DeKalb County School System

With more than 100,000 students enrolled annually in its Pre-Kindergarten through 12^{th grade program, DeKalb County is the second largest system in Georgia.}

^{Sources: DeKalb County School System, Georgia Dept. of Education}

^{Decatur Schools Statistical Profile}

^{Sources: City Schools of Decatur, Georgia Dept. of Education}

• ^{Career Academies. DeKalb schools offer dual diploma programs, allowing students to choose courses in technology and college prep in the high schools. Students can access technology programs on campus and can change their graduate direction at any time.}
• ^{DeKalb High Schools of Technology, North and South Campus offer students programs a range of in technical programs, including technologies that must be housed in central campuses.}

^{Private Schools}

^{DeKalb has more than 60 private schools that educate an estimated 10,000 students from around Atlanta in pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade.}

^{For more information, go to the Georgia Independent School Association at www.gisa2.org.}

^{DeKalb County is home to many of metro Atlanta's finest colleges and universities. An estimated 20,000 students enroll annually in degreed programs on these campuses while another 44,000 pursue certificates and upgrade technical and business skills.}

^{Agnes Scott College
Columbia Theological Seminary
DeKalb Technical College
DeVry Atlanta
Emory University
Georgia Perimeter College
Mercer University, Atlanta Campus
National-Louis University, Atlanta Campus
Oglethorpe University}

An Added Advantage: The Georgia HOPE Scholarship

^{Georgia high school students leaving with a B or higher grade average may qualify to receive a HOPE Scholarship to any Georgia university, public or private college or technical institute. HOPE Scholarships pay for tuition, HOPE-approved mandatory fees and a book allowance of up to $100 per semester. Since 1993, HOPE grants totaling more than $1.2 billion have helped educate more than 575,000 students throughout Georgia. In DeKalb County more than 28,000 students have received more than $80 million in HOPE grants.}

^{Qualified Georgia businesses can take advantage of the state's free, customized training. Georgia's Quick Start program is nationally recognized for providing high-quality training services at no cost to new or expanding businesses in Georgia. Since 1967, Quick Start has provided customized training for over 325,000 employees for more than 3,100 businesses and industries throughout the state. It has been singled out by Fortune, as well as Training, and Site Selection magazines for its effectiveness in providing the most comprehensive and advanced training in the nation.}

^{Useful Education Links:
Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education
University System of Georgia
Georgia Department of Technical & Adult Education
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Georgia Dept. of Education,
Georgia Public Education Report Card}