A DeKalb County magnet school that draws students from Dunwoody and Brookhaven has been named a national "Bright Spot" for reading, one of just 2,158 schools nationwide singled out by The 74, a nonprofit education newsroom, for helping students outperform reading expectations tied to poverty levels.

DeKalb Arts Academy, a K-8 school in Avondale Estates, earned the recognition for its third-grade reading performance. The DeKalb County School District announced the honor on Thursday, Aug. 27.

The 74's Bright Spots project identifies schools where students outperform reading expectations given their poverty rates. Its analysis covered 41,883 schools across 10,414 districts. Researchers used spring 2024 third-grade reading scores and federal poverty data. Schools that land in the top 5% of their state qualify. The 74 tagged 2,158 schools nationwide as Bright Spots. DeKalb Arts Academy was among them.

The school draws students from across the district, including Dunwoody and Brookhaven, through its magnet enrollment process. Kindergarten through third grade admits by lottery; grades 4 through 8 require an audition, according to the district's own school-choice listings. The school enrolls roughly 680 students, according to federal enrollment data, and integrates arts into core academics, including reading instruction.

Georgia is one of the states where poverty plays a comparatively large role in predicting reading outcomes, according to The 74's analysis. That context gives added weight to a Georgia school clearing the bar.

"We believe that strong literacy skills open doors for students, and we are committed to creating learning experiences that inspire our students to read, think critically, and express themselves with confidence," Principal Benjamin Polite said in the district's announcement.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Norman C. Sauce III called the honor a reflection of educators, students and families working together toward academic excellence.

The 74's Bright Spots series launched in November 2025 with a 50-state analysis by education columnist Chad Aldeman. A follow-up in January 2026 named the top five schools in each state. The district's announcement did not specify whether DeKalb Arts Academy appeared on that narrower list of 255 schools or only in the broader pool.