The front steps of Decatur High School. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

UPDATE: Principal Lauri McKain says graduation plans will proceed as planned. Here is her letter to students and parents:

Families and Guests of Class of 2014 Graduates,

We had a great graduation practice this morning, and I let the seniors know that we will proceed with the graduation ceremony tonight at 7pm. As I stated in earlier communication, if we have to move indoors, only TICKETED guests will get in. Our hope is that we can proceed with the ceremonies outside, but we won’t make that call until later. We will look at the radar in the late afternoon and make the best call we can to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests.

Thanks for ensuring the graduates closest family members arrive with a ticket. Others are invited this evening, but will only be granted entry if we proceed in the stadium. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

Happy graduation!!

Lauri McKain
Decatur High School | Principal

Decatur High students were scheduled to hold their commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 29, but school officials are considering changing those plans if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Principal Lauri McKain, who is leaving the high school to become City Schools of Decatur’s Director of Secondary Education, sent out a note to parents telling them there’s a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast.

“By tomorrow afternoon, no later than 2 pm, we will make a final call as to whether we will postpone graduation to Friday morning at 10 am,” she wrote.

The commencement ceremonies are usually held in the high school’s stadium.

“Currently, Friday’s weather forecast looks beautiful, so if we postpone we will still be able to have graduation in the stadium,” she said. “It’s hard to predict when the forecast calls for scattered showers. We will use an abundance of caution and make a determination that errs on the side of our guests’ comfort and safety.”

Next year, Noel Maloof will become the next Decatur High School principal. Maloof currently is the principal at Dunwoody High.

The High School reports that there are 202 students enrolled in the class of 2014.

Decatur High has one of the highest graduation rates in the state. The school’s grad rate in 2013 was 93.9 percent. The school reports that 81 percent of its 2013 graduates are attending a four-year college.

“Approximately 70 percent of students graduate having taken at least one AP course,” the DHS website says.