The DeKalb County School System is a fully accredited system and is operated under the guidance of a county school board, whom the citizens of DeKalb County elect. Students have consistently rated above the state average in all curricula. The Town of Rainsville's K-12 school (Plainview School) has 1,200 students with 60 faculty and support personnel. The Town of Henagar has an elementary school. Junior high- and high school-age students generally attend Sylvania High School just south of Henagar. Vocational Education The DeKalb County School System operates a technical vocational school in Rainsville. The school works closely with local industries to provide training to meet the needs of those industries. Post-Secondary Education Northeast State Community College is located on the Jackson County-DeKalb County line and provides a two-year program. Recently receiving community college status, the school is developing technical courses for industries in DeKalb and Jackson Counties.

Located approximately 38 miles south is Gadsden State Community College, which provides two-year programs and technical degrees.

Also located in Gadsden is the Bevill Center for Advanced Manufacturing providing manufacturing training for the area.

Jacksonville State University is located approximately 80 miles from Fort Payne and provides four-year and graduate degree programs.

The University of Alabama at Huntsville, Stillman College and Alabama A & M are located 75 miles west of Fort Payne and provide undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.

Forty-five miles away in Mount Berry, GA, Berry College provides fully accredited arts, sciences and professional programs plus specialized graduate programs in education and business administration. Shorter College in nearby Rome, GA also offers programs in education and business.

Lookout Mountain, GA's Covenant College launches students into careers in politics, science, medicine, business, computer science, education, Christian missions and the arts.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is located approximately 50 miles north of Fort Payne and also provides undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in various curricula.