State Attorney General Steve Marshall presented Austin High School with the 2017 Safe Schools Initiative Award of Excellence. This is the fifth time Austin High School has received the award. Schools were selected as winners from seven* Alabama State School Board of Education districts, as well as private schools for three regions of the state.

The Attorney General said, "In making this decision, judges noted many things that distinguished Austin High School: a local computer-aided dispatch system to notify school officials if a local threat exists, student resource officers equipped with radios so that communications are not hindered if calls are not functioning through cell phone towers, and an excellent partnership with the Decatur Police Department that includes mentoring initiatives."

Austin High School Principal Melissa A. Scott Ed. D., said, “With so many incidents happening at schools across the country, student safety is a top priority at Austin High School. We are blessed to have great safety agencies in the City of Decatur and thankful for their support. Without their help, we could not do what we do to keep our students safe.”

Other winning schools throughout the state include Opelika Middle School in Lee County, Pine Level Elementary School in Autauga County, Satsuma High School in Mobile County, Nichols-Lawson in Sylacauga, Simmons Middle School in Jefferson County, Bob Jones High School in Madison County, Sumiton Christian School in Walker County, Coosa Valley Academy in Shelby County and The Lakeside School in Barbour County.