Westlake High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in South Fulton,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

(with an

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

mailing address) and is accredited by the

Georgia Department of Education Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

and

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. As of 2022, the organization oversees ap ...

History

As a part of the

Fulton County School System The Fulton County School System is a school district headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States. The system serves the area of Fulton County outside the Atlanta city limits (which are served by Atlanta Public Schools). Fulton ...

consolidation plan, Westlake was formed in 1988 by the closing of Westwood and Lakeshore High Schools. The new school used the old Westwood facility until 2008, when Westlake moved into a new state-of-the-art school next to the old campus. Feeder schools include Sandtown Middle School and Camp Creek Middle School. In the 2012-13 school year, the school received favorable media coverage when CNN's HLN news broadcast a feature segment on then Westlake principal Dr. Grant Rivera and his efforts in engaging students, parents, and faculty in achieving academic and extra-curricular success in today's challenging social environment. In 2016 the old campus was used for exterior and interior shots for the

Lionsgate Lions Gate, Lion Gate or similar terms may refer to: Gates *Lion Gate at Mycenae in Greece *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the ancient Hittite city of Hattusa, now in Turkey *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the gardens of Hampton Court Pala ...

film, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life. In 2019, the academic growth rate for Westlake students was higher than 95% of schools in the state and was above the state average in college readiness. In 2020 Principal Jamar Robinson and his wife both drowned while on vacation.

Magnet program

Westlake's Math/Science Magnet Program prepares students for the academic and career fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through rigorous instruction, relevant experiences, and supportive relationships.

Goals

The magnet program at Westlake seeks to provide an academically rigorous foundation for

math Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...

science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

, and

media Media may refer to: Communication * Means of communication, tools and channels used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Interactive media, media that is inter ...

-based careers. Students are exposed to courses that offer real-world problems and

inquiry-based instruction Inquiry-based learning (also spelled as enquiry-based learning in British English) is a form of active learning that starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios. It contrasts with traditional education, which generally relies on the teach ...

. The program develops partnerships with universities and businesses so that students have access to relevant instructional and

internship An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. Once confined to medical graduates, internship is used to practice for a wide range of placements in businesses, non-profit organizations and g ...

experiences in

medical science Medicine is the science and practice of caring for patients, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pra ...

, and

. Students are also encouraged to participate in

academic An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

, athletic, and

artistic Art is a diverse range of culture, cultural activity centered around works of art, ''works'' utilizing Creativity, creative or imagination, imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an express ...

extracurricular An extracurricular activity (ECA) or extra academic activity (EAA) or cultural activity is an activity, performed by students, that falls outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school, college or university education. Although approved a ...

activities that support their achievement.

Magnet programs of study

Westlake's magnet program is modeled after college programs in medical science, engineering, and computer science. Each course of study has associated extracurricular clubs and teams, as well as junior and senior summer research internship opportunities available at both

Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, GT, and simply Tech or the Institute) is a public university, public research university and Institute of technology (United States), institute of technology in Atlanta, ...

and

Emory University Emory University is a private university, private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded in 1836 as Emory College by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory. Its main campu ...

. Students attend monthly forums with guest speakers from college and industry on topics ranging from college planning to careers.

Recent achievements

*National 1st place Biology Award in

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du&nbs ...

ACT-SO The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO), informally named the "Olympics of the Mind," is a youth program of the NAACP that is "designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural ach ...

competition *National 2nd place Science Award in

National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It was founded in 1887 and is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Service ...

competition *Regional Semi-Finalists Engineering Award in

Siemens Westinghouse Competition The Siemens Competition was a science competition for US high school students funded by the Siemens Foundation, which was administered by the College Board from 1999-2013 and by Discovery Education from 2014–2017. The Siemens Foundation released ...

*Regional 1st place Tri-Math-Alon Award in

National Society of Black Engineers The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is a society that was founded in 1975 at Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. It is one of the largest student-run organizations in the United States, with core activities centered ...

competition

Application requirements

Students wishing to participate in the magnet program must live in Fulton County and must meet academic criteria, including having taken

Algebra I Algebra is a branch of mathematics that deals with abstract systems, known as algebraic structures, and the manipulation of expressions within those systems. It is a generalization of arithmetic that introduces variables and algebraic operati ...

in 8th grade, having a minimum grade of 80/100 in all math and science classes, failing no classes, and having a minimum cumulative average of 80.

Athletics programs

Boys' basketball

* 1999 GHSA Boys' Basketball Champions * 2002 GHSA Boys' Basketball Champions *2016 GHSA AAAAAA Boys' Basketball Champions

Girls' basketball

*2018 GHSA AAAAAAA Girls' Basketball Champions *2019 GHSA AAAAAA Girls' Basketball Champions *2020 GHSA AAAAA Girls' Basketball Champions *2021 GHSA AAAAA Girls' Basketball Champions *2021

Geico The Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO ) is an American vehicle insurance company headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO provides motorcycle, ATV, RV, boat, snowmobile, travel, pet, event, hom ...

Nationals Girls' Basketball Champions

Girls' track and field

*2009 GHSA AAAAA Girls' Track Champions *2013 GHSA AAAAAA Girls' Track and Field Champions *2014 GHSA AAAAAA Girls' Track and Field Champions *2015 GHSA AAAAAA Girls' Track and Field Champions

Dance

*2012 UDA Jazz Dance Large Group Champions *2012 UDA Hip-Hop Dance Large Group Champions

New facility

Construction for a new Westlake facility began in October 2006 and the facility officially opened in August 2008, housing over 2,500

high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...

students in 99 classrooms. The architectural firm of Gardner, Spencer, Smith, Tench & Jarbeau, P.C. designed the new building while H.J. Russell & Company handled the initial phase of construction. The school had previously been housed in the old Westlake High School building since its opening in 1988. Prior to 1988, the building housed Westwood High School. The MTV show ''

Finding Carter ''Finding Carter'' is an American teen drama television series that aired on MTV for two seasons from July 8, 2014, to December 15, 2015. The first season, which consisted of 12 episodes, finished airing in September 2014. A month after its deb ...

'' was filmed at the older facility, adjacent to the new one.

Notable alumni

* Keith Adams, football playerOscar Dillard All Sports Academy
* Ian Allen, football player *

Lawrence Butler Lawrence Butler may refer to: * Lawrence W. Butler Lawrence W. Butler (July 30, 1908 – October 19, 1988) was an American special effects artist, best known as the inventor of the bluescreening process. He won an Academy Award for Best Sp ...

, baseball player, outfielder *

Christian Coleman Christian Coleman (born March 6, 1996) is an American professional track and field sprinter who competes in the 60 metres, 100 m and 200 m. The 2019 world champion in the 100 meters, he also won gold as part of men's 4 × 100-meter relay. He ...

, USA Track and Field Olympian *

Christopher Eubanks Christopher Eubanks ( ; born May 5, 1996) is an American professional tennis player. He played college tennis for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's tennis, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. There, he was a two-time All-American and twice named A ...

, tennis player *

Keyaron Fox Keyaron James Fox , born January 24, 1982) is an American former professional American football, football linebacker. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football at Georgia Insti ...

, football player,

Super Bowl XLIII Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champions Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champions Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League (NFL) champ ...

champion * Edwin Jackson, football player *

Raven Johnson Raven Johnson (born March 4, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). High school career Johnson played basketball for Westlake High School in Atlanta. She played along ...

, basketball player, point guard

South Carolina Gamecocks The South Carolina Gamecocks represent the University of South Carolina in the NCAA Division I. The University of South Carolina uses "Gamecocks" as its official nickname and mascot. While the men's teams were traditionally known as the Fight ...

Adam "Pacman" Jones Adam Bernard Jones (born September 30, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Nicknamed "Pacman", he played college football for ...

, football player *

LaDawn Jones LaDawn Blackett Jones (born May 28, 1980) is an American lawyer and politician. Early year and education She was born LaDawn Blackett on May 28, 1980, in Houston, Texas, to Wayne and Bonnie Blackett. In 1985, when she was five, her family moved t ...

, attorney and former member of the

Georgia House of Representatives The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly (the state legislature) of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. There are currently 180 elected members. Republican Party (United States), Repu ...

* Sean Jones, football player * Lash Legend, professional wrestler *

Wallace Miles Wallace Miles (born August 1, 1989) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Ottawa Redblacks, Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts. He played col ...

, football player * Anthony Mitchell, football player,

Super Bowl XXXV Super Bowl XXXV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion 2000 Baltimore Ravens season, Baltimore Ravens and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion 2000 New York Giants season, New York Giant ...

champion *

Cam Newton Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers. He is the NFL le ...

, football player,

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...

, 2010

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy ( ; also known simply as the Heisman) is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust followin ...

winner, 2015 NFL

MVP MVP most commonly refers to: * Most valuable player, an award, typically for the best performing player in a sport or competition * Minimum viable product, a concept for feature estimating used in business and engineering MVP may also refer to: ...

Chuma Okeke Chukwuma Julian "Chuma" Okeke ( ; born August 18, 1998) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Okeke played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers ...

, professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player,

Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NB ...

Quincy Olivari Quincy Andrew Olivari (born May 27, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Rice Owls and the Xavier Musketeers. High school car ...

, basketball player *

Kasim Reed Mohammed Kasim Reed (born June 10, 1969) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 59th List of mayors of Atlanta, mayor of Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia's state capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), ...

, attorney and 59th Mayor of Atlanta (as Westwood High School) *

Tyshun Render Tyshun Scott Render (born March 28, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football at Middle Tennessee. He has also played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL), and the New Jersey Gene ...

, NFL player * Micah Robinson, NFL player *

Vince Staples Vincent Jamal Staples (born July 2, 1993) is an American rapper. Born in Compton, California and raised in Long Beach, California, he first became known for his appearances on projects by Odd Future members—''Earl (mixtape), Earl'' by Earl Sw ...

, musician (attended for a year) *

Chris Tavarez Christopher (Chris) Tavarez (born November 7, 1992, Atlanta, Georgia) is an American actor, model, and athlete. After modeling as a young child, his parents were encouraged by scouts to pursue the world of acting for their son. His first televis ...

, actor * A. J. Terrell, football player,

Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...

Avieon Terrell Avieon Terrell (born January 11, 2005) is an American football cornerback for the Clemson Tigers. Early life Terrell attended Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia. He played cornerback and wide receiver in high school. During his career he ...

, college football player *

Kiante Tripp Kiante Tripp (born October 7, 1987) is a former gridiron football defensive tackle. Tripp also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns in 2011. He played college football for the University of Georgia. Tripp is al ...

, football player *

Chance Warmack Chance Warmack (born September 14, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Tennessee Titans tenth overall in the 2013 NFL draft. He played college ...

, football player * Nate Wiggins, cornerback

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...

Malik Willis Malik Antonio Willis ( ; born May 25, 1999) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers football, Auburn Tig ...

, quarterback

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

* Ray Willis, basketball player *

Marquis Grissom Marquis Deon Grissom (born April 17, 1967) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and ...

, baseball player

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

(as Lakeshore High School) * Sidi Njie,

USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is a United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running, and racewalking (known as the sport of athletics outside the US). The USATF was known between 1979 and 1 ...

U20 Gold medalist

References

{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1988 Fulton County School System high schools 1988 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)