Westlake High School (Georgia)

Westlake High School is a comprehensive public high school located in unincorporated Fulton County, Georgia (with an Atlanta mailing address) and is accredited by the Georgia Department of Education and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 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 2019.[4][5]

Westlake High School
Address
2400 Union Road S.W.

Atlanta
,
Georgia
30331

United States
Coordinates33°41′30″N 84°34′45″W
Information
TypePublic high school
Founded1988
School boardFulton County Schools
NCES District ID1302280[1]
SuperintendentJeff Rose
CEEB code110258
NCES School ID130228001031[2]
PrincipalJarvis Adams
Staff117.80 (FTE)[3]
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,073 (2018-19)[3]
Student to teacher ratio17.60[3]
Color(s)Blue, silver, and white      
MascotLion
Feeder schoolsSandtown Middle School, Camp Creek Middle School
WebsiteWestlake High School

History

As a part of the Fulton County School System 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.[6]

In 2016 the old campus was used for exterior and interior shots for the Lionsgate film, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life.[7]

In 2020 Principal Jamar Robinson and his wife both drowned while on vacation.[8]

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, science, engineering, and media-based careers. Students are exposed to courses that offer real-world problems and inquiry-based instruction. The program develops partnerships with universities and businesses so that students have access to relevant instructional and internship experiences in medical science, engineering, and media. Students are also encouraged to participate in academic, athletic, and artistic extracurricular 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 and Emory University. Students attend monthly forums with guest speakers from college and industry on topics ranging from college planning to careers.

Recent achievements

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 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' tennis

In both 2011 and 2012 the Westlake boys' tennis team made it to the GHSA state finals. This marked the first time that an all African American team made it Georgia's highest classification.[9]

Boys' basketball
  • 1999 GHSA Boys' Basketball Champions[10]
  • 2002 GHSA Boys' Basketball Champions[10]
  • 2016 GHSA AAAAAA Boys' Basketball Champions

Girls' basketball
  • 2018 GHSA AAAAAAA Girls' Basketball Champions[11]
  • 2019 GHSA AAAAAA Girls' Basketball Champions[12]
  • 2020 GHSA AAAAA Girls' Basketball Champions[13]
  • 2021 GHSA AAAAA Girls' Basketball Champions[14]
  • 2021 Geico Nationals Girls' Basketball Champions[15]

Girls' track and field
  • 2009 GHSA AAAAA Girls' Track Champions[10]
  • 2013 GHSA AAAAAA Girls' Track and Field Champions[10]
  • 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 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.[16] 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 was filmed at the older facility, adjacent to the new one.

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Fulton County". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  2. "Search for Public Schools - Westlake High School (130228001031)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  3. "Westlake High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  4. "About Us". Fulton School. Fulton County Georgia. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  5. "Georgia School Grade Report". Georgia.Gov. Governor's Office of Student Achievement. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  6. "HLN". CNN.
  7. Leslie, Jennifer. "Local schools are cashing in on movies and tv shows". 11Alive. 11Alive. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  8. Dukes, Deidra (11 November 2020). "Fulton County principal, wife drown during Puerto Rico vacation". Fox5 Atlanta. Fox. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  9. "Westlake Boys Tennis Team are Region Champions and going for State Title today". Cascade, GA Patch. 11 May 2012.
  10. "GHSA Boys Basketball Champions". Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  11. Saye, Chip. "Class AAAAAAA girls: Westlake 60, Newton 45". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. AJC Sports. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  12. Awtrey, Stan. "Class AAAAAAA Girls: Westlake 60, Collins Hill 53". AJC. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  13. Kohn, Adam. "Class AAAAAAA girls final: Westlake 72, Collins Hill 53". AJC. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  14. Saye, Chip. "Girls basketball player of year: Westlake's Raven Johnson". AJC. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  15. Lawlor, Christopher. "Girls Final". Geico Hoops. Geico. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  16. "Groundbreaking set for new Westlake High". Fulton County Schools. September 22, 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  17. "Indianapolis Colts: Edwin Jackson". Archived from the original on 2016-02-06. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  18. "Edwin Jackson - Football". Georgia Southern University Athletics.
  19. "ABOUT LBJ". ladawnjones. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  20. Auburn Tigers' Cam Newton wins Heisman Trophy despite scandal, Sports.espn.go.com (2010-12-13); retrieved 2013-08-16.
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