About Apalachee High School in Barrow County

Here’s some information about Apalachee High School, which was on lockdown Wednesday after a fatal shooting that killed four and injured nine others:

• The school opened in 2000.
• It’s part of the Barrow County public school system, located about 8 miles east of Dacula, southwest of Winder.
• The school is named after the Apalachee River which defines the southern border of Barrow County. Apalachee is the Choctaw Indian word meaning “allies.”
• Apalachee is pronounced “a-pa-la-chee.”
• The principal is Jessica Rehberg.
• As of March 2024, the school had a total enrollment of 1,919 students, including 550 ninth graders, 520 10th graders, 475 11th graders and 373 12th graders.
• Apalachee HS is the largest school in Barrow County in terms of enrollment and one of two high schools in the district; the other is Winder-Barrow HS, which has an enrollment of 1,830.
• Barrow County is midway between Atlanta and Athens, with an estimated population of 93,000