Education

Notable former students of Atlanta Public Schools

Among the notable former students of Atlanta Public Schools, clockwise from top left: singer Gladys Knight (Archer High), former Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. (Boys High), actress Jasmine Guy (Northside High), journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault (Turner High), rapper Lil Baby (Washington High), and novelist Margaret Mitchell (Tenth Street Elementary).
Among the notable former students of Atlanta Public Schools, clockwise from top left: singer Gladys Knight (Archer High), former Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. (Boys High), actress Jasmine Guy (Northside High), journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault (Turner High), rapper Lil Baby (Washington High), and novelist Margaret Mitchell (Tenth Street Elementary).
April 20, 2023

Atlanta Public Schools is marking its 150th school year by spotlighting artifacts from the district’s musuem and by hosting a parade celebrating current and former students.

The district’s list of notable students is a who’s who of Atlantans who have left their mark on the city, on Georgia, and beyond.

Learn more about the history of APS and it’s 150th celebration here, and learn more below about some of the schools’ most famous alumni.

Archer High School

Edith Mcguire-Duvall (Olympian and teacher at East Lake Elementary School)

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight, an alum of Samuel Howard Archer High School, seen here in a promotional photo in 2007. (AJC file)
Gladys Knight, an alum of Samuel Howard Archer High School, seen here in a promotional photo in 2007. (AJC file)

Boys High School

Ivan Allen Jr. (former Atlanta mayor)

Ivan Allen Jr., an alumnus of Boys High School, shown here sometime in the late 1950s. (AJC Archive at GSU Library/AJCP339-219a)
Ivan Allen Jr., an alumnus of Boys High School, shown here sometime in the late 1950s. (AJC Archive at GSU Library/AJCP339-219a)

John S. Chandler (Chief Justice, State Supreme Court)

Franklin Garrett: (official historian of Atlanta)

Clark Howell (former editor of the Atlanta Constitution)

Boisfeuillet “Bo” Jones (former president of the Woodruff Foundation)

Harrison Jones (former president of Coca Cola)

Dean Rusk (former U.S. Secretary of State)

Commercial and Tech High School

Truett Cathy

Truett Cathy, an alumnus of Commercial and Tech High School, shown here in 1979. (Joe Benton/AJC file)
Truett Cathy, an alumnus of Commercial and Tech High School, shown here in 1979. (Joe Benton/AJC file)

John Portman

Architect John Portman, an alumnus of Commercial and Tech High School, shown here in 2006. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC 2006 file)
Architect John Portman, an alumnus of Commercial and Tech High School, shown here in 2006. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC 2006 file)

Cox Elementary School

Cecil Welch (world famous trumpeter)

Frederick Douglass High School

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Keisha Lance Bottoms, an alum of Frederick Douglass High School, shown here in 2023. (Susan Walsh/AP)
Keisha Lance Bottoms, an alum of Frederick Douglass High School, shown here in 2023. (Susan Walsh/AP)

Killer Mike (Render)

Mike "Killer Mike" Render, an alumnis of Frederick Douglass High School, shown here in 2005. (Sonia Murray/AJC file)
Mike "Killer Mike" Render, an alumnis of Frederick Douglass High School, shown here in 2005. (Sonia Murray/AJC file)

Lil Jon (Jonathan Smith)

Rev. Bernice King

Dexter King

Dykes High School

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson

Sen. Johnny Isakson, an alumnus of Dykes High School, shown here in 2008. (Rick McKay/AJC 2008 file)
Sen. Johnny Isakson, an alumnus of Dykes High School, shown here in 2008. (Rick McKay/AJC 2008 file)

Billy Payne

Billy Payne, and alumnus of Dykes High School, shown here in 1991. (William Berry/AJC 1991 file)
Billy Payne, and alumnus of Dykes High School, shown here in 1991. (William Berry/AJC 1991 file)

Fulton High School

Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield, an alumnus of Fulton High School, shown here in 1984. (Marty Lederhandler/AP)
Evander Holyfield, an alumnus of Fulton High School, shown here in 1984. (Marty Lederhandler/AP)

Girls High School

Barbara Cook (opera singer)

Ida Jarrell (first female superintendent of APS)

Larry Rakestraw (NFL)

David Rocker (NFL)

Grady (Now Midtown) High School

Danielle Deadwyler

Danielle Deadwyler, an alumna of Grady (Now Midtown) High School, seen here in a recent photo from 2023. (Vianney Le Caer/AP)
Danielle Deadwyler, an alumna of Grady (Now Midtown) High School, seen here in a recent photo from 2023. (Vianney Le Caer/AP)

Yolanda King

Angela Robinson

Harper High School

Judge Glenda Hatchett

Howard High School

Walter “Clyde” Frazier

Walt Frazier, an alum of David T. Howard Middle School, shown here in 1970. (AP)
Walt Frazier, an alum of David T. Howard Middle School, shown here in 1970. (AP)

Bryan Morel “Bitsy” Grant (tennis player)

Bryan M. 'Bitsy' Grant, an alumnus of Howard High School, shown here in 1937. (AP file)
Bryan M. 'Bitsy' Grant, an alumnus of Howard High School, shown here in 1937. (AP file)

Maynard Jackson

Maynard Jackson, an alumnus of Howard High School, shown here in 1947. (Courtesy of the Jackson family)
Maynard Jackson, an alumnus of Howard High School, shown here in 1947. (Courtesy of the Jackson family)

Vernon Jordan

Lonnie King (civil rights activist who advocated for de-segregation in APS)

Mel Pender (Olympian)

Mildred McDaniel Singleton (Olympian—first African American female to win gold for the US)

Margaret Matthews Wilburn (Olympian)

James Williams (Paralympian)

Carl Wright

Mays High School

Mayor Andre Dickens

Andre Dickens, an alum of Benjamin E. Mays High School, shown here in 2021. (Alyssa Pointer/AJC 2021 file)
Andre Dickens, an alum of Benjamin E. Mays High School, shown here in 2021. (Alyssa Pointer/AJC 2021 file)

Tayari Jones

Novelist Tayari Jones is a graduate of Benjamin E. Mays High School. ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM
Novelist Tayari Jones is a graduate of Benjamin E. Mays High School. ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM

Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas

Walter Kimbrough

Northside (now North Atlanta) High School

RuPaul Andre Charles

RuPaul Andre Charles, an alum of Northside (now North Atlanta) High School, seen here in a promotional image from 2002. (Mathu & Zaldy)
RuPaul Andre Charles, an alum of Northside (now North Atlanta) High School, seen here in a promotional image from 2002. (Mathu & Zaldy)

Collington Freeman (opera singer)

Jasmine Guy

Jasmine Guy, an alumna of Northside (now North Atlanta) High School, in 2000. (Jim Cooper/AP)
Jasmine Guy, an alumna of Northside (now North Atlanta) High School, in 2000. (Jim Cooper/AP)

Roosevelt High School

John Carson (NFL)

Antonio McKay (Olympian)

Southwest High School

E. Stanley O’Neal (first Black president and CEO of Meryl Lynch)

Spring Street Elementary School

Former Fulton County Commissioner and civil rights activist Martin Luther King III

Tenth Street Elementary School

Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell in 1941. Mitchell attended APS schools but didn't graduate from an APS high school. (AJC file)
Margaret Mitchell in 1941. Mitchell attended APS schools but didn't graduate from an APS high school. (AJC file)

Turner High School

Judge Marvin Arrington

Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Charlayne Hunter-Gault (then Charlayne Hunter), an alumna of Henry McNeal Turn High School, shown here in 1961. (AP file)
Charlayne Hunter-Gault (then Charlayne Hunter), an alumna of Henry McNeal Turn High School, shown here in 1961. (AP file)

Hamilton Holmes

Mack Jones

Washington High School

Mattiwilda Dobbs (Opera singer)

Mattiwilda Dobbs, an alumna of Washington High School, seen here in an undated promotional image. (AJC file)
Mattiwilda Dobbs, an alumna of Washington High School, seen here in an undated promotional image. (AJC file)

Robert Gibbs (first African-American man to enter and graduate from Harvard)

Michael Hollis (founded Atlanta Air, the first Black-owned airline)

Lena Horne

Lena Horne, an alumna of Booker T. Washington High School, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1941 (Library of Congress)
Lena Horne, an alumna of Booker T. Washington High School, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1941 (Library of Congress)

Leroy Johnson (first Black state senator in the South since Reconstruction)

Dominique Armani Jones, rapper known as Lil’ Baby

Lil Baby (Dominique Armani Jones), an alum of Booker T. Washington High School, shown here in 2002. (Robb Cohen for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Lil Baby (Dominique Armani Jones), an alum of Booker T. Washington High School, shown here in 2002. (Robb Cohen for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr., an alumnus of Booker T. Washington High School, at his Morehouse College graduation in 1948. (Used with permission, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Morehouse College)
Martin Luther King Jr., an alumnus of Booker T. Washington High School, at his Morehouse College graduation in 1948. (Used with permission, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Morehouse College)

Herman J. Russell

Business leader Herman J. Russell also has earned a place on the Walk of Fame.
Business leader Herman J. Russell also has earned a place on the Walk of Fame.

Julian “Nipsey” Russell

Comic and actor Nipsey Russell, who was born in Atlanta and worked at The Varsity, was known for his short rhymes and poems. Courtesy of The Varsity
Comic and actor Nipsey Russell, who was born in Atlanta and worked at The Varsity, was known for his short rhymes and poems. Courtesy of The Varsity

Ellmore Spencer III (NBA)

Louis Sullivan (former Secretary of HHS and president of Morehouse School of Medicine)

Dr. Louis Sullivan, an alumnus of Washington High School, seen here in 2013. (AJC file)
Dr. Louis Sullivan, an alumnus of Washington High School, seen here in 2013. (AJC file)

Gwen Torrence (Olympian)

Gwen Torrence at the start of a 100-meter qualifier Friday, July 26, 1996, during the track and field competitions at the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta. (Rich Addicks/AJC)
Gwen Torrence at the start of a 100-meter qualifier Friday, July 26, 1996, during the track and field competitions at the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta. (Rich Addicks/AJC)

Dr. Asa Yancey, JR. (medical director of Grady Hospital, former APS board member)