Education
Education

APS celebrates milestone in renovation of MLK Jr.’s childhood school

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, center, poses for a photograph with members of the David T. Howard High School Alumni Association during a "topping out" ceremony on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Bill Goodman/Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, center, poses for a photograph with members of the David T. Howard High School Alumni Association during a "topping out" ceremony on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Bill Goodman/Atlanta Public Schools
By
Aug 26, 2019

Atlanta Public Schools celebrated a major moment in the massive renovation project to reopen the childhood school attended by Martin Luther King Jr.

The district on Friday held a “topping out” ceremony, a tradition in the construction industry that takes place when the highest beam of a building is put in place.

APS is undertaking a $52 million renovation of the David T. Howard Building in the Old Fourth Ward.

The former school has been shuttered for decades, but the district plans to reopen it in the fall of 2020 as a middle school.

About the Author

Follow Vanessa McCray on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

People hold candles and sing during a memorial and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Washington. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP)

Credit: AP

Georgia teachers on leave for Charlie Kirk social media posts

Cobb school employees join a growing list of people fired or suspended from jobs across the nation for allegedly inflammatory social media posts.

Atlanta HBCUs win millions from White House — but it could be at others’ expense

The additional allocation from the Trump administration will bring federal HBCU funding to a total of more than $1.34 billion in fiscal year 2025.

1h ago

Atlanta HBCUs lift shelter-in-place order after threat

Clark Atlanta, Morris Brown, Morehouse and Spelman issued now-lifted shelter-in-place orders Thursday after a threat to CAU.

The Latest

Views of freshman moving into dorms at Clark Atlanta University on move-in day on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

Atlanta HBCUs win millions from White House — but it could be at others’ expense

1h ago

Georgia teachers on leave for Charlie Kirk social media posts

Atlanta HBCUs lift shelter-in-place order after threat

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com

A Braves fan took a ball to the face. The team may be liable, judges say.

The Atlanta Braves and former right fielder Jorge Soler face a lawsuit by a fan hit in the eye with a ball during a World Series game at Truist Park in 2021.

Joro spiders multiply across Georgia, spinning their pesky webs

The invasive species has multiplied rapidly in Atlanta in the last three years, research shows.

Ford settles billion-dollar Georgia lawsuits over fatal wrecks

Ford Motor Co. has settled two Georgia lawsuits that elicited record-setting jury verdicts of $1.7 billion and $2.5 billion, ending more than a decade of litigation.