Clayton County mourns student’s death

Clayton County Public Schools is mourning after a student at Elite Scholars Academy died Tuesday, according to the superintendent.

“We are very saddened by the loss of one of our students this evening,” Morcease Beasley said in a statement. “The school district is here to support the family of the student and all staff and student body.”

Beasley’s note added that grief counselors and a crisis team would be at the school Wednesday.

Clayton County firefighters responded to a call from the school Tuesday afternoon, which was the hottest day in Atlanta in three years. The city hit 100 degrees, tying the record for the highest recorded temperature.

According to Battalion Chief Laura Richardson, a 16-year-old girl suffered cardiac arrest and was taken to Southern Regional Medical Center.

The student’s name and other details were not released. Channel 2 Action News, however, described the teen as an athlete who was outside practicing. She was running when she collapsed around 4:30 p.m., the news station reported.

Elite Scholars Academy was established in 2009 as a public charter school. In July 2016, it became an early college magnet. The school moved into a $22 million facility on Fielder Road in 2017.

It houses about 700 students in grades 6 through 12 and features a digital animation lab and a business service lab, as well as athletic facilities, such as a gymnasium, tennis court, soccer field and track.

—Please return to AJC.com for updates.

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