Heritage High School (Conyers, Georgia)

Heritage High School is one of three public secondary schools in Rockdale County in Conyers, Georgia, United States (the others being Rockdale County High School and Salem High School), under the Rockdale County School District. Heritage High School is home of the Patriots. It has twice been named a School of Excellence. In December 2009, U.S. News & World Report gave Heritage High School a silver medal ranking in the top 500 high schools in the nation. In 2014 Heritage High School became an Academy for Performing and Visual Arts.

Heritage High School
Address
2400 Granade Road Southwest

Conyers
,
Rockdale
,
Georgia
30094-6299

United States
Coordinates33.627728°N 84.049045°W / 33.627728; -84.049045[1]
Information
Motto"Setting the Stage for Excellence"
Established1976
School districtRockdale County School District
NCES District ID130441001591
PrincipalLaTonya Richards
Teaching staff93.60 FTE[2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,857 (2018–19)[2]
Student to teacher ratio19.84[2]
Color(s)   Red and blue
Athletics conference3-AAAAAA[3]
MascotPatriot
NicknameHHS
Team namePatriots
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
NewspaperThe Sentinel
YearbookL'Espirit
Websitehhs.rockdaleschools.org

Shooting

On May 20, 1999, a month to the day after the Columbine High School massacre, 15-year-old student Anthony "T.J." Solomon opened fire with a .22-caliber rifle on the Heritage campus, wounding six students. A 15-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition, and the other victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Solomon attempted suicide with a revolver but was talked into surrendering by an assistant principal. Solomon initially faced up to 351 years of prison if convicted of aggravated assault and other charges,[4] but in 2000 he was found guilty but mentally ill, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison and 65 years of probation.[5][6] A judge later reduced his sentence from 40 to 20 years. He was released to his mother's house on parole on July 26, 2016.[7][8]

Performing Arts

In July 2014, Heritage High School became an Academy for Performing and Visual Arts, also referred to as the Fine Arts Program. Students accepted into the program are enrolled in one of the following majors:

  • Vocal Music
  • Instrumental Music
  • Dance
  • Theatre
  • Technical Theatre
  • Visual Arts

Theater

Heritage High School's drama department won the Georgia High School Association one act play competition at the 6A level in 2017 and 2018.[9] Also in 2017, they won the Georgia High School Theater Award for Overall Production, for their production of Les Misérables'.[10]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Free US Geocoder". Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
  2. "Heritage High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  3. https://www.ghsa.net/region-alignment
  4. Pilcher, James (August 12, 1999). "15-year-old gunman's case sent to adult court". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 6, 2000. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  5. "6 hurt in Georgia high school shooting". CNN. May 20, 1999. Archived from the original on May 20, 2000. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  6. "Ga. Shooter Gets 40 Years". ABC News. November 10, 2000. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  7. Schramm, Rebekka (July 26, 2016). "Notorious 1999 Heritage High School shooter released from prison". CBS46. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016.
  8. Richards, Doug (November 10, 2000). "Tentative parole set for Heritage High School gunman". 11Alive. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  9. "Lambert, Heritage, Buford High Win 2018 GHSA One-Act Play Competition". Atlanta Theater. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  10. https://conyersarts.org/congrats-to-heritage-high-school-on-their-schuler-awards/


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