Douglass High School (Georgia)

Infobox School
name = Frederick Douglass High School
nickname = Douglass, Doug, 'Stros, The Big D

motto = If there is no struggle, there is no progress
campus = Urban
type = Public high school
information = 404-802-3100
fax = 404-799-8022
district = Atlanta Public Schools
grades = 9–12
established= 1968
city = Atlanta
state = Georgia
country = USA
enrollment = 2,300
free_label_1 = Distinctions
newspaper = "The North Star"| free_1 = A Georgia School of Excellence
mascot = Astros
colors = Black & Gold
principal = J. Austin Brown
yearbook = "Polaris"
newspaper = "The North Star"
website =

Frederick Douglass High School is a public school located in northwest Atlanta, Georgia bordering the Collier Heights and Center Hill communities. As of 2006 the school principal is Mr. J. Austin Brown.

History

Since 1968, Frederick Douglass High School has served the community of Center Hill and the city of Atlanta with many academic and non-academic programs. Atlanta Public Schools established Douglass High School to relieve overcrowding at nearby defunct, Harper, Turner and West Fulton High Schools. There are currently over 2,000 students attending Douglass High School, making it the largest high school in the Atlanta Public School system. During the years of 2002-2003, the school underwent a major renovation that was completed in time for the 2004-05 school year. The new features included a state-of-the-art gymnasium, auditorium and full renovation of the main building. [ [http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/content/douglass.aspx Frederick Douglass High School ] ] These buildings will honor former principals Lester W. Butts and Samuel L. Hill. There are several sub-programs within Douglass High School: the magnet program (CFEAT) Center for Engineering, and Applied Technology which serves over 500 students, the NJROTC which is the only Naval NJROTC in metropolitan Atlanta area, the Media Arts academy and the Ninth Grade School.

Academics

Douglass High School is made up of several small learning communities. Each program/community is designed to give each student a world-class educational experience and graduate with real options for lifelong success whether they choose college or enter the workforce. The small learning communities are:
*(CFEAT) Center for Engineering and Applied Technology.
*(CJ) Commuications and Journalism
*(CHTM) Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Marketing. [http://www.douglasshighastros.com/slc/index.html]
*(CBE) Center for Business and Entrepreneurship

Athletics

Douglass High School competes in the Georgia High School Association Region 2 in the state's highest classification of 5A. Douglass is the only school in the city of Atlanta to compete in this classification. The school competes under the mascot of the Astros and their colors are Black and Gold. The sports available for competition are: Softball, Varsity and Junior Varsity Football, Cross Country, Varsity and Junior Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball, Track and Field, Golf, Air Rifle. All home Varsity Football games are played at Lakewood Stadium. The stadium is located at 70 Claire Dr SW, Atlanta, GA. The stadium has a new synthetic turf and is one of two stadiums shared by the City of Atlanta school system. Douglass has been a powerhouse basketball school since its opening. The boys basketball program has won the state championship only once (1984),however, the team has reached the Final Four an amazing 16 times, (1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999), and also has captured 26 region championships(1970-1985, 1987-1991, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2008). They have played in the Finals 7 times (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1984, 1991). Douglass' dominance was achieved under two coaches, Donald Dollar(1971-1991) and Jesse Bonner(1992-2000). The girls basketball team reached their very first state Final Four in March 2007. The football team has only reached the state finals once, in 1975, but over the last 12 years has been extremely competitive sending countless athletes to college on scholarships. They have won 5 region championships, (1975, 1978, 1995, 1998, 2004) The school dominated track and field in the early 90s. The girls track and field team won the state championship title in 1993 and the boys track team won the state crown in 1994.

Douglass has two local rivals, Mays High School and Washington High School.

Band

Douglass' Marching Astros Band is one of the greater bands in the Atlanta Public School system, as well as the state of Georgia. They compete and deliver in the annual Original Battle of The Bands Showcase and in various jamborees locally and out of state. They also appear in many parades and perform at various events including many special invitations. V.H. Moody, the band's director, has taught at Douglass since the school's creation in 1968. He is currently the longest working band director in Atlanta Public Schools, showing his level of dedication. He is a living legend and his experience in the field of music is well reflected in the creative and innovative sound of his band. They have made trips to Philadelphia, Bermuda, Atlanta to the Magic City/ Blue Flame Classic, Orlando to the Florida Classic, Savannah to the nation's 2nd largest St. Patrick's Day parade, invited to perform at the New England Patriots halftime show and selected members performed at the Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show. This band has marched in almost every historically black college and university parade. The Percussion section is known as DDD (Douglass Deadly Drummers). The Marching Astros have always and still continue to set high standards for themselves. The Difference is Real!!! In 2008, Douglass celebrated their 40th year anniversary.

Feeder patterns

The following elementary schools feed into Douglass: Grove Park, F.L. Stanton, Usher, and White.

The following middle schools feed into Douglass: Harper-Archer, Kennedy, Turner, and Carson.

Notable alumni

* Ricky Byrdsong - Well known former Northwestern University basketball coach. The Ricky Byrdsong Foundation was started after Byrdsong's death by his wife, Sherialyn Byrdsong.
*Walter Franks - Actor, Writer, Producer, Singer, Songwriter. Most noted for his portrayal of the young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the movie The Boy King as the title role. Also, known for his years as a sit-com star contributing to over 100 episode of shows spanning from 1994 - 2007.
* Ahmad Carroll - Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, & Orlando Predators
*James Davis-senior tailback for the Clemson Tigers.cite news | title=James Davis | publisher=Clemson Tigers official website | accessdate=2006-09-05 | url=http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/davis_james00.html]
* Dem Franchize Boyz - rap group
* Harold Ellis - L.A. Clippers & Denver Nuggets. Atlanta Hawks Scout.
* Sonny Emory - musician, composer, producer, and professor
* Hitman Sammy Sam - rapper
* Milton Campbell - Track Athlete; Record holder for the indoor 4x400 meters relay
* Jarvis Hayes - New Jersey Nets, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards
* Robert Hicks - Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills
* Jamal Lewis - Cleveland Browns. [Zisner, Lynn. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E3DD133CF935A15751C0A9629C8B63 "PRO FOOTBALL; Jamal Lewis Charged in Drug Case"] , "The New York Times", February 26, 2004. "At the time of the alleged crime, Lewis, who had graduated from Douglass High School in Atlanta, was waiting to attend his first N.F.L. training camp."]
* Dexter Scott King - Actor, Documentary Film Maker and Civil Rights Activist. Also the 2nd son of Civil Rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
* Bernice King - Attorney, Author, revered Orator, Minister and Daughter of the Late Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr.
* Kilo Ali - rapper
* Killer Mike - rapper
* Lil Jon - rapper and producer
* Jody Mayfield - musician, composer and producer
* Finesse Mitchell - Actor, Saturday Night Live 2003-2006
* Chris Morris - New Jersey Nets
* Stanley Pritchett - Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins
* T.I. - rapper/actor
* Unk - rapper
* Wayne Bertram Williams - The accused murderer in the Atlanta Child Murders that occurred between 1979 and 1981.
* Miss B. - rapper

References

Walter Franks- Actor, writer, producer, singer; most remembered for his roll in the story of Martin Luther King, JR in which he played the title roll in the WSB production of THE BOY KING.Timothy Smith-TSHO Customs INC ,HoodRich ENT