Atlanta Public Schools

This exhibit presents the history of the Atlanta Public High School system beginning with the first school in 1872. The APS system was originally created to allow white Atlantans to receive a secondary education. However, following the forced integration of high schools in 1961, the black community began taking charge of the public schools. The number of public schools around the edges of the city, the predominantly white neighborhoods, began to diminish but stengthen those that stayed open, while more and more began popping up in the black communities. However, the inner city schools struggle to give students an adequate education. Even today, the white neighborhoods have primarily private schools, giving them better chances for their futures.