Martin Luther King, Jr. High School (Lithonia, Georgia)

Martin Luther King Jr. High School
Motto Teamwork makes the Dreamwork!
Established 2001
Type Public Secondary
Principal Kerby Bullard
Students 1400
Grades 9-12
Location 3991 Snapfinger Road,
Lithonia, Georgia, USA
Coordinates 33°39′37″N 84°11′56″W / 33.660219°N 84.198852°WCoordinates: 33°39′37″N 84°11′56″W / 33.660219°N 84.198852°W
Colors Maroon and silver         
Mascot Lions
Website MLK High School

The Martin Luther King, Jr. High School is a public high school located in Lithonia, Georgia. It opened in August 2001, as the newest high school in the DeKalb County School System and was named after the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

Development

The school was opened to alleviate overcrowding in surrounding middle schools. It originally included only grades 6-7 and 9-10. Tenth grade students come from Lithonia and Southwest DeKalb High Schools to relieve crowding and also due to rezoning of DeKalb County . The following year, after a protest of the high school students, the school dropped the sixth and seventh graders and added eighth grade. It became a pure high school with grades 9-12 in the 2003-2004 school year.

M.L. King's current principal is Mr. Kerby Bullard

Feeder School

Salem Middle School is the middle school feeder to MLK.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

MLK implemented the International Baccalaureate Diploma program during the 2004-2005 school year, and it continues to produce top students each year.

Awards and recognition

The MLK marching band received superior ratings at the District Band Festival, and superior ratings in the county marching competition. The MLK marching band has traveled to South Africa (2006), the AT&T Cotton Bowl and has also participated in the 2011 Bands of America with their Wind Ensemble.

The MLK Drama team won the Region 2-AAAAA championship in the One-Act Play competition in 2006.

The MLK football team has been to the state playoffs every year since it has been a full high school, compiling a remarkable 56-18 record over 6 years, which is the best record in Georgia football history for a high school in its first 6 years of existence.

The MLK football team also became the 2010-2011 Region 2-AAAAA champions upsetting the Stephenson Jaguars perfect season in a 50-49 victory. This victory led the lions to the playoffs in which they were defeated in the second round by Colquitt County Packers. They have been Region Champions 3 consecutive years.

The MLK Wrestling team has been acknowledged for their excellence, Laron Taylor placed 1st at the County tournament at 165 lb. and Wesley Warren placed 2nd at County tournament at 103 

The MLK girls track and field team won the state championships in 2010-2011 beating Westlake.

MLK's Malcolm McCord and Brandy Ward scored the schools very first lacrosse goals for MLK.

Notable Alumni

External links

Martin Luther King Jr. HS Homepage MLK Athletics Page