Alma Powell Designates Booker T. Washington High as First APS Promise Place School

Booker T. Washington High School in West Atlanta became the first Atlanta Public School last week named a “Promise Place” by America’s Promise Alliance and State Farm Insurance Company.

The Promise Place initiative is part of the Grad Nation campaign of America’s Promise Alliance which seeks to mobilize America to end the high school dropout rate and better prepare young people for college and the workplace.

According to a news release from APS spokesman Keith Bromery, a "Promise Place is a single location that provides the fundamental resources children need to succeed and thrive, including caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others.  The campaign is a call to action for concerned citizens, businesses, community leaders, policy makers, educators and the nation."

One of the first major public high schools  in the country for African-Americans when it was built in 1924, the alumni roster of Booker T. Washington High School reads like a page from Who's Who in Black America: Entertainer Nipsey Russell, performer Lena Horne, opera singer Mattiwilda Dobbs, former Georgia State Senator Leroy Johnson, former U.S. Health and Human Services Director Louis Sullivan and legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr all attended the school. 

In recent years, the school has made headlines with visits by world leaders such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Bishop Desmond Tutu, former U. S. President George W. Bush and civil rights icon Rosa Parks. In 2009, eyes turned to Washington again when valedictorian Deonte Bridges delivered a spellbinding address about drive and discipline in the face of numerous adversities, including being robbed at gunpoint. 

As part of a comprehensive high school restructuring plan, officials transformed Washington into four small schools: Washington Banking, Finance and Investments; Health Science & Nutrition; Early College; and Senior Academy.

 Washington was designated as a promise place on June 15. Participants included  Alma J. Powell, Chair, America’s Promise Alliance; Edward B. Rust, Jr., Chairman and CEO, State Farm Insurance Companies; Dr. John Maupin, President, Morehouse School of Medicine; and the Washington High School principals.