Discover the Largest High School in Georgia (And Notable Alums)

Student enrollment is a tricky metric. It fluctuates from year to year, and with the times. In recent years (think 2020s) a shift toward virtual online schooling has altered the nature of traditional enrollment. Georgia boasts three virtual high schools: Georgia Cyber Academy, Georgia Connections Academy, and James Madison High School. Each of these online schools has super-sized student enrollments that would require a small town to house them. However, focusing on brick-and-mortar institutions, the Gwinett County website touts Brookwood High School as the largest high school in its district as well as the state of Georgia. Built to relieve overcrowding in other area high schools, Brookwood High School boasts a student population of nearly 4000! So put on your thinking cap and grab a notebook (Chrome or spiral!) as we discover the largest high school in Georgia and its notable alums.

Discover the Largest High School in Georgia: Gwinnett County Public Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia and the United States. It serves the students and communities of Gwinnett County, located in the Northeastern part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. GCPS serves over 180,000 students making it the largest school district in Georgia. The district has achieved notable academic successes over the years, winning the Broad Prize for Urban Education in 2010 and 21014. The honor recognizes GCPS as one of the nation’s top urban school districts. Gwinnett County Public Schools offer a range of magnet programs and specialized schools designed to cater to students with particular interests or talents. These magnet programs focus on areas like science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM/STEM). The district’s focus has recently shifted to communication and safety.

Discover the Largest High School in Georgia: Brookwood High School at a Glance

Discover the Largest High School in Georgia: Brookwood High School in Depth

Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia, opened its doors in 1981. It was established as part of the Gwinnett County Public Schools system to accommodate the growing population in the area and provide educational opportunities to the students in the community. Plans for the school were presented in 1977. The school was designed to alleviate overcrowding at South Gwinnett and Parkview High Schools. Located at the intersection of Hollybrook Drive and Dogwood Road, the school would be called Brookwood. In the intervening years, Brookwood’s motto, Establishing a tradition of excellence, has been updated to simply A tradition of excellence.

Academics

Brookwood High School is well-regarded for its academic programs and has received recognition for its efforts to maintain high standards of education. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum with a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) courses and honors classes to challenge and support students academically. Fully 85% of Brookwood High graduates matriculate to college.

Since 2015, Brookwood has offered students STEAM curriculum. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics. The program allows students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration among other skills (creativity, innovation) proven to lead to success. The school also offers ESOL classes. English For Students of Other Languages is a program designed to help those students for whom English is a new language succeed. With a student/teacher ratio of 19/1, students have ready access to their teachers. This is a key to academic success.

Athletics

Brookwood High School has a strong athletics program in which it has excelled. The school competes in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and has won a total of 63 state championships in sports such as football, basketball, soccer, swimming, and tennis. The girls’ basketball team recently claimed a state championship for Brookwood, coming out on top in 2023. The school’s mascot is a bronco. Its colors are maroon and gold.

Extracurriculars

Brookwood provides a wide range of extracurricular activities to cater to diverse student interests. These activities include various sports teams, fine arts programs, clubs, and organizations that allow students to explore their passions and develop their talents outside of the classroom. One of the larger clubs is Esports. Esports focuses on gaming. It is one of the fastest-growing communities at the school. Brookwood also has a strong Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) whose mission is “to create a more accepting environment for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We believe that schools can be truly safe ONLY when every student is assured access to an education without fear of harassment or violence.” Brookwood offers a plethora of after-school options. The Genes in Diseases and Symptoms Cub (Gidas) even has its own website!

Discover the Largest High School in Georgia: Famous Alumni

After high school, some individuals embark on journeys that lead them to unexpected fame and success. While high school is a formative period, fame often comes from pursuing one’s passions, talents, and ambitions in the years that follow. Many artists, entrepreneurs, and athletes have risen to prominence post-high school, thanks to hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck. Whether it’s through creative pursuits, groundbreaking innovations, or exceptional athletic achievements, the path to fame after high school is diverse and inspiring.

Notable Alumni

• Jason Elam: Elam was an NFL placekicker for the Denver Broncos (1993-2007) and the Atlanta Falcons (2008-2009). Elam holds several NFL records including the highest percentage of extra-point conversions and the most consecutive seasons with 100 points.
• Jennifer Ferrin: Ferrin is an actress recognized for her recurring role in the daytime drama As the World Turns from 2003-2006. More recently she has been playing the role of Avery Grafton in the CBS drama The Equalizer.
• Joe Gebbia: Gebbia is a co-founder of Airbnb.
• Sean Johnson: Johnson is a professional soccer goalie. He has had a long and storied career. Johnson is presently playing for Toronto FC. Though he attended Brookwood for three years, Johnson actually graduated from high school in California.
• Michael Kelly: Kelly is an Emmy-nominated actor. He is best known for his role as Doug Stamper on the television series House of Cards. More recently he has been seen in Special Ops: Lioness as Byron Westfield, and will be appearing in the upcoming miniseries The Penguin.
• Cameron Lynch: Lynch is a former professional football linebacker. He has played for the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since his retirement from the NFL, Lynch has turned his talent and knowledge to sports broadcasting. He was an in-stadium broadcaster for Super Bowl LV in 2021.

More Notable Alumni

• Cedric Mullins: Mullins is a professional baseball centerfielder. In 2018 he was signed by the Baltimore Orioles for whom he continues to play. Mullins is a member of the 2023 United States National Baseball Team. He is a fan of anime, especially Naruto.
• Amy Robach: Robach is a television reporter. She initially worked for NBC News, serving as a national correspondent between 2003-2007. From 2012-2023, Robach was a correspondent for ABC News. At ABC, Robach was a co-anchor of 20/20.
• Lucas Sims: Sims is a major league baseball pitcher. After a couple of seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Sims has been on the team roster for the Cincinnati Reds.
• Amanda Weir: Weir is an Olympic swimmer. She was a silver medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. Weir also won a bronze medal at the 2012 games
• Mansfield Wrotto: Wrotto is a former NFL guard Wrotto played three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (2007-2010). He played one season each with the Buffalo Bills(2010) and the Chicago Bears (2011). Wrotto is studying for his MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was born in Liberia, Africa.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock.com

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