Established 1976 Teaching staff 91 FTE Enrollment 1,441 Phone +1 770-483-5428 Mascot Patriot | Principal Greg Fowler Grades 9-12 Student to teacher ratio 16:1 Color Red and blue | |
Address 2400 Granade Rd SW, Conyers, GA 30094, USA District Rockdale County School District Profiles | ||
Heritage High School is one of three public secondary schools in Rockdale County in Conyers, Georgia, United States (the others being Rockdale County High School and Salem High School). Heritage High School is home of the Patriots. It has twice been named a School of Excellence. In December 2009, U.S. News & World Report gave Heritage High School a silver medal ranking in the top 500 high schools in the nation. In 2014 Heritage High School became an Academy for Performing and Visual Arts.
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Shooting
On May 20, 1999, a month to the day after the Columbine High School massacre, 15-year-old student Anthony "T.J." Solomon opened fire with a .22-caliber rifle on the Heritage campus, wounding six students. A 15-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition, and the other victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Solomon attempted suicide with a revolver but was talked into surrendering by an assistant principal. Solomon initially faced up to 351 years of prison if convicted of aggravated assault and other charges, but in 2000 he was found guilty but mentally ill, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison and 65 years of probation. A judge later reduced his sentence from 40 to 20 years. He was released to his mother's house on parole on July 26, 2016. A common misconception is that he is named Thomas due to his nickname T.J.