Atherton High School is a
public school in
the Highlands district of
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...
, United States, and is part of the
Jefferson County Public School district. It opened in 1924
[Atherton High School History]
Atherton High School. as J.M. Atherton High School for Girls at 1418 Morton Avenue. It is named after
John McDougal Atherton,
[ a local businessman and politician who was instrumental in changing Louisville's school system administration from ]trustee
Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, refers to anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the ...
s to a board of education
A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution.
The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional area, ...
. The school became coeducational in 1950.[
Atherton moved to its current site in 1962 on the old Ray and Charles Clagett estate and its old premises is now the Jefferson County Traditional Middle School. A new wing was added to the Dundee location in 1992. In 2024, it was announced that Atherton High School is slated to get $54 million worth for upgrades and renovations.
Atherton offers an International Studies Program and an ]International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), more commonly known as the International Baccalaureate (IB), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the I ...
(IB) Program. The IB Program is the only one in the city at a public school, and also the only one open to boys (the city's other IB program is at the all-girls' Sacred Heart Academy, a Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
school). Students also have the option of enrolling in Advanced Placement or Honors classes as well as in the Advanced Placement Program, Exceptional Child Education Program, and English as a Second Language Program.
Notable alumni
* Bill Bishop, author and journalist
* Michelle Clark-Heard, former University of Cincinnati women's basketball head coach
* Jane Eskind, politician
* Andrew Farrell, MLS player
* Billie Starkz, wrestler, Ring Of Honor Television Champion
* Don Francisco, musician, contemporary Christian music
*Sue Grafton
Sue Taylor Grafton (April 24, 1940 – December 28, 2017) was an American author of detective novels. She is best known as the author of the "alphabet series" ('' "A" Is for Alibi'', etc.) featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the ...
, mystery writer
* Jack Harlow
Jackman Thomas Harlow (born March 13, 1998) is an American rapper and singer. He began his recording career in 2015, and released several EPs and mixtapes until signing with Don Cannon and DJ Drama's record label Generation Now, an imprint of A ...
, rapper
* Oksana Masters, Paralympic rower and cross-country skier; bronze medalist at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international Multi-sport event, multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Sum ...
and silver medalist at the 2014 Winter Paralympics
* Martha Rofheart (née Jones), actress & writer who grew up at 2120 Portland in the 1920s & 30s, graduated in 1932/33.
* Hunter S. Thompson, journalist and author (graduated from Louisville Male High School
Louisville Male Traditional High School is a public co-ed secondary school serving students in grades 9 through 12 in the southside of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. It is part of the Jefferson County Public School District.
History
Ninth and Ch ...
)
*Charlie Tyra
Charles E. Tyra ( ; August 16, 1935 – December 29, 2006) was an American basketball player who is best known as the first Louisville Cardinal All-American. He played five seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the New York K ...
, first All-American basketball player at the University of Louisville
* Jess Weixler, actress
* Rick Wilson, basketball player, retired
* Jonathan Wolff, music composer
*John Yarmuth
John Allan Yarmuth ( ; born November 4, 1947) is a retired American politician and newspaper editor who served as the U.S. representative for from 2007 to 2023. His district encompassed the vast majority of the Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville M ...
, U.S. Representative from Kentucky
See also
* Public schools in Louisville, Kentucky
References
External links
J. M. Atherton High School Website
{{authority control
Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky)
International Baccalaureate schools in Kentucky
Public high schools in Kentucky
Educational institutions established in 1924
1924 establishments in Kentucky
High schools in Louisville, Kentucky