Morris Brown College, an HBCU in Atlanta that recently overcame losing its accreditation in the early 2000s, is extending a helping hand to the graduating seniors of Benjamin E. Mays High School. By offering full admission to all graduating students, Morris Brown College is aiming to provide quality educational opportunities for young Atlantans from minority backgrounds.
Benjamin E. Mays High School—which champions notable alumni like Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, NFL wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey and NBA player Gerald Wilkins—faces significant challenges. PublicSchoolReview.com ranks the school in the bottom 50% of Georgia for test scores, with a graduation rate of approximately 71%. Tragedy also gripped the community in February of this year when four students were shot (fortunately surviving) and in May of last year, a student was killed at an unofficial post-graduation party.
Founded in 1881 as Georgia’s first educational institution owned and operated entirely by Black people, Morris Brown College has a history of investment in the community. The university sees the potential in these students: by offering full admission, they aim to provide a supportive and enriching environment where Mays High School graduates can thrive. To maintain enrollment, students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
The beneficial partnership between Morris Brown College and Benjamin E. Mays High School reflects an enduring commitment to empowering young people from underserved communities. It creates a pathway to higher education and a brighter future for students who may not have previously considered college as a viable option. This relationship between the two institutions not only provides a pathway to higher education but also signifies a bright future for these students, fostering hope and opportunity.
