Crestwood High School (Georgia)
Encyclopedia
Crestwood High School, on Colonel Drive (Dunwoody, Georgia
, United States) in what is now known as Sandy Springs
, opened in the Fall of 1972 to relieve overcrowding at nearby Roswell High School and North Springs High School
.
Initially, Crestwood gained reputation as a public funded 'private High School,' a sales pitch used to draw a higher tax base to the area. For the first few years, the faculty and student body of the school remained almost entirely white. Students came from affluent new subdivisions such as Martin's Landing and Huntcliff. With under 1,000 students, Crestwood was designated a Georgia 'B' Class school and competed mostly with private institutions such as Marist, Pace Academy, and Lovett School.
By the late seventies and early eighties however, Crestwood became more integrated in both teachers and students.
When the school opened it offered classes for grades 8 through 10. Grade 11 was added the following school year, and grade 12 the next year. The school then housed grades 8 through 12 until the Fulton County School System
implemented the middle school system in 1983 (thereby dropping 8th grade).
In 1975 Crestwood graduated its first class of seniors, which included Peter Buck who would become lead guitarist and composer for the Athens GA-based rock band, R.E.M. Its first graduate to receive a diploma at commencement ceremonies was Scott N. Madigan.
The school's mascot was the 'Colonels,' and borrowed its logo from Old Miss' Rebel-Colonels. The school colors were blue, red and grey and it wasn't uncommon to see "Colonel Power" bumperstickers featuring the "Colonel" mascot in the Sandy Springs area. The school quickly became a regional powerhouse in girls and boys track and cross-country as well as wrestling.
The school's football program, led by coach Reece Hefner, reached its pinnacle in 1989, after an undefeated season the Colonels went two games deep into the playoffs to be defeated 14-10 by Wheeler High School. The Colonels beat Wheeler during the regular season 43-0
.
Crestwood High School featured a baseball field, tennnis courts and an eight lane running track but never had its own football stadium, rather playing varsity
home games at the old Sandy Springs Stadium.
The school's facility was sometimes referred to as the "square donut" given that the halls formed a near-perfect square around a gymnasium located in the center of the building. The school was also infamous for the mica-laden sand that surrounded the building, which students tracked inside on the rubber floors.
The school ceased to exist at the end of the 1990-1991 school year when the Fulton County School System restructured. Most of the students and faculty transferred to the newly-opened Chattahoochee High School
in Alpharetta
, and Sandy Springs Middle School moved into the building in the fall of 1991.
In 2002 the building which housed Crestwood High School was demolished
after a new facility was built for Sandy Springs Middle School on the same property. Before the demolition could take place significant amounts of asbestos
, which could not be removed during an early 1980s asbestos removal project, had to be removed.
Notable graduates include star of the long-running CBS crime drama NCIS, actress Laura 'Pauley' Perrette
, Peter Buck
of legendary alternative band R.E.M.
, and Miss Georgia Teen USA 1986 and Miss Alabama 1991 Wendy Neuendorf (McDougal).
Dunwoody, Georgia
Dunwoody is a city located in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. Dunwoody became incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008...
, United States) in what is now known as Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs is a city in north Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. With a 2010 population of 93,853, Sandy Springs is the sixth-largest city in the state and the second-largest city in Metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs is located in north Fulton County, Georgia, just south of...
, opened in the Fall of 1972 to relieve overcrowding at nearby Roswell High School and North Springs High School
North Springs High School
North Springs Charter High School North Springs Charter High School North Springs Charter High School (formerly North Springs High School (1963–2007) and North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences is a public secondary school located in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Students may participate in...
.
Initially, Crestwood gained reputation as a public funded 'private High School,' a sales pitch used to draw a higher tax base to the area. For the first few years, the faculty and student body of the school remained almost entirely white. Students came from affluent new subdivisions such as Martin's Landing and Huntcliff. With under 1,000 students, Crestwood was designated a Georgia 'B' Class school and competed mostly with private institutions such as Marist, Pace Academy, and Lovett School.
By the late seventies and early eighties however, Crestwood became more integrated in both teachers and students.
When the school opened it offered classes for grades 8 through 10. Grade 11 was added the following school year, and grade 12 the next year. The school then housed grades 8 through 12 until the Fulton County School System
Fulton County School System
The Fulton County School System is a school district headquartered in East Point, Georgia, United States. The system serves the area of Fulton County, Georgia outside the Atlanta city limits...
implemented the middle school system in 1983 (thereby dropping 8th grade).
In 1975 Crestwood graduated its first class of seniors, which included Peter Buck who would become lead guitarist and composer for the Athens GA-based rock band, R.E.M. Its first graduate to receive a diploma at commencement ceremonies was Scott N. Madigan.
The school's mascot was the 'Colonels,' and borrowed its logo from Old Miss' Rebel-Colonels. The school colors were blue, red and grey and it wasn't uncommon to see "Colonel Power" bumperstickers featuring the "Colonel" mascot in the Sandy Springs area. The school quickly became a regional powerhouse in girls and boys track and cross-country as well as wrestling.
The school's football program, led by coach Reece Hefner, reached its pinnacle in 1989, after an undefeated season the Colonels went two games deep into the playoffs to be defeated 14-10 by Wheeler High School. The Colonels beat Wheeler during the regular season 43-0
.
Crestwood High School featured a baseball field, tennnis courts and an eight lane running track but never had its own football stadium, rather playing varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
home games at the old Sandy Springs Stadium.
The school's facility was sometimes referred to as the "square donut" given that the halls formed a near-perfect square around a gymnasium located in the center of the building. The school was also infamous for the mica-laden sand that surrounded the building, which students tracked inside on the rubber floors.
The school ceased to exist at the end of the 1990-1991 school year when the Fulton County School System restructured. Most of the students and faculty transferred to the newly-opened Chattahoochee High School
Chattahoochee High School
Chattahoochee High School is a public high school in Johns Creek, Georgia within the Fulton County School System and has been recognized as one of America's Blue Ribbon schools. The school is currently ranked as the number one high school in the State of Georgia by ACT average composite scores...
in Alpharetta
Alpharetta, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
, and Sandy Springs Middle School moved into the building in the fall of 1991.
In 2002 the building which housed Crestwood High School was demolished
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
after a new facility was built for Sandy Springs Middle School on the same property. Before the demolition could take place significant amounts of asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
, which could not be removed during an early 1980s asbestos removal project, had to be removed.
Notable graduates include star of the long-running CBS crime drama NCIS, actress Laura 'Pauley' Perrette
Pauley Perrette
Pauley Perrette is an American actress, best known for playing Abby Sciuto[p] on the U.S. TV series NCIS, a role that has made her the most popular actress on U.S. primetime television. She is also a published writer, a singer and civil rights advocate.-Early life:Perrette was born in New Orleans...
, Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
of legendary alternative band R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, and Miss Georgia Teen USA 1986 and Miss Alabama 1991 Wendy Neuendorf (McDougal).