Summary:
Zip code 30331 in southwest Atlanta is home to two public high schools serving grades 9-12: Westlake High School and Benjamin E. Mays High School, which together educate roughly 3,400 students under two different district administrations.
Westlake High School is the stronger academic performer in this area. It ranks 223rd in Georgia (51st percentile) with a 3-star rating, boasts a 91.9% graduation rate, and posts higher proficiency rates in Algebra I (37.4%), Biology (49.3%), and American Literature (41.3%) compared to Mays. However, Westlake is showing a downward trend—its state ranking slipped from 167th to 223rd in one year, and Algebra I proficiency dropped from 50.5% to 37.4%. Meanwhile, Benjamin E. Mays High School is on the rise, improving its state ranking from 370th to 297th over two years and raising its star rating from 1 to 2 stars. Mays even outperformed Westlake in US History in both recent school years (29.5% vs. 27.7% in 2025-2026). Despite serving a 100% free/reduced lunch population, Mays maintains an 88.7% graduation rate—still above the state average of 87.2%.
A striking resource disparity exists: Mays spends $26,366 per student with an 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio, while Westlake spends just $16,241 with an 18:1 ratio. Yet Westlake still leads academically, suggesting resources alone don't overcome all challenges. Chronic absenteeism is a critical concern at both schools—49.6% at Mays and 25.7% at Westlake, both well above the state rate of 17.7%. Both schools operate under different districts: Fulton County (77th percentile statewide) and Atlanta Public Schools (40th percentile). Parents should note that while Westlake offers stronger test scores today, Mays' upward trajectory and near-parity in graduation rates make it a school worth watching.
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