Atlanta Public Schools (APS) celebrated its top scholars from the Class of 2026 at its annual Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and STAR Student Luncheon, held at Zoo Atlanta’s Savanna Hall, today.

The event featured 45 student honorees, their families, and their favorite teachers from 15 high schools, with some students holding two distinctions: valedictorian or salutatorian, and STAR student of their graduating class. The STAR student has the highest SAT score in the class.

The event was hosted by WSB-TV anchor Fred Blankenship.

“Along with our commencement ceremonies, this is always one of our most significant events,” said Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson. “It’s a tremendous way for us to celebrate and honor our top scholars, their families and their most impactful teachers. Their hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, and commitment to academic excellence has them positioned for bright and exciting futures.”

Here are this year’s valedictorians, salutatorians, and STAR students for the Class of 2026:

Atlanta Classical Academy

Valedictorian:    Adelaide Huffman

Salutatorian:     Aleck Carter

STAR Student:  George Boggs

The BEST Engineering, Science, and Technology Academy at the Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. Institute

Valedictorian:    MyKel Smith

Salutatorian:     Mariyo Majette

STAR Student:  Mariyo Majette

George Washington Carver Early College High School

Valedictorian:    Ayanna Thomas-Scott

Salutatorian:     Arianna Hollins

STAR Student:  Jasper Chiban

George Washington Carver STEAM Academy 

Valedictorian:    Gabriel Olagbegi

Salutatorian:     Shamyra Burden

STAR Student:  Shamyra Burden

Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy 

Valedictorian:    Keirstyn Smith

Salutatorian:     Sacarria Burts

STAR Student:  Sacarria Burts

Frederick Douglass High School 

Valedictorian:    Nevaeh Robinson

Salutatorian:     Grace Jones

STAR Students: Nevaeh Robinson and Jayden Wilson

Charles R. Drew Charter High School 

Valedictorian:    Lucinda Peterson

Salutatorian:     Jordyn Jennings

STAR Student:  Axum Nickerson

Maynard H. Jackson High School

Valedictorian:    Regan Saffel

Salutatorian:     Audrey Craighead

STAR Students: Regan Saffel and Evan Hall

KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School

Valedictorian:    Brooke Smith

Salutatorian:     Zemirah Skinner

STAR Student:  Anaiyah Johnson

Benjamin E. Mays High School 

Valedictorian:    Bethany Momon

Salutatorian:     Justin Allen

STAR Student:  Ralph Long IV

Midtown High School

Valedictorian:    Brennan Fritts

Salutatorian:     Eric Snell

STAR Students: Nathan Brawner, Nicholas Fedorov, Min Woo Kang, Alexander Smith

North Atlanta High School 

Valedictorian:    Claire Collins

Salutatorian:     Arjun Mitra

STAR Students: Claire Collins and Nathaniel Laing

South Atlanta High School 

Valedictorian:    Kayla Mathews-Smith

Salutatorian:     Laniya Collins

STAR Student:  Samuel Woods

Daniel M. Therrell High School 

Valedictorian:    Parker Gonzalez

Salutatorian:     Robert Carter

STAR Student:  Robert Carter

Booker T. Washington High School 

Valedictorian:    Joseph Rosser III

Salutatorian:     Kai Edwards

STAR Student:  Cadence Gilyard