[citation needed] In 2014 Heritage High School became an Academy for Performing and Visual Arts.

On May 20, 1999, a month to the day after the Columbine High School massacre, 15-year-old student Anthony "T.J." Solomon opened fire with a .22-caliber rifle on the Heritage campus, wounding six students.

A 15-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition, and the other victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Solomon attempted suicide with a revolver but was talked into surrendering by an assistant principal.

Students accepted into the program are enrolled in one of the following majors: Heritage High School's drama department won the Georgia High School Association one act play competition at the 6A level in 2017 and 2018.